Benny Goodman band post Charlie Christian. Who took over on guitar?

[Hardbopjazz]

I was listening to WKCR yesterday and the focus of the program was on Benny Goodman in the 40s. It was stated that Billy Bauer took over on guitar after Charlie Christian died in 1941. Anyone know if that is true? I do recall once hearing someone else was playing guitar after Christian past away.

[jazztrain]

My reference materials are all at home, so I'll have to take a shot at this from memory.

My recollection is that Christian left Goodman due to contracting tuberculosis, so he was effectively "replaced" before he died.

Strictly from memory, I think that Mike Bryan may have been the replacement. I can check this evening (unless someone else supplies the information before then).

[Big Beat Steve]

Don't confuse the Sextet with the big band. Charlie Christian was the B.G. SEXTET guitarist, not the (regular) big band guitarist throughout. According to the discographies, he just appeared (as "featured artist"?) on part of the big band recordings on some sessions and live appearances.

Mike Bryan was the regular big band guitarist through a good deal of the "Christian period" (from the fall of 1940), and before that (mid-1939 to April, 1940), the discographies list Arnold Covey (Arnold Covarrubias) with the big band.

From July, 1941, one Tommy Morgan is listed as the big band guitarist, as he also was part of the Sextet in the October and December 1941 sessions.

Dave Barbour is listed with the big band from June, 1942, and Allen Reuss recorded with the orchestra and the quartet and quintet from June, 1943..

Mike Bryan was back with the sextet and big band in 1945.

As for Billy Bauer, he is present in the B.G. discography only in the Sextet/Septet/orchestra recordings of the Gray/Hasselgard period band of 1948. A LONG time after Charlie Christian's demise.

Edited May 1, 2013 by Big Beat Steve

[jazztrain]

Here's some more information, courtesy of Russ Connor's "Benny Goodman Listen To His Legacy."

>>>

During this brief midwestern tour, Charlie Christian became ill and left the band, never to return. His malady was diagnosed as tuberculosis in Bellevue Hospital in New York, and from there he was transferred to Seaview Sanitarium in Staten Island. He will never recover. Tommy Morgan(elli) jointed in his stead--so phrased, because no one could really replace him. Charlie died of tuberculosis Marach 2, 1942.

>>>

Connor shows Tommy Morgan (real name Morganelli) playing with the band and the sextet until a June 17, 1942 session on which Dave Barbour plays guitar. Anyone have the later Connor book? I wonder if there are any changes indicated there.

[Larry Kart]

Would like to know, along "stop him before he kills again" lines, who it was on WKCR who offered that wildly erroneous info about Billy Bauer taking Christian's place with B.G.

[John L]

It is interesting that, in the 1930s, there seemed to be an acceptance of integrated small groups, but not integrated big bands.

[sgcim]

Would like to know, along "stop him before he kills again" lines, who it was on WKCR who offered that wildly erroneous info about Billy Bauer taking Christian's place with B.G.

But Larry, we all know from Jetman's proclamation that PS, and all those genius Ivy league student volunteers from Columbia never make mistakes, and obviously know everything about jazz. After all, it's a "college radio station".

It had to be a janitor sitting in for one of the "delicate geniuses", while they were busy studying for their medical school finals...

[JETman]

Would like to know, along "stop him before he kills again" lines, who it was on WKCR who offered that wildly erroneous info about Billy Bauer taking Christian's place with B.G.

But Larry, we all know from Jetman's proclamation that PS, and all those genius Ivy league student volunteers from Columbia never make mistakes, and obviously know everything about jazz. After all, it's a "college radio station".

It had to be a janitor sitting in for one of the "delicate geniuses", while they were busy studying for their medical school finals...

You know darn well that's not what I said, but if it floats yer boat to make things up, go right ahead.

[sgcim]

Just kidding, JETman, but I've heard a lot worse than that from some of their DJs...

[Fer Urbina]

The Bauer bit is not correct. However, Christian did record with the big band. I'm not sure as to whether he performed life with the big band playing strictly rhythm (he got to play "Solo Flight" towards the end of his time with Goodman).

The discography in the Mosaic box is worth a look regarding Covey/Christian.

F