Ein Leserbrief aus Downbeat vom 16.12.1946, der ein bisschen die Atmosphaere beschreibt, die George Johnson und Don Byas in Barcelona vorgefunden haben duerften… Die Johnson Band war wohl die zweite amerikanische Jazzband in Europa nach dem Krieg, nach der legendaeren Don Redman Tour mit Don Byas… Der Autor, Dave Sternberg, war – wie auch aus dem Brief klar wird – der Manager der Johnson Band…
A Yankee In Spain
Barcelona. Spain
To the Editors.I arrived here some time ago, and am having the time of my life. Meat twice a day, cognac in my coffee, lobster thermidor for the asking, a swell hotel room on Barcelona’s Park ave.. and like the first white man the Indians saw, I am considered a God here, because I am a foreigner.
Nightlife in Spain is the answer to the night club owners prayers. On Monday nights they are full. The emphasis however is placed on food and not on drinks The government has an unusually heavy tax, around 115 percent of the bill, and yet business thrives. The decor of the places would astound you. They are way beyond any Hollywood concept of richness and they have the Spanish touch of fine marble statues, reproductions of Botticelli, and fine hand carved woodwork.
The musicians have to be unusually adept and fine. They have to play paso dobles, sambas tangoes, boleros and the fox as they call it. The usual musician here plays violin, sax or trumpet, accordion or bandoneon. and sings. One definite letdown
here is their insistence that the music must be continuous. The result is that the music never stops. Before the last note dies out a new number is begun and when the alternating band comes on it starts to play the same number of the band it is relieving und does so while getting on the bandstand. The pianist of the new orchestra (they usually have two pianos in the
place) picks up after the last chord.One place in Madrid called the Casablanca, has a revolving bandstand so while one band finishes the other is in place and being brought on. The Casablanca is done in the Moroccan motif and has a roof that disappears.
The Lamoga where George Johnson will play at is the newest nightclub in Barcelona. It is fabulously rich in decorations and is owned by two young brothers named Julian and Benjamin Rocafort. These two brothers are the local Russeks here. The place seats only 200 people and has a staff of 50 people to wait on the clients. It is a combination of the 21 club and the Monte Carlo. Opening night the tariff was 400 pesetas about $20 The government bite was 215 pesetas out of that 400.
We ran into a snag on the question of visas but that will being ironed out (it was a last minute misunderstanding) and the owner of the place decided to open with two bands on Oct. 23 after postponing the opening for one month (and paying his entire staff for that month) while waiting for my band to come over. They should be over by Nov 20 at the latest. The musical
world is waiting with keen anticipation the invasion of the Yanquis. The last band to visit Barcelona was Benny Carter in 1932.In the Martin De LaRosa orchestra playing at the Lamos is featured a trumpet player who resembles Harry James and is considered Spain’s foremost trumpeter. He has a beautiful tone and phraser tastefully. His name Is Rovira. He has two equally famous brothers who also play trumpet.
More later.
Dave Sternberg
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