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Seminar: "Trumpet Blues" with Louise Baranger and Peter Levinson
Wednesday, 5:15pm
Kimberly Stephans, Reviewer
Trumpet Blues is the name of a recently published book by Peter Levinson about the life and career of Harry James. The author, along with Louise Baranger, one of the last trumpet players to play in a band under James, led a lively and insightful discussion beginning with basic information about James' background and his early influences, and ranging from there into other areas of his life and career.
Levinson and Baranger began by talking about James' life growing up in a circus band, first as a drummer, then as a contortionist and finally as a trumpet player. His musical talent was obvious from the beginning: by age 11 he was conducting a circus band, and at age 12 he won the Texas state championship, competing against much older students.
The discussion wandered into other areas: James' early influences (Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Jimmy Lunsford, among others), his family, his real career preferences (he would have rather been a professional baseball player), his health and dental problems, and numerous stories and anecdotes from life on the road as a member of the Harry James band.
One significant topic that was touched on was the critics' rejection of him after the success of You Made Me Love You. Both Levinson and Baranger asserted that James had chops to spare as a jazz musician, abilities to play bebop and styles other than that which had made him so successful, and recommended several CDs of James' playing that trumpet players should be acquainted with. The first is There They Go, which they said has some very good examples of James' ability to play bebop. The second CD is of the same title as the book, Trumpet Blues, and is a compilation of several Harry James albums.
The audience was quite obviously a well-informed and knowledgeable group of people, asking several very specific questions and even providing detailed answers to each others' questions. This relaxed and respectful discussion was a fantastic overview of James' life and career. The reader who is interested in learning more about James is encouraged to check out the book Trumpet Blues by Peter Levinson, written for musicians, according to Louise Baranger, "in our language." (Kimberly Stephans, M.M. student, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana) |
