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At the Movies w/ Louie Bellson

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Enjoy!

Video Qty to date: 18 & growing!

 

“Skin Deep”

Composed by Bellson.  Performed here backed by the house band of “Late Night with Conan O'Brien” (NYC,1994)  

Newlywed Mrs. B was in the audience.

 

“The Hawk Talks”

Louie Bellson with Duke Ellington Orchestra, 1952/5

Louie Bellson composed "The Hawk Talks" while in the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

 

 

 

 

“Paducah”

Bellson w/ Carmen Miranda & Benny Goodman in The Gang's All Here (1943)

 

Louie is best seen at 1:25 and from 2:00 - 2:40 and 3:00 - 3:50. But just sit back and enjoy the whole lavish Busby Berkeley extravaganza! 


 

 

 

 

Buddy Rich Meets Louis Bellson

The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (1969)

Drum battle playing "Groovin' Hard" - Composition/Arrangement by Don Menza.

 

 

"Why Don't You Do Right?"

Louie Bellson, Peggy Lee, Benny Goodman Band, Stage Door Canteen, 1943

From the 1943 film, Stage Door Canteen.  Notice Bellson’s fancy stick twirls over Goodman's shoulder (:26) at the beginning. (Pretty confident stuff for those "1-take and shoot" times, wouldn't you say?)

 

"The Louie Bellson Song"

Composed & performed by bassist Jay Leonhart, The Bass Lesson, 2003    
Longtime Bellson friend bassist Jay Leonhart relates a confrontational incident at a society gig where the Louie Bellson Band was playing.

(Liked that? You should obtain the full DVD.)

The Bass Lesson - DVD Jay Leonhart's one man musical comedy as shown on PBS. Jay plays the bass and sings his songs. Click here to buy the DVD/CD thru CD Baby.com.

 

"That's How Jazz Was Born"

Louie Bellson, Benny Goodman, et. al., A Song Is Born, 1948

Watch young Louie Bellson (23) back Virginia Mayo and Louis Armstrong in this clip from the 1948 film, A Song Is Born, playing "That's How Jazz was Born." Get movie/DVD on Amazon: (click) http://www.amazon.com/Song-Born-Danny-Kaye/dp/B001PPLINW/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1

 

"Stealin' Apples"

Louie Bellson, Benny Goodman, et. al., A Song Is Born, 1948

Watch clip from the 1948 film, A Song Is Born.  Bellson is playing drums in the background on "Stealin' Apples". (Text by permission from JazzWax.com 9-10-07) 

 

"All the Cats Join In"

Benny Goodman Band, Make Mine Music  circa 1944. 

 

Bellson provides the drumming with Benny Goodman & the Pied Pipers for this delightful clip from the Disney animated film Make Mine Music Enjoy! (Animator: Fred Moore)

 

“Minnie's In the Money”

Louie Bellson with Benny Goodman Orchestra in The Gang's All Here (1943)  

Dig Bellson, age 19, drumming behind Benny Goodman's "Minnie's in the Money" from The Gang's All Here, directed by Busby Berkeley (1943). Check the "LB" on the drums above the "BG". Dy-no-mite dancing!!

 

 

“Everything’s Coming Up Roses” Drum Solo

Louie Bellson & his Big Band Explosion from the Cork Jazz Festival 1980, play his solo from the Explosion album. Says the fan posting this video, "In terms of power and sheer stamina, Louie was the man!"

 

 

“Don’t Be That Way”

Louie Bellson with Benny Goodman Orchestra, 1985


Let's Dance - Don't Be That Way, Oct 7, 1985 at the New York Marriott Marquis. Clarinet:Benny Goodman Piano:Dick Hyman Drums:Louis Bellson Bass:Bob Haggart Guitar:James Chirillo Tenor Sax:Ken Peplowski, Loren Schoenberg Alto Sax:Chuck Wilson, Jack Stuckey Baritone Sax:Danny Bank Trombone:Eddie Bert, Bobby Pring, Matt Finders Trumpet:Paul Cohen, Randy Sandke, John Eckert, Laurie Frink.

 

Clark Terry & Louie Bellson: Improv Workshop

 Louie Bellson with Clark Terry at Tri-C Jazz Fest, Cleveland, 1985 

Trumpeter Clark Terry and Percussionist Louie Bellson discuss improvisation and demonstrate the importance of listening/playing musically within a group. 
Dr. Thom Horning, Moderator; Willard Jenkins, Producer.

 

Bellson plays his Custom Billy Gladstone Snare Drum

 Bellson giving a clinic at the Hollywood Vintage Drum Show, 1999  

Louie Bellson, while giving a clinic at the 1999 Hollywood Vintage Drum Show, is reunited with his Billy Gladstone Custom Snare Drum. Billy Gladstone was the featured percussionist at Radio City Music Hall during the years 1932 to 1950. After leaving the Music Hall, he built some 60 custom snare drums in the 1950's, of which only about 43 remain today. Bellson's drum was built in 1956. Bellson notes that his Gladstone drum was originally supplied to him with gut snares. The drum in this video is fitted with wire snares but since has been restored to gut. Host: Kerry Crutchfield. Posted by: Chet Falzerano.

 

Louie Bellson, Pearl Bailey and Arthur Fiedler

Bellson & wife Pearl Bailey perform at the The Boston Pops Orchestra, 1975 
1. “Smile”

2. "Cabaret"

 

Louie Bellson Big Band Explosion plays “Carnaby Street”

From March 18, 1983 TV show "Pearl Bailey & Friends," featuring Louie & Pearl, Sarah Vaughan, Tony Bennett, tap-dancer Charles 'Honi' Coles, et. al. (recorded at Centre College, Danville, KY)

Tip: Must turn volume up on this one.

 

Louie Bellson Trio, Milt Hinton, bass, George Wein, piano

Berne Jazz Festival, Berne Switzerland, 1994

 

NAMM Interview - In His Own Words

Louie Bellson was one of the first subjects of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Oral History Program. (2003 & 1995)

To watch these two videos (4:40 & 2:07) click here:   https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/louie-bellson 


 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . COMING ATTRACTIONS . . . . . . . . . .

(More titles coming as I have time to enter them. --Mrs. B.)
Know of other (legal) Bellson videoclips online?  If so, send the link to bellson_1@att.net for our consideration. Thanks.

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