Manny Cabeleira, left, owns the Radium Beer Hall in Orange Grove, a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa, where trombonist/arranger John Davies, middle, has led his big band, Phatbrass, in concert for the past 19 years. Scotsman Jake Pressly, right, was founder of the "Fat Sound" which preceded Phatbrass.  He plays trombone in Phatbrass and in the Classic Jazz Masters, a Dixieland group that also plays at the Radium Beer Hall.

Continued: New Orleans Notes

Mrs. Gabriel is survived by her husband, Edward Gabriel Sr., a son, a daughter and five grandchildren. The funeral was held Oct. 17 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, followed by interment at Restlawn Park and Mausoleum in suburban Avondale.

Acknowledgment must also be made of the passing of a legendary musician with close ties to our city, clarinetist and saxophonist Al Gallodoro. He died at his home in Oneonta, N.Y., on Oct. 4. He was 95.

Alfred J. Gallodoro was born in Chicago, but he and his family moved to Birmingham, Ala.. Then, in 1927, when Gallodoro was 14, the family moved to New Orleans, where his father ran a grocery store. Gallodoro lived in the Crescent City until 1933 when he was 20. It was during that interval that he wrote in a personal letter, "I started my big time career in New Orleans night clubs, then big time vaudeville at the Orpheum Theatre (4 « years). I have visited many times since. I love New Orleans."

Having achieved a significant reputation, he then moved to New York City where, in 1936, he was hired as a featured soloist by Paul Whiteman. He may be most remembered for his clarinet "slide" on "Rhapsody in Blue," which he later said he must have played "ten thousand times." He considered his Whiteman years as the highlight of his career.

Known as an incomparable technician on both alto saxophone and clarinet who practiced up to 15 hours a day, Gallodoro has received countless honors over the years. His life was the subject of a public television documentary, The Al Gallodoro Story. Gallodoro's last public appearance in New Orleans was in August 2001, when he was a featured performer at the annual gathering of the International Clarinet Association. "I was never considered a jazz player until recently," he then said, noting his preference for "classic jazz." He started out his ICA performance by playing "Struttin' with Some Barbecue," calling it one of his favorite tunes. "It was hot when I moved to New Orleans in 1927," he said.

Gallodoro continued to be heard in public up to as recently as two weeks before his death. He did a concert on Sept. 20, playing alto saxophone with a quartet at the Corning (N.Y.) Jazz and Harvest Festival. Survivors included three daughters, a brother, two sisters, 18 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren. The funeral was held at the Oneonta Theater on Oct. 10.

Clarinetist Ryan Burrage and his Rhythmakers, featuring pianist Jim Hession, played a concert for the local jazz society in Jackson, Miss., on Oct. 26.

After performing with Steve Pistorius's band at Nickel-A-Dance, trumpeter Duke Heitger headed out for an engagement in Nashville, Tenn., then back to Germany to rejoin his family the following day. He's a busy man, but he will be back in New Orleans by the middle of November.

Finally, I have to add a few words about my South African adventure. While spending a little more than a week in Johannesburg, I had a chance to check out the local music scene. The highlight had to be my visit on Oct. 5 to the venerable Radium Beer Hall in suburban Orange Grove, where, on the first Sunday of each month for the last 19 years, they have been featuring a concert by an outstanding big band led by Brit ex-pat trombonist and arranger John Davies, 60. While the composition of the group has changed over the years, this is truly a big band. (I counted a total of 21 musicians.) Once known as "The Fat Sound," they now call themselves "Phatbrass." Their latest (2007) CD, Metamorphosis, a fusion of classical themes with jazz improvisation, is on the South African Sheer Sound label (SLCD 141).

Founder of The Fat Sound and a trombonist in the present band is Scotsman Jake Pressly, 67. Pressly also plays in a six-piece outfit known as The Classic Jazz Masters, South Africa's leading Dixieland band, led by another former Brit, trumpeter Bob Wade. They can be heard at the Radium on the last Saturday of each month. Unfortunately, I was not around for one of their performances, but I did acquire a copy of their latest (2007) CD, Stomps, Swing `n Blues. These guys are committed professionals, as in fact are all of the musicians in both of these bands.

I recommend these recordings. For more about both bands, you can Google "Phatbrass" and "The Classic Jazz Masters."

Until next time. twj@tulane.edu

Phatbrass holds forth at The Radium Beer Hall in Johannesburg, South Africa.

December 2008 issue | © 2008 The Mississippi Rag

P.O. Box 19068, Minneapolis, MN 55419.