Johnny Guarnieri (1917-1985) was a jazz pianist who had the ability to closely imitate Fats Waller, Count Basie, and Art Tatum. In 1939, he joined Benny Goodman’s orchestra, recording frequently with both the big band and the sextet. Through the 1940s he freelanced with many bands and and played with all of the top jazz musicians of the era, including Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Lester Young, Roy Eldridge, Coleman Hawkins, and Louis Armstrong.
Leroy Elliott “Slam” Stewart (1914-1987), was a swing-oriented bassist who had perfect pitch. His ability to bow the bass while humming an octave apart made him famous in the jazz world, and he was the most recorded jazz bassist of the 1940s. In 1936, Stewart was with Peanuts Holland’s group and the following year he started playing regularly with guitarist/singer/comedian Slim Gaillard in a group called “Slim and Slam.” Stewart found regular session work throughout the 1940s with Art Tatum’s trio, the Benny Goodman Sextet, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Lester Young.
In 1944, on the Savoy label, Johnny Guarneri and Slam Stewart recorded “Santa’s Secret,” a tribute to the recently deceased Fats Waller. The song attempts to answer the age-old questions, “What’s in the pipe that Santa’s smoking?” and “What makes Santa so jolly?”
LISTEN TO SONG:
DOWNLOAD MP3:
Johnny_Guarnieri_With_Slam_Stewart_-_Santas_Secret.mp3
Loading ...
