Benny Goodman in the USSR

Johnny Rojas · Post by **Johnny Rojas** » 10 Aug 2007 12:41 pm

Here is a very interesting article written by one of Goodman's band members from his 1962 tour of the USSR.

http://www.billcrowbass.com/Writing/To%20Russia.htm

Interesting to see how many of his band members just could not stand the man.

Howard Kalish · Post by **Howard Kalish** » 13 Aug 2007 7:32 am

I really enjoyed reading this article. Thanks for pointing us to it Johnny. Bill Crow writes very well and it's always interesting to hear road stories, especially with an illustrious cast like that band. I liked it so much, I ordered his book Jazz Anecdotes. Also, readers should check the rest of Bill's website, especially the pix. Some great one there.

After reading about Benny and his antics, I feel real lucky in terms of the band leaders I've worked with and continue to work with. All have been happy to share the spotlight with their players and certainly have more respect for them and the audience than ol' BG apparently had. I'd heard stories about him before, but never in such an enteraining piece of writing. Thanks again for digging this out and bringing it to our attention.

Keep swingin',
HK

Johnny Rojas · Post by **Johnny Rojas** » 13 Aug 2007 8:29 am

Yeah, the piece is full of interesting stuff, not just about Goodman, but about all the guys that were part of that band. There are some very funny stories about Zoot Sims. What a character that guy was.

John Steele (deceased) · Post by **John Steele (deceased)** » 13 Aug 2007 11:19 am

Howard, I know you'll enjoy "Jazz Anecdotes".. I believe there's even a volume 2 now.
Bill Crow also wrote an autobiography of his jazz life in New York called "From Birdland to Broadway". All good stuff.
-John

John Kavanagh · Post by **John Kavanagh** » 22 Aug 2007 12:44 pm

Thanks for the link. I expected the article to contain the following quote I read somewhere, maybe it's in Crow's book: someone asked Zoot Sims what it was like playing in Russia, and he said "Every gig with Benny is like playing in Russia."

Johnny Rojas · Post by **Johnny Rojas** » 24 Aug 2007 10:21 am

Ha! That is priceless. What a wit, and it's interesting to see how it comes out in his playful solos.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 24 Aug 2007 8:41 pm

Ah yes, great article.
And a great last quote.

That movie version was quite a fantasy.
Enjoyable hagiography, but not close to reality.

Love Goodman's playing, but doubt I would have
lasted 20 minutes in a band with him.

Burr Oxley · Post by **Burr Oxley** » 27 Aug 2007 4:23 pm

I had heard that Benny Goodman wasn't the easiest person in the world to get along with, but didn't realize that he was this difficult.

Sure was one helluva clarinet player, though.......

Johnny Rojas · Post by **Johnny Rojas** » 28 Aug 2007 6:27 pm

I didn't realize how nasty he was either, but I had read that in his last days in Goodman's band Charlie Christian was heard complaining that Goodman was simultaneously cramping him in, and stealing his ideas. Considering Christian's way far ahead of his time ideas, I find this pretty disturbing. Just that one story completely changed my view of Goodman. This article took it 100 steps further. You have to admit, though, that Goodman's output is amazing. He's easily one of the top five bandleaders of the 20th century and, despite all of this stuff, still my favorite.

BTW, I'm glad you guys enjoyed this article as much as I did. Take care.

Johnny