Les Brown Centennial

Long-time listeners to "Swingin' Down the Lane" are aware that I salute bandleaders who, if alive, would be marking their 100th birthday. We did a pair of programs recently in tribute to Stan Kenton. Now it's Les Brown's turn. Not only will I devote two programs to this fine leader, I also plan to be part of the festivities to be held in the town he grew up in -- Tower City, Pennsylvania. For more details about the weekend of March 24-25, check out this website: http://www.townofrenown.org/index.html.

Not sure where Tower City is? Neither was I till I consulted my Rand-McNally. The closest big city (and nearest airport) is Harrisburg. It's about 50 miles northeast of the airport, or about a one-hour drive.

I had always read that Les Brown was born in Reinerton. That's a village of about 500 inhabitants a couple of miles down the road from Tower City, a metropolis about four times more populous than Reinerton. It's understandable, then, why the festivities are being held in the larger community.

As the website indicates, I'll play a small role in the proceedings, interviewing Les Brown, Jr. It would be great if the audience that afternoon included listeners to "Swingin' Down the Lane." If you attend, please be sure to introduce yourself.

Jazz Central Concert

Any doubts that big band jazz is still very much alive are literally blown away at concerts featuring Jazz Central, an ensemble comprised of students at Little Rock's Central High School. I feel privileged to have been invited to emcee their annual concert, to be held on April 12. As is their custom the group has called on an outstanding jazz soloist to make a guest appearance. Jon Faddis, trumpeter, is a stellar musician who lists the late Dizzy Gillespie as his friend and mentor. His full biography will be found at www.jonfaddis.com. It is sure to impress.

I'm excited at the prospect of sitting in when Mr. Gaddis holds a clinic for band members before the concert. It is always a source of amazement to see how an accomplished musician/teacher can raise the level of excellence of young musicians.

LP Bonanza

Last week an acquaintance put me in touch with a gentleman who, over the years, has amassed an impressive collection of jazz and big band LPs. I went to meet with him last week and was amazed to find a collection that must number more than a thousand albums. My host is in the process of winnowing down his household possessions. With considerable regret he has decided to discard them by some means still to be determined. Not inclined to add more bulk to my own collection, I asked if I could borrow some albums of interest so that they could be converted for use in my future broadcasts.

"Help yourself" was his ready response. Good news, but where to start? I decided to borrow all the Woody Herman albums that are not already in my possession. I thought I already had a pretty comprehensive collection of Woody's work but found to my amazement that he had 25 albums missing from my stash, including some great Concord recordings of live concerts. So I'm in the process of adding them to my collection, a process that'll take a couple more weeks. Then who knows --- maybe Kenton next. Or Basie. Or James.