Louie Bellson Legacy: NEWS

Read this piece about how the Kennedy Center Honors Award seems to avoid jazz legends. (click) http://www.jazzwax.com/2008/12/the-kennedy-cen.html
Remember point #1 in our Dec 5 News entry below?
"1. Direct some young person you know to this website so they can learn about a real American Legend." Well, according to this article, they'll never learn it from the Kennedy Center (tribute program that's aired on national television over the holidays)!
_______________________________________________________________

Early Dec, Mr. Bellson was discharged from the Hospital and transferred to a Rehabilitation Facility in the L.A. area. (Hallelujah!) He has begun a rigorous regimen of physical therapy to get him walking again on that fractured/repaired hip. As you would expect, he remains highly motivated.

There is no phone in the room, and even if there were, you can imagine the adverse effect of numerous phonecalls on him and other patients. So we do truly thank the vast majority of you who are respecting his privacy (thus aiding his convalescence) by responding to our request to sign the Guestbook (which can be batch-printed and presented to him periodically). Also, we love receiving the greeting cards arriving (via Remo, Inc.) . . . Keep ‘em coming! _______________________________________________________________

Mrs. B has received hundreds of communications asking “if there’s anything I can do …” Well, in a word . . . . YES! Since actions speak louder than words, here’s how you can show your love for Louie Bellson:
1. Direct some young person you know to this website so they can learn about a real American Legend.
2. Obtain Bellson’s self-produced CDs for yourself/friends/family this holiday.
The Sacred Music of Louie Bellson (big band, symphony, choir) Louie & Clark Expedition 2 (big band) . . . Click Gift Shop Have these works he composed affected you? Then let him know! (via Guestbook)
3. Reward yourself with Bellson drum cookies (Yum!)
Click Gift Shop or order direct at CookieGarden.com. (Use discount code LB08) 4. Then, sit back and watch the videoclips (15 selections). Click Music/Videos _______________________________________________________________

Early Nov, Mr. Bellson suffered a fall in the L.A. area and was taken to the Hospital. (We'd like to think he was so happy about the election that he jumped up and broke his hip!)
Seriously, though, send your get-well wishes by signing the Guestbook page.
For cards, use the Remo address given on the Contact or Bio page.

And if you’d really like to put a smile on his face (and yours too!) get his latest CD “Louie & Clark Expedition 2” (thru CDBaby or Amazon.) and let him know what you think.
_______________________________________________________________

—Drummer Louie Bellson on playing in Harry James' band, taken from Trumpet Blues: The Life of Harry James by Peter J. Levinson.
(Online journalist Marc Myers quotes Louie Bellson in Nov 28 JazzWax blog.)
Click http://www.jazzwax.com/2008/11/louie-bellson-s.html _______________________________________________________________

See the latest Bellson Video Clips -- Get your popcorn (or drum cookies) & enjoy! Four more video clips were added to the website,
now bringing the total number to 15.

Click Music/Videos at left, or click this image-->.

_______________________________________________________________

Take a sneak peak & signup before DrumChannel's official release. (click logo)
According to their recent e-blast:
We’re also extremely excited to announce that Drum Channel is moving into the beta phase of development, and we want to invite you to join us before we go live later this year. This is a fantastic opportunity to help shape the Drum Channel community from the very beginning. Be one of the first to experience the site in all its glory, and help us make Drum Channel the resource for drummers and music lovers everywhere. Go to http://www.DrumChannel.com and sign up for the beta.

_______________________________________________________________

Swingin' and Eatin', you can't beat that!
Vintage Drum historian David Anfuso and Bellson Drum Wife Francine have collaborated "out of the box" on the world's first DRUM COOKIES!

Sit back and listen to Bellson music while you enjoy these scrumptious gourmet cookies in a choice of commemorative Gift Tins. Each tin is hand made to order and loaded with 12 gourmet cookies, each individually wrapped and labeled. Support an American Legend by ordering your gift tin today! CookieGarden.com. (Use discount code LB08)

_______________________________________________________________

Louie Bellson's fall tour through three cities in Illinois/Iowa is really shaping up! <----- Just click the "Schedule" at left for all the details, including getting your application in for the Drum Competition. Guests include Hannah Ford, the Northern Ill. Univ. (NIU) Jazz Ensemble and the Manny Lopez Band.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

Click photo for article on last time Bellson gigged in the Quad-Cities. (2006)

_______________________________________________________________

Another outstanding press review (our 31st!) of "Louie & Clark Expedition 2" in prestigious Cadence Magazine. (Not online; shown here in its entirety.)
"...might have been a rather tired run-through of big-band clichés by two octogenarians, its appeal a matter of sentimentality and nostalgia, but it is much more. Bellson’s compositions are often moving (in every sense of the word), and the soloists play beautifully: trumpeter Gut, tenorist Guerra, pianist Sung, bassist McLaurine, trombonist Hunter. The sections sound expertly rehearsed, and the band rocks and shouts. Both Bellson and Terry are wily masters—knowing what to do, how, and when, and the results are gratifying Jazz. Listen to “Davenport Blues” (not Bix’s, but Bellson’s) and “Well Alright Then” for swinging proof. Here’s to this brave, cheerful expedition!" (Cadence Magazine, July-Aug-Sept. quarterly issue, p. 254)
<< For other fine reviews, go to Press Reviews section at left. Or, click: http://www.louiebellson.info/press-group-11.html _______________________________________________________________

Louie & Francine spoke with Clark again this weekend who's steadily improving. (Amen!) As mentioned before, you can send him a "get-well" message by going to his website clarkterry.com.

