Harry James and His Orchestra Live at Newport 1978

From my book "Harry James-Trumpet Icon"


"In July of 1978, George Wein again invited Harry James to the Newport Jazz Festival. Along with the James band, the entire day, July 2, 1978, was dedicated to Big Bands. The bands of Woody Herman, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, and Buddy Rich were all featured on the day-long program.


Harry James and his Orchestra were the “surprise guests” at the festival.The whole James band was on fire, driven by the great Sonny Payne. Although, Payne fell victim to what many believe was an orchestrated prank by Buddy Rich.


Tenor sax player Mike Butera was in the band that day. He related this story to me recently:


“But what happened when we went on, I’ll NEVER FORGET. The Buddy Rich Big Band just finished their set, Buddy’s band was quickly tearing down as the house band played. We got set up. The curtains open. The huge audience applause and hoots rang out as the “Surprise Big Band” was Harry James!After the opener that only lasted 30 seconds, we immediately begin an up-tempo tune called “Apples” that featured the great Sonny Payne on a long drum solo. Now Sonny, having been Basie’s drummer and Frank Sinatra’s favorite drummer, was a legend. And of course, before Buddy Rich went out on his own, he had been Harry’s featured drummer and the highest-paid sideman at the time.Sonny and Buddy did not like each other. They had a major ego conflict for years. Stories would get out on the big-band gossip circuit about Buddy saying harsh things about Sonny and vice versa. They hated each other even though if they met publicly. They would be friendly. Well, as Harry kicked off the tune, something felt wrong.



That loud snare drum of Sonny’s was not accenting the percussive phrases of the arrangement. (Sonny was the loudest drummer I have ever played with!) I looked up a Harry, and he was glaring at Sonny. After several measures, the band whimpered to a halt like a car out of gas. Sonny stood up on his drum stand and held up his snare drum to show the audience that his drumhead had been slit with a knife!Well, I hear applause start up again, and here comes Buddy with a smile on his face, carrying his snare drum to hand it to Sonny to play!


We all felt Sonny’s pain as we finished that set that day. And on the tour bus for the next few weeks, we listened to Sonny’s lament: “that damn Buddy, I know he did it.”


Harry James and the entire band were absolutely on fire!
Harry James at Newport Jazz Festival @ Saratoga, NY July 2, 1978
Ciribiribin
Roll ‘Em
Satin Doll
Opus One
Blues Stay Away From Me
Sweet Georgia Brown
Blues for Sale
You’ll Never Know
I'm Beginning To See the Light
I Get a Kick Out of You
Don't Get Around Much Anymore
That Old Black Magic
The Shiek Of Araby
Apples
Two O’ Clock Jump



https://www.amazon.com/Harry-James-Tr...