Losing Great Jazz Players Left and Right: RIP Louis Bellson
February 21st, 2009
Seems like no week goes by without us losing a great jazz musician these days. Last week it was not only the tremendous drummer Louis Bellson and the tragic plane crash that took the lives of two of Chuck Mangione’s band, saxophonist Gary Niewood and guitarist Coleman Mellett.
I had the good fortune to play some gigs with Louis Bellson in the early 1990s with a big band that was put together by Larry Novak, probably the best piano player today that seemingly no one has ever heard of. The gigs were usually outdoor park type of gigs and the band was always chocked full of great players, mostly from the Chicago area.
Let me tell you, Louis was just about the nicest guys you would ever want to meet. So gracious to every musician in the band. He always made you feel really special and he was always encouraging. The joy that he brought to other people was unbelievable. You always hear of horror stories of Buddy Rich reaming band members and everyone around him. Louis Bellson was the polar opposite.
I remember one gig where the band actually got lost on a chart that had a number of repeated sections. Half the band was at one spot while the other half was at another. Finally, knowing that the chart would never end on its own, Louis simply stopped the band and explained to the audience that we were lost and that we would simply start the chart over. It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. And after the gig he never even mentioned it to the band! He just kept smiling! Boy, did we feel like a bunch of dopes. (Granted, we were sight reading some of the stuff, but still.)
I usually played 2nd trombone on these gigs so I sat right next to Louis and got a ringside seat at his amazingly musical solos. He had the same setup as the video below.
So in honor of the great Louis Bellson, here is a video of him in action on the Tonight Show (the way the Tonight Show used to be!). Thanks for the nice memories and the great joy you gave the world during your lifetime Louis!
Posted in Video
Loading ...
This is really a tragig loss. I remember when I heard him for the first time at a friends house. He had just bought a record ( a 78 in those olden times) with Bellson playing his own composition, “Skin Deep”, with the Duke Ellington Band. I was amazed. This record was the reason why I took up drums, instead of my trombone. Later I bought a couple of his books on sight reading. Those books really helped me a lot later on when I got a lot of session gigs. I wrote to him and thanked him, and to my surprize he wrote me back and said that he would be glad to help me if I had any questions. This just got to show what kind of a guy he was. I’m sorry I never got to meet him. That would have been a treat.
R.I.P. I’m shure you’re playing in the Big Band up there.
Eddie Svavarsson
Eddie, thanks for your comments.
That story doesn’t surprise me at all. Can you imagine Buddy Rich writing you and telling you that same thing?
I don’t think it would happen. Nothing against Buddy, he was a terrific player, but every time I saw him in concert he was reaming people. The last time was in KC in the late 70s where he ripped on the sound man during the entire concert. It was incredible. That guy probably quit his career that day.
The point is that people like Louis Bellson are remembered not only for their contribution to music, but also to humanity in general. From my experience, the guy was a pure gem, and yes, I”m sure he is playing in the top big band upstairs.
Heard Louis only once live at Disneyland during the 1970′s. I think Cat Anderson was playing with his band. But memory could be false. Disney was a remarkable place for great talent. Bellson will be missed.