Stan Hasselgard must have had an incredible talent for
socializing, or building networks as we say today. He introduced Wardell Gray
and Chico O'Farrell to Benny Goodman. Gray joined the septet, O'Farrell would
later write arrangements for Goodman. Back in New
York in the summer of 1948 he encountered
his friend from California,
the skilled trumpet player Uan Rasey, and asked him to devote time to Fats
Navarro! Rasey taught Fats breathing and double tonguing during two and a half
weeks. The lessons sometimes took place in Benny Goodman's appartement, where
Hasselgard stayed at the time.
In a long interview on the web
Rasey also talks about Stan Hasselgard:
"Yes, Stan was a good friend. He was a very fine
clarinet player and a real nice guy. Stan and I played together in California
along with Dodo Marmarosa and many other fine musicians. Dodo was a fine player
who understood the modern harmonies, and unlike a lot of the early bop pianist,
he had the technique to keep up with Bird and the other boppers.
Earlier that year, he had an engagement with Goodman’s
group, which included Wardell Gray and Teddy Wilson, at the Clique in Philadelphia.
Stan told me that one evening Goodman was late, so Stan started off with the
group playing Benny’s part. When Goodman arrived, he was angry that Stan had
started without him, and would not permit Stan to solo for the rest of the
engagement! Stan took it in stride."
Hasselgard never missed an opportunity to hear and
meet his idol Benny Goodman. In the fall of 1947, Red Norvo brought him to a
Goodman rehearsal for a recording session and after that, Hasselgard would be
able to visit the Capitol studios for both rehearsals and recording sessions. He
was soon to walk into the studio as a band leader himself.
Goodman obviously appreciated the charming, easy-going
Swede, both as an admiring fan and a fellow musician. "He sort of modelled
his playing after me, but he was into a more modern vein. I was intrigued by
the way he could play on show tunes like All the Things You Are", Goodman
told Lars Westin during the making of Jonas Sima's film. Lars Westin, the
founder of Dragon Records, writes in his liner notes to the CD with the Click
concerts:
"During the spring of 1948, Goodman repeatedly
invited Hasselgard to his home in Pacific Pallisades outside of Los
Angeles. They began to play together
informally, and Benny soon got the idea to add a rhythm section. In April, they
made a couple of concert appearances on the West Coast."Big plans were made for a Carnegie Hall concert in
May, and they both flew to New York.
Various musicians were tried, including a reluctant Teddy Wilson, but
eventually Goodman had to cancel the concert. At this time, he could not draw
an audience big enough, not like his triumphant concert ten years ago. Instead,
Goodman secured a gig in a restaurant in Philadelphia,
the Click, where the band played short dinner shows during two weeks, starting
at seven o'clock
in the evening. The Dragon CD omits, from the several recorded broadcasts, Goodman's
solo numbers and a number of Patti Page vocals. Yet, there is very litte solo
space for Hasselgard on the 20 tracks. The highlights are Stan's solo on his
old favorite All the Things You Are and on one of the versions of Mel's Idea.
Wardell Gray is featured on Indiana/Donna Lee.
Hasselgard wrote his account to the jazz magazine OJ:
"The job with Goodman in Philadelphia was nice, despite many exhausting broadcasts that you'll never get paid for. When BG is inspired, he can really play and that happend often. I hade to hide, filled with sudden complexes, behind my music stand. Teddy Wilson is excellent as usual but Wardell Gray takes the prize –absolutely the finest tenor player in the States.
The bass player Arnold Fishkind was sacked the first night (and you're lucky as long you can stay aboard) and was replaced by Clyde Lombardi. We'll start in White Plains on the 18th and I think Benny has a radio show planned.
Benny wants Svend Asmussen to come over, and I hope it will work. I've advocated his case, played his records and bragged about him. I met Denzil Best the other night (he plays with Thelonious Monk at the Chicken Roost) and he talked enthusiasticly about Sweden and wants to return as soon as possibly."
