Hudson lake - a novel about Bix

Subject: Hudson lake - a novel about Bix
From: GUEST,Big Al Whittle
Date: 22 Sep 20 - 06:48 AM

Hudson Lake is a novel about bix's gig with the Goldkette band in the summer of 1926.

lots of nice period detail.

I won't deliver an opinion, because I think its a worthy enterprise. personally i didn't find it compelling read. it took me a long time to grasp the basic relationships, but it certainly hammers home the point that we are all very judgemental, about this very private men.

Subject: RE: Hudson lake - a novel about Bix
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 22 Sep 20 - 09:16 AM

A propos of not much I was just listening to a very nice mellow solo jazz guitar album called 'Flashes' by Bucky Pizzarelli on Spotify late last night. Highly recommended, if a little middle-of-the-road.

The tracks are preceded by spoken reminiscences from Bucky associated with a tune.

Before one of the tunes, I couldn't understand who this 'Big Spider Beck' he was referring to was. His pronunciation of Bix's name took me a second or two to process

Subject: RE: Hudson lake - a novel about Bix
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Sep 20 - 09:25 AM

Bix Beiderbecke

Subject: RE: Hudson lake - a novel about Bix
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 22 Sep 20 - 10:54 AM

If it involves Bix, I'm in. Thanks for the heads-up.

Subject: RE: Hudson lake - a novel about Bix
From: GUEST,Big Al Whittle
Date: 22 Sep 20 - 01:19 PM

Do I get the sense of another rabid fan like myself gillymor?

My chronology isn't perfect, but it sounds a little like the period described by a Ralph Berton in 'Remembering Bix'. Or maybe that was a different year - very different bloke anyway.

Subject: RE: Hudson lake - a novel about Bix
From: gillymor
Date: 22 Sep 20 - 08:32 PM

I haven't read Berton's book in a long time and my memory ain't what it was, Al, but I think it was set in the time when Bix was leaving the Wolverines and on into Goldkette and it also had some anecdotes about his time with Whiteman. My favorite book on Bix is Dick Sudhalter's bio. There is also a nice chapter on Bix in Nat Hentoff's oral history of early jazz "Hear Me Talkin' to Ya" (a great read if you haven't already) with some of Bix' contemporaries weighing in.

Subject: RE: Hudson lake - a novel about Bix
From: GUEST,Big Al whittle.
Date: 23 Sep 20 - 08:23 PM

Theres another novel, 1929 by Frederick Turner.

Another refugee from the remaindered bin. As you say the Berton might have been from an earlier period. Like Hudson Lake , it has Bix sharing a mistress with Machine Gun Jack McGurn.

I wasn't keen on the Sudhalter - it all seemed a bit Norman Rockwell.
Sort of revisionist in the way that Robert Louis Stevenson's widow tried to canonise RLS after death.

I know a lot of musicians whose parents gave them a hard time for following their bent, however i think the extent of the pile up disaster surprised a lot of people at the time. And no one seems to be able and willing to coordinate all the facts.

Those able to access the facts are unwilling to unravel the mystery, and those willing and anxious to solve the mystery don't seem to be able to access the facts.

Subject: RE: Hudson lake - a novel about Bix
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Sep 20 - 10:28 AM

I remember being disappointed in that Ralph Berton book (I think it was called "Me and Bix" or maybe "Bix and Me") in that it seemed more a memoir about his family and Bix was treated like a shadowy character who ducked in and out of it. Berton came into contact with Bix through his brother Vic, a drummer and percussionist with Whiteman, when Vic was either managing or promoting the Wolverines. Once again my memory may be sketchy.
There was a lot of myth, mystery and rumor surrounding Bix and that's probably why I find his story so fascinating. I have a feeling that with all the romantic speculation the guy just simply succumbed to alcoholism. It would be nice if someone could put together an objective, definitive biography but as you say maybe the facts just aren't accessible. Whatever, the guy was a poet with his horn and he left plenty of evidence of that behind.

Subject: RE: Hudson lake - a novel about Bix
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 24 Sep 20 - 10:29 AM

that was me

Subject: RE: Hudson lake - a novel about Bix
From: GUEST,Big Al Whittle
Date: 26 Sep 20 - 06:11 AM

I suppose not much disappoints me about the Bix phenomenon.

I get it - even those people trying to sanctify his memory by judiciously omitting details that don't chime in with the all American legend.

Beiderbecke site was hugely condemning of the the Berton book. Possibly they sensed danger, when hearing that Bix chose the company of a ten tear old boy. Knowing what they knew - and we didn't at the time.

The thing that really provoked their ire was the story that Bix had had an affair with drummer Vic Berton. Of coursr the book was published at a time whem gay love was a crime in England, and many other parts of the world.

I understand that the town of Davenport, and the Beiderbecke family family find the whole thing of trying to understand the past disquieting. Frankly theres not too much in the history of jazz music and musicians that makes for comfortable reading, or offers much hope for humanity.

Subject: RE: Hudson lake - a novel about Bix
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 26 Sep 20 - 06:23 AM

For me it wasn't so much the content of the Berton book, the disappointment was the lack of material about Bix. Ralph Berton seemed to have only a passing relationship with the man. Btw, I think the alleged affair was with Berton's other brother, Gene.
"Frankly theres not too much in the history of jazz music and musicians that makes for comfortable reading, or offers much hope for humanity,"
Very true, fortunately we have their work to sustain and nourish us.

Subject: RE: Hudson lake - a novel about Bix
From: GUEST,Big Al Whittle
Date: 26 Sep 20 - 08:17 AM

Sorry about getting the facts wrong! Its years since I read the book.

I agree with you about the body of work giving us sustenance.

I think though there are things to be learned.

That his own union, who should have been promoting creativity was so stupid and obstructive. His family - despite the gloss, later applied - well there was something not quite right.

The economic pressure once again propelling him into The Whiteman band. That's another weird happenstance.

I imagine all folk players have churned out Country Roads ans streets of London to put food on the table. That a genius such as Bix should have been prey to the same pressures really is an obscenity. Its like Clapton joining the Big Ben Banjo Band.