PAUL
VERNON CHESTER
Manouche Maestro
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Manouche Maestro |
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Django & Duke at the Aquarium NYC
Gottlieb photo of Duke and Django at the piano at the Aquarium, late October 1946. Reinhardt was to become part of Ellington's "concert troupe" at the end of the month. Also here. Stratemann says Reinhardt arrived in New York by plane on Oct 30 and was feted with a welcoming party thrown by Ellington and the Morris Agency. Since the Aquarium gig ended that day, and Ellington played Atlantic City on Oct 31, these photos must have been taken Oct 30, 1946. (Aquarium Restaurant was situated in Manhattan on 701 7th Avenue New York) "Aquarium gets Duke for 5G; Spot is "in" - New York Aug 24 - Ellington is penciled in for the Aquarium for 4 weeks beginning October 10 at $ 5.000 per week. Owner Ben Harriman snaring of the Duke seems to put the clincher on the question of whether the street front spot is the type which should be played by top name bands. When Joe Glaser and Harriman originally started to put name bands into the location, many bookers, leaders and other location owners thought Glaser was nuts."
Looks like Django borrowed Fred Guy's guitar for the Gottlieb dressing room pose as below we have Fred looking somewhat glum (if Django was in presence at the time). Caption from Down Beat: Guitar: Django Reinhardt. The Gypsy wandered off on his longest trip to date when he embarked for the States. He came without his instrument and I had to swipe this one from Fred Guy to get an appropriate shot. Note his much discussed crippled fingering hand. Maybe this will convince you guys who suspected that, if anything, the remarkable Reinhardt had a few extra digits to perform his famous brand of musical magic.
Django with David Rose - Pianist and Arranger who went on to write the 'Stripper'
http://www.vintage-guitars.se/Levin_De_Luxe_info.htm Is that Pick a Coin? Clubs like the Three Deuces, Downbeat, Troubador, Hickory House, 400 Restaurant, Famous Door, Kelly's Stable and Jimmy Ryan's were all jazz venues active at the time.
Django look on as Dukes Men read the score?
Ray Nance swaps his Trumpet for his Violin on that gig - was Django impressed?
Duke - Painted By Tony Bennett, Singer and Artist. |
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