Rex Stewart, who played trumpet and cornet with Fletcher Henderson and Duke Ellington, knew personally all the giants of jazz in the 1930s, and his judgments on their achievements come with unique authority and understanding. As a good friend he never minimizes their foibles; yet he writes of them with affection and generosity. Chapters on Fletcher Henderson, Coleman Hawkins, Red Norvo, Art Tatum, Big Sid Catlett, Benny Carter, and Louis Armstrong mix personal anecdotes with critical comments that only a fellow jazz musician could relate.

A section on Ellington and the Ellington Orchestra profiles Ben Webster, Harry Carney, Tricky Sam Nanton, Barney Bigard, and the Duke himself, for whom Rex Stewart was barber, chef, poker opponent, and third trumpet.

Finally he recounts the stories of legendary jam sessions between Jelly Roll Morton, Willie the Lion Smith and James P. Johnson, all vying for the unofficial title of King of Harlem stride piano. It was the decade of swing and no one who saw it and heard it wrote about it better than Rex Stewart.

With a foreword by Martin WIlliams.

CONTENTS: The Jean Goldkette Band; Smack! Memories of Fletcher Henderson; The Business of Recording; Boy Meets King (Louis Armstrong); The Father of Swing Trombone (Jimmy Harrison); Coleman Hawkins; Red Norvo - A Tale of A Pioneer;
ELLINGTONIA: The Days With Duke; Skecthes In A Ducal Vein; Duke Ellington: One Of A Kind; Tribute to Tricky Sam (Joe Nanton); Illustrious Barney Bigard; The Frog & Me (Ben Webster); Harry Carney: Boss Baritone; Getting to Europe - And Getting Out.
The Cutting Sessions; Flow Gently, Sweet Rhythm (Sidney Catlett); The Benny Carter I Knew; Genius In Retrospect (Art Tatum)
APPENDIX I: Count Basie by Hsio Wen Shih
APPENDIX II: Rex William Stewart Jr by Francis Thorne

REX STEWART, who died in 1967, was a soloist for Fletcher Henderson and Duke Ellington. He played extensively both here and in Europe where he led bands of his own. FRANCIS THORNE includes a warm appreciation of his many gifts as a last chapter in this book.

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