Re: [Harp-L] My Favorite Larry Adler Recordings

[michael rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>]

I was playing in an orchestra in Houston.  Across the street Adler was
playing with another orchestra at the same time!  I missed him.

After he passed, I was doing a gig and I was in the business office.
There was a woman there who the boss introduced me to.  After the
woman left, she said, "You know, that was Larry Adler's widow.  She's
visiting Austin."

I asked the boss to try and set up a meal, my treat, but I never heard
from her.  What I WANTED to do was SCREAM at the boss, "Why didn't you
tell me that as we were introduced!?!"

Perhaps the boss was trying to respect her privacy, which I
understand.  However, RRRR!
Michael Rubin
Michaelrubinharmonica.com

On Wed, Apr 4, 2012 at 12:25 AM, Cara Cooke <cyberharp@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> That is a great story.  I am glad we have the recordings of Larry
> Adler that we do -- and they show up in the darnedest places.  I have
> a recording of an obscure old radio show just because Larry Adler was
> the guest.
>
> Cara
>
> On 4/3/12, David Naiditch <davidnaiditch@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> When I was a kid, I played this version of Summertime so many times that I
>> wore out the record.  I’m forever impressed how Larry Adler keeps changing
>> his tone.
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpnnBHYAhJs
>>
>>
>>
>> In 1980, Larry Adler played Summertime with the violin virtuoso Itzhak
>> Perlman.
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI6wZNBLOY0
>>
>>
>>
>> I also enjoy these recordings of Adler with the great Gypsy jazz guitarist,
>> Django Reinhardt:
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Epq8siKTg1c
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViO_DUbAZak
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPHc-k_R0_A
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsVNJkDdurk
>>
>> I recently recorded a Gypsy jazz CD, “Douce Ambiance: Gypsy Jazz Classics,”
>> (listen at http://airplaydirect.com/music/davidnaiditch/) so I’m especially
>> interested in these Gypsy jazz recordings.
>>
>>
>>
>> When I was in Jr. High school, I took lessons from Sonny Terry.  John
>> Pilgrim told the following Sonny Terry/Larry Adler  story in the Gardian
>> (http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2001/aug/09/guardianobituaries).
>>
>>       “In 1975, I was backing the blues harmonica virtuoso Sonny Terry, and
>> guitarist Brownie McGhee, in a show at the London School of Economics. A
>> shadowy figure in the wings was trying to attract attention. Being blind,
>> Sonny Terry couldn't see this, so I went over to see what the problem was.
>>
>>      It was Larry Adler, surprisingly humble, wanting to sit in with Sonny
>> Terry for a number. Sonny called him on and they played Careless Love,
>> Adler's rich orthodox chording contrasting oddly with Terry's "crossed harp"
>> a fourth above the key.
>>
>>      They finished to cries for more, but Adler addressed the audience
>> ruefully: ‘Sonny Terry was the only man to blow me off the stage in America.
>> Now he's done it again. Twice is enough - you must listen to the man who
>> does it best,’ and left the stage.”
>>
>>
>> David Naiditch
>>
>> www.davidnaiditch.com
>