5 FAMOUS DEATHS ON THE ROAD TO "STRANGE DAYS" (PART 2)

 

After the beginning of the recording sessions of “Strange Days”, the Doors' second LP released on September 25, 1967, a series of illustrious deaths marked the progress of the studio work.

The first of the five articles in this series discussed the death of bluesman J.B. Lenoire on April 29, 1967, that is shortly after the California group began recording “Strange Days” (the follow up to their debut album).

The second death to occur during the recordings was that of Billy Strayhorn on May 31, '67 at the age of 51. He was a jazz composer, arranger, and pianist, best known as the longtime artistic partner of the famous jazz pianist Duke Ellington.

The Doors were admirers of jazz music, with Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger and John Densmore a little more involved in this wonderful form of expression than Jim Morrison. Thus, they probably acknowledged the departure of a key player of "Behind the scenes" Jazz.

Strayhorn and Ellington represent one of the cornerstones of the swing genre. Together they wrote and produced themes that remain famous to this day and have been covered by countless jazz musicians.

Strayhorn did not participate in the Duke Ellington Orchestra's performances and recordings but worked on writing and developing both songs and their arrangements. For example, he is credited with "Take The A Train" (1939), one of the most famous pieces recorded by Ellington.

Strayhorn's most successful period goes from the late 1930s to the late 1950s, coinciding with the progression of Duke Ellington's career. Strayhorn's worries and resentments about the lack of public recognition compared to Ellington's figure did not prevent the two from continuing to make the history of swing for about 25 years.

Not to be forgotten are several recordings made under Strayhorn's name, which are well worth listening to, although not particularly commercially successful. The best one is certainly the LP "Cue For Saxophone", recorded in April 1959.

Here, swing is reinterpreted in the light of the evolution jazz went through in the 1940s and 1950s. Seven fine musicians, including Strayhorn himself on piano and Johnny Hodges on alto saxophone, perform in relaxed, sometimes humorous tunes which are always of more than good quality.