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Duke’s protégé Billy Strayhorn’s arrival and immeasurable
influence from 1938 for the next three decades; the classic
Blanton-Webster band of 1939-1940; Duke’s crowning
rebirth at the legendary Newport Jazz Festival of ’56; the
Sacred Music concerts in ’65; Strayhorn’s death in May
of 1967, and Duke’s own passing in May of 1974.
Teachout does a great job of investigating and portraying
detailed accounts of Duke’s writing technique, philosophical
views, previously unreleased personal declarations
from band members, and behind-the scenes- revelations
previously untold, and a few other juicy tidbits that pull
the curtain back on Ellington’s private life. Best of all,
though, are Teachout’s historical accounts and corrective
details about the evolution of several of Duke’s most
popular tunes. No spoiler alert here—read it for yourself!
Needless to say (but I’ll say it anyway), I love Duke
Ellington. This book reminded me of exactly why I do.
Terry Teachout’s book rises to the occasion and refreshes
our senses about why it is that, in the words of jazz guitar
great Kenny Burrell (eminent scholar of all things Dukish),
Ellington is forever.
—Wayne Goins
Chet Baker: The
Missing Years
by Artt Frank
Los Angeles: Books Endependent, 2013, 201 pages,
paperback: $19.95.
Artt Frank’s memoir is a kind
of narrative prayer, a heartfelt
reflection upon his years as Chet
Baker’s drummer and confidant.
A true friend according to the
memoir, Frank helped buoy
Baker’s spirits and arranged a
comeback for the dispirited trumpeter.
Frank booked the Melody
Room for Baker, played the gig on
drums, and helped spread the word
that Baker was ready to play again, after a spiraling slump
following a drug deal gone wrong and a bad beating that
left Baker with knocked out teeth, a wobbling bridge and
dentures. Hard times for a horn man and his embouchure.
The memoir recounts how Frank drove through
the rain to pick up Baker for the famed Melody Room
comeback gig, and found Baker slumped on bags of
APRIL + MAY 2014 • JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE
flour, passed out. Frank does all he can to revitalize
Baker and get him to the gig. Baker wows the crowd
after a few tunes, but doubts linger. When Baker
goes to fix his bridge and dentures, crowd members
speculate that Baker’s gone to the restroom to shoot
heroin. But Baker has left all of that behind, is on the
mend, and Frank helps facilitate Baker’s unlikely rise.
Throughout the memoir, Frank’s and Baker’s family
and private lives are documented. At one point, Baker
drives through the rain with his boys on the back of a
motorcycle to keep an appointment with Frank. Another
time, Baker empties his pockets of bills and change for a
man digging in the trash, this during a time when Baker’s
own friends don’t seem to want to waste time or change
on him as he struggles to rise. It’s a memoir about heart
and generosity, and one of struggle. Without many means
or live connections, Frank and Baker struggle their way
to the top.
Frank was a mainstay and mentor of sorts in KC in the
late 1990s and early 2000s, orchestrating a few memorable
recording sessions, including Souvenir (with trumpeter
Pat Morrissey), along with an album with pianist Chris
Clarke. Frank now lives in Green Valley, Arizona, and is
an Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame inductee.
—Kevin Rabas
Alaadeen: The
Complete Song Book
Edited by Victoria “Fanny”
Alaadeen, with foreword
by Tony Romano
Fandeen Publishing Company. 92 Pages.
In his foreword to Alaadeen:
The Complete Song Book guitarist
Tony Romano, who developed
the lead sheets for these Alaadeen
compositions, tells us that a factor
“that drew me into the project
was the fact that the history of
Jazz is well documented and fairly
complete except for musicians
like Ahmad Alaadeen,” musicians
“not as distinguished outside of
their community and surrounding areas.” He saw and
heard the music, and felt it deserved wider recognition.