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Posted

Every time I see JSngry's avatar, I smile ... Jimmy Rushing was something else ... I've got the Rushing Lullabies/Big Brass twofer and it spends a lot of time in my CD player.

Any other Rushing fans out there?

Posted

Man I love that guy!

You know, ever since I saw the Jazz Casual that he appeared in I have been wishing there were about four hours or more recorded of him sitting on a piano chair, playing the keys and singing and reminiscin'!

Posted

Man I love that guy!

You know, ever since I saw the Jazz Casual that he appeared in I have been wishing there were about four hours or more recorded of him sitting on a piano chair, playing the keys and singing and reminiscin'!

Ditto. A thrill that recurs every time I listen to it is the terrific version of "Evenin'" done with Pres and the Basie Orchestra in a reunion at the Newport Jazz Festival in '57. Available on:

g21540er0ap.jpg

Great stuff!

Posted

Anytime he sings that song it's a wonder. . . just the way he says the words. . . he was a master.

I laugh right now thinking of those "Soundies" of him in love with that sweet little gal and in the dancing contest, etc.

Posted

Jimmy is on my "Get It All" list. I've enjoyed every record I've gotten by him., with a special fondness for The Jazz Oddysey Of Jimmy Rushing, which happens to be the first recording I bought by him when I was a teenage jazz nerd.

Sometimes I think that my favorite records by various artists are the first I encountered.

Posted

Man I love that guy!

You know, ever since I saw the Jazz Casual that he appeared in I have been wishing there were about four hours or more recorded of him sitting on a piano chair, playing the keys and singing and reminiscin'!

Yes, that Jazz Casual is a mind-blower! It's a must-see for even a casual fan like myself

Posted

I've always liked Bud Freeman's story:

The late Jimmy Rushing, the famous blues singer, was named by his close friends "Mr. Five by Five." He actually was five-feet, five-inches tall and weighed three hundred pounds.

I had the pleasure of playing a concert tour with him in New Zealand. We had reservations at a lovely hotel, but the rooms were very small. Jimmy couldn't get into his room, and when the bell-hop suggested he try going in side ways, Jimmy responded with, "But you don't understand, man. I'm the same size all around!"

from Bud Freeman: 'You Don't Look Like a Musician'

Jimmy Rushing will live as long as people have ears to hear.

Posted

I got in trouble with a girlfriend once because we'd drive the 90 miles from Buffalo to Toronto to see the Moiseyev Dancers. When I learned that Jimmy Rushing was at the Colonial Tavern, I insisted (after the Moiseyev company) that we go hear Jimmy! which we did. She felt that was too...something... (and shortly thereafter I had a new girlfriend.

And for the better, I would assume. ;)

Posted

I got in trouble with a girlfriend once because we'd drive the 90 miles from Buffalo to Toronto to see the Moiseyev Dancers. When I learned that Jimmy Rushing was at the Colonial Tavern, I insisted (after the Moiseyev company) that we go hear Jimmy! which we did. She felt that was too...something... (and shortly thereafter I had a new girlfriend.

A woman who doesn't dig Jimmy is not worth keepin'!

My Kenny G lovin' wife even let's me play Jimmy Rushing for her.

Posted

if you can find it, get the LP "The You and me that Used to Be" - RCA - late Rushing with a group that includes Zoot, Al Cohn, Frishberg, Ray Nance (I think) - my personal favorite -

I was going to mention this as soon as I entered the thread. You beat me to it, Allen, but I'll second your enthusiasm. A great record!

Posted

Also fine is his first Columbia lp The Odyssey of James Rushing Esq recently reissued on Collectables.

I remember playing "Tricks Ain't Walkin' No More" from the Jazz Odyssey record on a radio show. After it ended, a guy called up and said, "Man, that was pure poetry." Made my evening.

Posted

if you can find it, get the LP "The You and me that Used to Be" - RCA - late Rushing with a group that includes Zoot, Al Cohn, Frishberg, Ray Nance (I think) - my personal favorite -

I was going to mention this as soon as I entered the thread. You beat me to it, Allen, but I'll second your enthusiasm. A great record!

Turd in the punchbowl here - I always thought this was a sad "good white guys doing a nice thing" record. So much "classic" Rushing to push, but this embarasses me.

Posted

The Vanguards, the Columbias, the Master Jazz, the Impulses, there just is not bad Rushing (though I haven't heard the RCA).

And the Decca Basies, and. . . .

Well we're blessed with so much great stuff.

It's such a distinctive voice he had. "Rheinhardt, Rheinhardt. . . " B-)

Posted

Told this one before, but seems to fit here. One night, in 1961, I was at Jimmy's house for dinner when the phone rang. It was Benny Goodman asking him to sing with his group at an upcoming Vassar concert. I heard Jimmy say something like, "Benny, I'll sing for 75 dollars if you'll play at one of my gigs for the same fee."

Benny made a more acceptable offer. Here I am with Jimmy in his dressing room at Vassar. We arrived first, so he took the best one, the only one with its own toilet. At one point, Benny came in and, very meekly, asked for permission to use the toilet. Jimmy waved him in there and when Benny made an embarrassing sound, Jimmy said, "I heard that!"

Posted (edited)

there is a beautiful essay by Ralph Ellison (collected in Shadow and Act) about hearing Rushing sing with a megaphone, I think it was, with the early Basie Band (or was it Moten?) - at any rate, this essay is a must if you can ge hold of that collection - incredibly evocative -

Edited by AllenLowe

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