Georg Lankester continues his
survey of the career of violinist Eddie
South. Below follows the second part of the article Violinist Eddie South (1904 – 1962)
- A Striking Musician, Part Two.
The first part of the article is accessible here
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| Eddie South |
Eddie’s Recordings In France
The first
appearance of the violinist was planned in the Club des Oiseaux in the Pavillion d’Elegance. Hot Club’s president,
Hugues Panassié hurried to see South
performing and on the initiative of secretary Charles Delaunay it was immediately after the concert decided to
make recordings with Django in the studio.
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| Swing, SW 8 A - Eddie's Blues |
His
Masters’Voice (France) gladly accepted their request, and was prepared to
record several titles of the violinist and Django
Reinhardt, sometimes with a guest player. On 29 September 1937 two titles
were recorded: Eddie’s Blues (by both
artists) and Sweet Georgia Brown with
Wilson Meyers added on bass.
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| Wilson Meyers |
Moreover a
recording of Lady be Good was made of
three violinists: South, Grappelli and Michel
Warlop, accompanied by Django, Chaput and Myers.
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| Michel Warlop |
It is
highly interesting to listen to these records. Here are two continents united
viz. an American jazzman and a Belgian gypsy guitarist who created a new
European swing style.
These
records prove Eddie’s excellent violin playing, calm and inventive, backed by a
unique rhythm, never monotone but full of variations and nicely swinging.
Because of the guitar accompaniment the blues theme came forward even better.
The recordings belong to the most beautiful that Eddie had made so far. His
playing was so inspired that the Hot Club managers got the impression that he
was somewhat envious of Grappelli’s position in the quintet.
He
preferred the slow themes in which he could express his beautiful tone and
could display trills. Eddie did not like so much fast runs although he
certainly had these under control.
As
mentioned earlier a record of the three best violinists of those days was made
titled Lady be good in an arrangement
by Django. One can listen to Eddie, Stéphane and Michel accompanied on two
guitars and bass. After a typical Django solo each violin player gets its turn:
Warlop a bit nervous, Grappelli as usual fully in control and South with
several blues chords. The final chorus shows all violinists together with an
arranged break.
Delaunay now came up with the idea to combine jazz
improvisations with J.S. Bach’s music, played on violin. Though Eddie thought
that this was a ridiculous suggestion those recordings were indeed made since
Grappelli was interested because of the money it would generate.
For Django
this was something fully unknown, but they let him listen to recordings of Yehudi Menuhin. On basis of those he
prepared the way how to accompany. The guitarist admired Bach’s harmonies!
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| Swing, SW 18 A |
Under the
supervision of Charles Delaunay – the founder of the Swing label - these
recordings were made on the same day. It was a good initiative because these
records are of historical value and illustrate the level of the musicians.
For the Swing label Delaunay also recorded
duets of South and Grappelli with accompaniment, titles: Dinah and Daphne.
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| Swing, SW 12 B Daphne |
It is
fascinating to hear the different styles of these two artists and the beautiful
alternating solos of Reinhardt.
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| SW 31 A Somebody Loves Me |
On 23 November
1937 La voix de son Maître recorded
two tracks of Eddie, Django and Paul Cordonnier (bass), “Somebody loves me” and “I can’t believe that you’re in love with me”,
two romantic ballads.
And, of
course, Hot Club fans enjoy the interpretation of Bach’s ‘minor concert’
performed by South, Grappelli and Reinhardt on the same date, followed by the
improvised version of it (which included a guitar introduction). Finally the
nice theme Fiddle Blues was played in
an up-tempo.
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| Brunswick flyer |
In 1938
Eddie stayed some time in Holland where he made a few records for Brunswick. It
would be the end of his European visits.
Back Home
Then he
left Europa and made the voyage to his native country together with Benny Carter. During the Forties he
played in several clubs among which Kelly’s
Stables, had his own group and toured around with bass player Billy Taylor (known from the recordings
with Rex Stewart and Django in Paris
in ’39). He further worked with studio formations in Los Angeles and New York
for MGM and other companies. Because of his popularity he also had his own
radio program. In the Fifties Eddie also could be seen on television presented
by well-known persons such as Herb Lyons
and Dave Garroway.
Despite a
declining health he kept playing. However, on 25 April 1962 he died in Chicago,
far too early. Although, being a great violinist, he never got the reputation of
Stuff Smith and Stephane Grappelli.
Some Features
Eddie South
is in fact the most sophisticated violinist we have known. His first appaeranc
as a classical musician most likely has been the reason to create such a subtle
swing. He played in a very melodious way and produced pure and often soft
notes.
He was fascinated
by gypsy music and although many critics assert that he could not make this
style his own, several recordings prove to the contrary. But some blues
elements are certainly also noticable in his performances. Anyhow Eddie South
surely has been a significant jazz violinist
Recommended
recordings: Two guitars (1929), Eddie’s Blues (1937), Sweet Georgia Brown (1937), Stompin’
at the Savoy (1941), Fiddle Ditty
(1956).
Georg Lankester
---
Jo
keepitswinging.domain@gmail.com
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