Behind the Music
The Tragic, Bizarre and Amusing
This part of the Jazzman examines people’s lives associated with the acts outside of their musical career. Events and works of art tell stories that may either leave a happy feeling or sad feeling. In this case, we tell the behind the scenes (Music) of various superstars from different publications about them.
Twelve Fingered Pianist
The person being referred to is Hampton Hawes, one of those pianists who contributed to the evolution of Jazz’s West coast type. She is called just because she was born with six fingers on each hand at birth although the extra two were chopped off. Nonetheless, the name stuck with her.
The Loneliest Man I Ever Knew
This talks about the story of Paul Desmond, who was a saxophonist. He was the last person to complete Dave Brubeck’s quartet in the 1950s. Interestingly, he never liked any woman other than his close friends’ wives, who eventually complicated things between him and his friends.
Desmond was said to have married although no one can tell the specifics of such marriage or whether there was a ceremony. Later, the news reported the marriage broke, and Desmond lived as a bachelor throughout his lifetime. Little wonder he has been described the loneliest man ever.
He died of lung cancer in 1977.
Brubeck- Death in Hawaii
Not many people would read meaning to or suspect the sudden change of style by Dave Brubeck; how he explores block chords and that’s quite impressive. He had had to learn how to use block styles perfectly after his accident. He had a very serious crash at the beach, which even the doctors had taught would be the end of his life.
Fortunately, he got up again, but unfortunately, he was never whole again. After the accident, he began experiencing temporary muscle spasms and therefore had to rely on chords during his shows.
The Wit of The Jazz Man
Although we can say that all jazzmen have their ways with words (witty), the humour of Eubie Blake is unrivalled. He always had the perfect answers for the perfect questions.
What’s in a Nickname?
Somehow Jazz artists end up with one nickname or the other. For instance, Frank Sinatra was nicknamed Ol’ blue eyes after the colour of his eyes. Similarly, the original name of Duke Ellington was Edward Kennedy Ellington. His old school friends gave him the name “Duke” because of his fine appearance.
Death in the Desert
This is about a man whose life is a puzzle no one has been able to solve. His name is Wardell Gray. Although many people wondered about his obsession with Shakespeare and Sartre literary works, it was never out of place to like a particular author at the time. However, that question became relevant after the bouts of subsequent events revealed. First, he was addicted to Heroin up to the point that he may steal to purchase one.
His dead body was found on the town’s outskirts after his absence at Benny Carter’s hotel opening ceremony where he was invited to perform. The question of what killed him lingers on everyone’s mind up to this day. Whether it was a suicide or a murder, NO ONE KNEW!