Wrote early Hits for Count Basie; Jimmie Lunceford
Choreographed Brass
Co-Wrote "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire" (Ink Spots)
Arranged "In The Mood" (Glenn Miller);
Recorded 1st HIT on BOTH amplified & electric GUITAR;
Played non-pressure slide, valve, muted Trombone;
Coached, Led 1940's All-Girl Orchestras
Documentary Trailer
Speech at Julliard
In Volume One "VIRTUOSITY" Eddie's family of 8 brothers and cousins attended their self-made music school daily. They all learned to read and notate music and learned multiple instruments.
They joined the circus & toured with vaudeville and minstrel orchestras. He develops into a master arranger, composer, trombonist and guitarist.
Band leaders soon begin to beg for his ability to write big-band swing music HITS. This began with Bennie Moten, then Count Basie, Jimmie Lunceford. He masterminds the "dueling tenors" of
Lester Young with his cousin Herschel Evans; Choreographed Brass Sections; Co-composed
"I Don't Want To Set The World on Fire" for The Ink Spots; and the most famous arrangement of a song in history, Eddie Durham arranged "In The Mood" for Glenn Miller.
Jimmie Lunceford featured Eddie on the amplified guitar recording "Honey Keep Your Mind On Me" and on a resonated guitar on "Hittin' the Bottle" - both were hits; John Hammond, Sr. produced a recording session which showcased Eddie on electric guitar, distributed as "The Lester Young Sessions". In 1940, Eddie recorded a new esoteric sound on guitar of "I Want A Little Girl" and "Magic Carpet." VIRTUOSITY takes us up to World War II, the highlight of all-girl orchestras. Eddie is scouted by the first family, The Roosevelts, to spearhead this effort. Volume 2, "Eddie Durham and the Ladies of Jazz," explores that amazing story.
Reviews, Interviews...:
JAZZ ON THE TUBE audio interview by Lester Perkins
South Texas Jazz Project: audio Interview by DJ Kory Cook
SAN MARCOS DAILY RECORD NEWS writeup1
Texas State Historical Asso. - disquisition by Dave Oliphant
THE SYNCOPATED TIMES article by David Radlauer
JAZZ MUSEUM IN HARLEM audio interview by Loren Schoenberg
PICTORIAL DISCOGRAPHY video of vintage record labels with Durham compositions/arrangements
ALL ABOUT JAZZ Author profile
Let's SWING - DANCE Classes in HARLEM, NY
Copyright Law AKBLLP.com
Swingin' the Blues series (Volume 4):
Harlem Blues & Jazz Band - tour with the legends - over 100 pictures!
"Tour Itinerary & Diary" of
Volume4: 1977-1987 "The Harlem Blues & Jazz Band". Also includes a 1985 tour with Mama LuParks & The Savoy Lindyhoppers!
Book Cover Art by BRIAN KRAMER
Volume One Reviews & Interviews:
"THE VIRTUOSITY OF EDDIE DURHAM"
"JAZZ AROUND TOWN" by Scott Yanow
"JAZZ RAG MAG": Issue#169 Winter 2022 by Ron Simpson (J.Witherspoon on the cover)
CONTACT
Eddie Durham YouTube videos