But if you REALLY want to make him feel better, get his latest CD with Louie Bellson, "Louie & Clark Expedition 2" (big band) on Amazon.com or CDBaby.com.
(Click photo to hear clips/buy CD.) --> _______________________________________________________________

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOUIE! Click birthday photo for Radio interview today at 8:00 pm Calif. time. --->













__________________________________________________________________

Hear the Radio Interview on Bellson's birthday! (July 6) FLASH! This interview is the bomb! We just heard the Saturday airing of it and we were ecstatic! It was 2 hours of bombastic big band Bellson interspersed with the informative interview. If you possibly can, catch the next session Sun July 6 at 8:00 pm (Pacific Time).
Listen online at www.thesparadio.com. Or, click “Listen Live” above.
_______________________________________________________________

Celebrate Bellson’s birthday (July 6) by sending him a wish in the Guestbook! • Hear Louie Bellson’s on-air interview on KSPA Radio, 1450/1510 AM, San Diego area Sat July 5 at 1:00 pm and Sun July 6 at 8:00 pm (Pacific Time). Or, listen online at www.thesparadio.com. (click “Listen Live”)
_______________________________________________________________

Recently, we received correspondence from Dave Anfuso who has established an online display of his Bellson artifact collection on Vintage Drum Guide. For direct link to the Bellson page (which we think is tastefully done), click photo at right. --->
We designate him as our “Vintage Bellson” expert for all vintage drum issues or memorabilia (literature, drum keys, heads, sticks and everything associated with drumming). Enjoy!
_______________________________________________________________

Journalist/critic Glenn Kenny reviews the 1943 Busby Berkeley film "The Gang's All Here" in The Auteur's Notebook, an online film journal. Mr. Kenny solicited and has graciously included Bellson's memoirs of his participation in the film as part of the Benny Goodman orchestra. (click photo for link to read review).
(Go to Music/Videos section at left for film clip). _______________________________________________________________

5-DVD SET.
As those of you who have visited our "Video Clip" section already know, Bellson appeared in the 1943 movie "The Gang's All Here" with Benny Goodman, Alice Faye and Carmen Miranda. This and 4 other movies are now available for sale on DVD as part of the Carmen Miranda Collection. (To buy, click on photo.)
Available on Amazon; Barnes & Noble.


Or...

Is a 5-CD set a bit much for you? "The Gang's All Here" is also available as a single DVD. (To buy, click on photo.)


_______________________________________________________________

LOUIE & CLARK EXPEDITION 2 is now available for download on Apple iTunes. (Click logo.) -->

_______________________________________________________________

In the Music/Video section: Louie & Clark Expedition 2 - Drummers _______________________________________________________________

Have you visited the Music/Videos on this website lately? (Click at left bar) We've removed one and added one: "Paducah" with all the flashy stylings of Carmen Miranda, no less. Bellson gets such good exposure in this clip that you don't even need to check the "LB" on the drums to make sure it's him.
_______________________________________________________________

“Arigatou/Thank you” to Bellson fan Takeshi Takeuchi of Yokohama, Japan for responding to our request to translate two Japanese reviews of “Louie & Clark Expedition 2.” Takeuchi, a drummer, reports “The popularity of Louie Bellson continues in Japan. I am requested (to play) ‘Skin Deep’ often.”
Transcribed by Mrs. B. For full text in both English and Japanese, click “Press Reviews” at left. _______________________________________________________________

Be unique! Give Louie Bellson gifts this June! Visit: Mrs. B's Gift Shop. CDs, DVDs, drum books, posters, photos, T-shirts, etc.
_______________________________________________________________

We spoke by phone with Clark after he left the Kansas City, KS hospital and came home to Arkansas. You can still send a "get-well" message by going to his website clarkterry.com (Shown here at May 2007 recording session in NYC.) _______________________________________________________________

"...Being able to grow and adapt, both musically, culturally and spiritually; learning from elders and friends is what makes Louie Bellson one of the most enduring and endearing artists in the jazz pantheon. With his eye on the eternal prize, he has run the race, and has kept the faith - spiritually and musically."
--George Harris, May 2008 All About Jazz - Los Angeles (not online - click link)
_______________________________________________________________

Get Louie & Clark Expedition 2 from DigStation - Indie Music Downloads.
Click green "go" -->

_______________________________________________________________