The “Night Train” came for Charlie today at age 83.
But instead of thinking of what we’ve lost, let’s remember what we have.
Here’s Charlie blowing away “Orange Blossom Special” in his own unforgettable style! Thanks Charlie!
Quite a fervent patriot too. He loved his America.
I just found out about this news this morning and it’s such a shame… He was truly an incredible and talented musician. He will be missed…
One thing I recall is he was Grand Marshall of the St. Paul Winter Carnival about 15-20 years ago, and went ahead with riding in an open convertible in the parade despite it being the coldest weather ever for the parade…something like -10F IIRC. There was talk about postponing it, but I guess he convinced them to go ahead and he would stick it out.
Still in Saigon“And in the summer when it rains, I smell the jungle and hear the planes…”
I remember the song well.
Thanks for the URL
And:
The Great Jazz Day
My copy of this book is a gift from a fellow railfan. The January 1959 issue of Esquire was devoted to “The Golden Age of Jazz.” On 14 August 1958, Esquire gathered nearly sixty jazz musicians on the stoop, stairs, and sidewalk in front of a West 126th Street Harlem brownstone house for a group photograph published in that issue. The book comprises the story behind that photograph, related events, biographies of many of the musicians, and related photographs, All very interesting reading and a great picture of a an era and culture.
It is a train story, because Duke Ellington could not make the date at East 126th Street, and instead was photographed by Art Kane at the front of an “A Train” in the 207th Street, Washington Heights, yards. This photograph would include if reproducing a photo from a 1959 magazine and a 2000 book is permissible. It is also on the wall of my apartment in tribute to the Duke’s music and in nostalgia for the “8th Avenue Subway,” that I rode very frequently when growing up in New York.
But the most important message of the book might be the demonstration of the real brotherly love across ethnic, racial, and religious boundaries, and even professional rivalry, that Jazz produced.