Red Norvo has a meltdown with the Goodman band

Carson Leighton · Post by **Carson Leighton** » 25 May 2010 10:11 am

If this was staged,,that guy missed his callin'..He should have been an actor...I kind of thought Goodman was laughing just to smooth things over..The look on the piano players face tells a different story,,maybe he's an actor too!

One heck of a piano player in my book.......Carson

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 25 May 2010 12:18 pm

Would like to see this,each time I click it on just get a blank page. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 25 May 2010 3:37 pm

Charlie:

Try here; you should see Benny's face:

http://tinyurl.com/29j4ecc

I don't know if this is staged or not, but I wonder if they would try to pull it off on a nationally televised performance from Carnegie Hall?

You'd think maybe they would try to be on their best behavior for that high profile gig, but anything is possible.

I'll have to go back and give it a slo-mo or frame-by-frame as I often did on the Zapruder film.

Johan Jansen · Post by **Johan Jansen** » 28 May 2010 8:25 am

Looks to me he became angry when the horns came in. Maybe they agreed before that his solo should take another turn, maybe a sort of a-capella, or another phrase of the song, or more repeats. He waves with his arms, like 'Cut it!' but Benny G comes in then too. That makes him freakin' out.
This is not faked, I believe. He sure doesn't have the 'keep on smiling, whatever will be will be' mentality

MFC....
JJ

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 28 May 2010 9:04 am

I'm finding it hard to believe that a place as prestigious as Carnegie Hall would agree to a stunt like this, so maybe it was for real. Wonder if Goodman ever played there again after this.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 28 May 2010 10:12 am

What was that pad on the piano player's lap?

Was it to absorb sweat, to keep his fingers from sticking to the keys?

Or, was it like a baseball rosin bag, so your fingers would not slip off the keys?

I think it was staged. Benny Goodman was so infamous by 1974 it seems no matter what happened, he would always get asked back. And if he didn't, by now, he could've cared less, probably. IMHO

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 28 May 2010 12:15 pm

I think it was staged. Benny Goodman was so infamous by 1974 it seems no matter what happened, he would always get asked back. And if he didn't, by now, he could've cared less, probably. IMHO

Buy now? He died in 1986. Since then, he hasn't cared about anything ....

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 28 May 2010 12:44 pm

Barry, what I meant "by now", was "by 1974".

I can see the cornfusion.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 28 May 2010 5:26 pm

Gotcha.

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 29 May 2010 3:00 pm

Throwing the vibes on the floor not only trashes the vibes but also the stage floor.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 29 May 2010 3:26 pm

What's the consenus here, so far?

Staged? Not Staged?

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 29 May 2010 4:05 pm

One comment based on an earlier comment I can't find: it is important to remember that Carnegie Hall IS a hall for rental. You don't have to be invited to play Carnegie Hall. You can rent Carnegie Hall. My son played Carnegie Hall when he was about 10 as part of a suzukie cello and violin recital.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 29 May 2010 4:31 pm

Bill,

First of all, I join the Forum chorus and adamantly wish you would stay. Seems it is so.

Great observation and info on the workings of the undisputed hallmark of artistic performance.

You crack me up!

Carnegie Hall is actually up for grabs? WOW!

So with that in mind, why is Carnegie Hall so prestidgous, anyway? OK - I would venture to guess that it's in the heart of NYC.

ie. If Carnegie Hall was located in Springfield, MA (God forbid), it wouldn't be that popular, and/or successful.