Large ImageSwingin' The Blues - The Virtuosity of Eddie Durham: Vol.1 (hardcover) (Swingin' The Blues: Eddie Durham)
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NOTE: The hardcover edition is entirely in black and white, while the softcover edition includes a few color pictures
VOL. 1 (of 4) "The Swingin' The Blues Series" is the ONLY comprehensive work on trombonist and guitarist, composer and arranger, pianist, and choreographer EDDIE DURHAM (1906-1987), and his unique musical family "The Durham Brothers Orchestra" (DBO).
Volume 1: "VIRTUOSITY" spans 50 years. It chronologically displays historical news articles and flyers. It features transcribed interviews & quotes from family, scholars, peers, and colleagues, some of whom were only accessible through his family.
Collectively, Eddie's brothers and cousins performed in the "Homecoming Band" of the Teddy Roosevelt Roughriders, and with other trailblazing artists such as Count Basie, Jimmy Lunceford, John Hammond, T-Bone Walker, Les Hite, Lionel Hampton, the Calloways, Illinois Jacquet, Ella Fitzgerald, Harry James, Jan Savitt, Teddy Wilson, Buck Clayton, Lester Young, Billie Holiday, Artie Shaw, Andy Kirk, and Nat King Cole. The DBO toured with early circuses and minstrel shows. As a teenager, Eddie roomed with Art Tatum, Cozy Cole, and Dr. Dorsey.
Eddie joined The Oklahoma Blue Devils and Bennie Moten Kansas City Orchestras. He was recognized as a "hit-maker" for his compositions and arrangements at the dawn of the American big-band era. For The Basie Orchestra, he created the idiom of "swing music," producing hit after hit, including "Moten's Swing," "Time Out," "Out The Window," "Every Tub," "Magic Carpet," "John's Idea," "One O'Clock Jump," "Jumpin' at the Woodside," "Topsy," "Good Morning Blues," and "Swinging the Blues." For Jimmie Lunceford, he wrote "Wham Rebop Boom Bam" (now the title of his 2023 PBS Documentary) and "Blues In The Groove." He co-wrote "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire" for The Ink Spots and wrote "Sliphorn Jive" for Glenn Miller. Notably, Eddie Durham is also the arranger of "In The Mood," which has been inducted into the N.A.R.A.S. Hall of Fame.
Eddie's Blues & Jazz music helped create Jitterbug, Lindy hop, and swing dancing, hence, "Swingin' the Blues", which are still popular in competitions worldwide. During World War II, he served as the USO Musical Dir. and coached 5 all-girl orchestras as commissioned by Mary McLeod Bethune from the White House. Afterwards, he led the Jimmy Evans Cavalcade of Jazz tour with Wynonie Harris, Dinah Washington, Jack Teagarden, and a young, unknown Little Richard, with secret protege Elvis in attendance.
Eddie wrote complex harmonies, amplified his guitar, built a whammy bar (with a hangar) and amplifier, and trained the brass sections in choreography. He utilized a non-pressure technique for playing trombone. The Kansas City sessions produced by John Hammond and the Dave Dexter productions, with Eddie on guitar and trombone, are collector's items.
The debut of a complete discography of Eddie and his family up to 1950, along with his "Music 101" class curriculum, is worth $100! Eddie's close work with the band leaders who became famous from his hits has never been shared -- until NOW.
Charles Frazier (formerly Marvel Comics) designed/drew the astounding collectible table-top-sized book cover.
Impresario George Wein wrote the Foreword (founder: Newport Jazz, Folk, and New Orleans Jazz Festivals; White House Honoree). Co-Edited by Doctor Albert Vollmer, and Professor Dan Weinstein.
The Swingin' The Blues Series is self-published. THANK YOU for your Support & Amazon REVIEW.
Vol. 2 "A Century of Secrets" - 2026
Volume 3 "Eddie Durham and The Ladies of Jazz" 1927-1987 (released 2023) 100 photos.
Volume 4 "Eddie Durham with The Harlem Blues & Jazz Band 1977-1987 (2022) 100 photos on tour w/the band.
2024 PBS Documentary: "WHAM RE BOP BOOM BAM"
X: @OfficialDurham; #EddieDurham; EddieDurhamJazz.com; YouTube @EddieDurhamJazz; Email: EddieDurhamJazz@gmail.com
Music licensing: BMG/ASCAP.
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