#danny barker

[jazzdailyblog]

Hot Lips Page: The Unsung Hero of Jazz and Swing

Introduction: In the golden age of jazz and swing, the era was rife with iconic figures who etched their names in the annals of music history. Amid the glittering constellation of stars, Oran “Hot Lips” Page emerged as a dynamic force—a trumpeter, vocalist, and bandleader whose immense talent and charisma lit up every stage he graced. Although his contributions have often been overshadowed by…

Hot Lips Page: The Unsung Hero of Jazz and Swing

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

[musicmags]

[cbjustmusic]

Maria Muldaur performing “Don’t You Feel My Leg” at the 1988 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. She winked at me one time. _______________________ Don’t You Feel My Leg Songwriters: Blue Lu Barker, Danny Barker and J. Mayo Williams

Don't you feel my leg, don't you feel my leg 'Cause if you feel my leg, you gonna feel my thigh And if you feel my thigh, you gonna go up high So don't you feel my leg

Don't you buy no rye, don't you buy no rye 'Cause if you buy me rye, you gonna make me high If you make me high, you'll get a big surprise So don't you buy no rye

You say, you'll take me dancin', buy me gin and wine But I know different, you got somethin' else on your mind You say we'll ball and have a lovely time What I got is mine all mine

Don't you feel my leg, don't you feel my leg 'Cause if you feel my leg, you'll wanna feel my thigh And if you feel my thigh, you gonna make me high So don't you feel my thigh

Don't you feel my leg, don't you feel my leg 'Cause if you feel my leg, you'll wanna feel my thigh And if you feel my thigh, you gonna make me high So don't you feel my leg

Don't you feel my leg Don't you feel that leg, mm-mm

[deathnskulls]

Billie Holiday : Fine and mellow (1957) Billie Holiday singing with Ben Webster -- tenor saxophone, Lester Young -- tenor saxophone, Vic Dickenson -- trombone, Gerry Mulligan -- baritone saxophone, Coleman Hawkins -- tenor saxophone, Roy Eldridge -- trumpet, Doc Cheatham -- trumpet, Danny Barker -- guitar, Milt Hinton -- double bass, Mal Waldron -- piano and Osie Johnson - drums "Love is just like a faucet It turns off and on Love is just like a faucet It turns off and on"

[rjt4]

Danny Barker and Dizzy Gillespie asleep, 1940.

[cbjustmusic]

Maria Muldaur performing ”Don't You Feel My Leg” at the 1988 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. This song was written and recorded by husband and wife team Danny and Blue Lu Barker in the 1930’s. The story goes that a record store was loudly playing this song as President Roosevelt went by. This lead to a secret service investigation to find out who would play such music in the presence of the President.

Here is a short video about the Barkers. ______________________ Don't You Feel My Leg Songwriter: Danny and Blue Lu Barker

Oh, don't you feel my leg, don't you feel my leg 'Cos if you feel my leg, you'll want to feel my thigh Don't you feel my thigh, you'll wanna move up high

So don't you feel my leg Don't you buy no rye, don't you buy no rye 'Cos if you buy me some rye, you gonna make me high If you make me high, you'll wanna loosen my tie Don't you buy no rye

Now you say, you'll take me out, buy me gin and wine You got something different on your mind Say, we're gonna have a lovely time But what I got, I know is mine

Don't you feel my leg, don't you feel my leg 'Cos if you feel my leg, you'll want to feel my thigh If you feel my thigh, you're gonna get a surprise Don't you feel my leg

Now you say, you'll take me out buy me gin and wine Honey, you got something on your mind Say, we're gonna have a lovely time What I got, I know is mine

Don't you feel my leg, don't you feel my leg 'Cos if you feel my leg, you'll wanna feel my thigh If you feel my thigh, you'll want to move up high You're gonna get a surprise

So, don't you feel my leg So, don't you feel my leg

[davidisen]

New Orleans #11 - The Danny Barker Festival Patrons' Party

L to R the band is Mari Watanabe on keys, Mitchell Player on bass, Seva Venet on 6-string banjo, Jason Marsalis on drums, Detroit Brooks on guitar, Freddie Lorenzo on trombone, Gregg Stafford on trumpet, and Doctor Michael White on clarinet.

Thanks to a previous gig by Seva (on banjo above), I got the Danny Barker story. Danny (1909-1994) was a dedicated, charismatic, teacher, band leader, musician. Seva came to town five years after Danny died, but he met so many musicians who'd changed their lives from meeting Danny, that he spent the rest of his life living up to the Danny Barker legacy.

One of the women at our table was even more enthusiastic. She said that Danny Barker helped so many young people by getting them into music that, "he changed this town in a big way." Given the musical talent that calls New Orleans home, that's saying something. The Danny Barker Festival, most of which we're gonna hafta miss, is an extended low-key multi-day affair. The Patron's Party was just 50 or 60 people, most of whom have forgotten more about jazz than I'll ever know.

Nancy Ochsenschlager is one of the heroes of New Orleans jazz. She's been involved since the earliest days of Jazz Fest, serving as producer, director, and in many other roles. She also helped legendary Jazz Fest producer George Wein with the Newport Folk Festival and Jazz Festival. She knew, and knows, everybody. We were fortunate to sit next to her at a gig a week ago. I'm honored to be able to sit at her feet and learn.

Doctor Michael White is another hero of New Orleans Jazz.

Here's Detroit Brooks. Watching him reminded me of the one time I saw Stephane Grapelli. Like Grapelli, who was well into his 80s when I saw him, Detroit had a limited range of motion. You could barely see his fingers move, yet his guitar made beautiful music.

Another shot of Seva Venet, a humble servant of the music.

Trombone player Freddie Lorenzo was another of the grand old New Orleans jazz men. He sang a funny, gravelly-voiced sendup of Louis Armstrong's "Hello Dolly."

Gregg Stafford, on trumpet, also sang a sweet one. One of the folks at our table said he was one of the original Barker Boys.

Here's Detroit Brooks singing one.

Cynthia Sayer, from NYC, a frequent performer at Mona's, was guest of honor at the festival. With all the talent around here, that is quite an honor. I'll have to get her to tell me about her Danny Barker connection.

The Dixie Cups, above, sang several Blue Lu Barker songs to close out the evening. Blue Lu was Danny's wife. Her most famous song these days is, "Don't you feel my leg," written in 1938, which was a hit for Maria Muldaur in 2018.