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3 Books about EDDIE DURHAM

In Volume 1 "VIRTUOSITY" Eddie's brothers/cousins attended music school daily where they learned multiple instruments and to read and notate music - very unusual for African Indian Americans.They toured with SW circus,vaudeville and minstrel troupes. As a result, Eddie became a master arranger, composer, trombonist and guitarist.

 

Major Band leaders, black and white, hired his unique ability to produce big-band swing music HITS: Bennie Moten, Count Basie, Jimmie Lunceford, The Sweethearts of Rhythm, Harry James. He masterminded the "dueling tenors" of Lester Young and (Eddie's cousin) Herschel Evans; Choreographed Brass Sections; Co-composed "I Don't Want To Set The World on Fire" for The Ink Spots; and he arranged the NARAS Hall of Fame hit: "In The Mood" for Glenn Miller !

 


Eddie recorded big hits on amplified guitar on "Honey Keep Your Mind On Me", and resonated guitar on "Hittin' the Bottle". John Hammond, Sr., produced Eddie showcasing electric guitar on : "KC5 Lester Young Sessions". Dave Dexter produced Eddie showcasing a new esoteric guitar sound on"I Want A Little Girl" and "Magic Carpet." Read all about it! The book VIRTUOSITY ends at World War II. Volume 2, "Eddie Durham and the Ladies of Jazz," explores his history working with women, beginning with Maime Smith, ending with Miss Rhapsody and including Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald among many others. Volume 4, "Eddie Durham and The Harlem Blues & Jazz Band" is a diary over the 1970s decade of touring. The books contain over 100 photos each.

 

 

Speech by Topsy M. Durham (Julliard 2024) - PBS Documentary Screening

 

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

Texas State Historical Asso. - disquisition by Dave Oliphant

Eddie Durham Media Collection - TSU

THE SYNCOPATED TIMES article by David Radlauer

JAZZ MUSEUM IN HARLEM audio interview by Loren Schoenberg

PICTORIAL DISCOGRAPHY YouTube videos

ALL ABOUT JAZZ Author profile

Let's SWING  - DANCE Classes in HARLEM, NY

Copyright Law AKBLLP.com

Swingin' the Blues series (Volume 4):

Eddie Durham with the

Harlem Blues & Jazz Band - tour with the legends - over 100 pictures!

"Tour itinerary/diary/photos" 

Manager, Albert Vollmer

Volume4: 1977-1987. Includes the 1985 tour with iconic Mama LuParks & The Savoy Lindyhoppers.

Book Cover Art by BRIAN KRAMER

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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)

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Eddie Durham YouTube videos

Eddie Durham YouTube videos

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