#bud freeman

Introduction: In the golden age of jazz and swing, the era was rife with iconic figures who etched their names in the annals of music history. Amid the glittering constellation of stars, Oran “Hot Lips” Page emerged as a dynamic force—a trumpeter, vocalist, and bandleader whose immense talent and charisma lit up every stage he graced. Although his contributions have often been overshadowed by…

@charliesmydarling​ The jazz drummer in question is Dave Tough (1907-47). He was an early swing/jazz drummer, and also one of Charlie’s biggest heroes. They’re remarkably similar in appearance and personality, actually. 

Tough grew up well educated, but eschewed the professional life his father wanted for him to become a musician. He was born in Chicago, and spent a lot of his early life listening to African-American bands (as well as brining others to Lincoln Gardens to do the same), eventually he became a founding member of the Austin City High School Gang and one of the most prodigious drummers of his generation, though he never willingly took a solo. Even as a teenager, he was so good that Louis Armstrong used to stop by the White City Ballroom a few times every week to hear him play. 

Eventually, he moved to New York to try to make it in the big leagues, and, later in the ‘20s, he traveled to Europe, and found a lot of success in Paris. However, he was also epileptic, and at that time some doctors believed that alcohol was a cure for that disorder, so he developed a drinking problem. Right before the Great Depression, he came back to the US, and bounced for a few years between NYC and Chicago, sometimes playing the drums and sometimes essentially living on the street because he was getting drunk so often he couldn’t work. By 1935, he’d gotten himself somewhat together, and he worked in a variety of famous big bands, including those of Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Jack Teagarden, etc. 

During WWII, he was in Artie Shaw’s Naval Band, and after that came his apogee. He joined Woody Herman’s First Herd (1945-6), and had his period of greatest professional success and recognition, becoming the first drummer to win the Down Beat, Metronome, and Esquire polls all in one year. But his alcoholism forced him to leave the band, and began drifting around to work occasionally with old friends. In December of 1947, he slipped on an icy sidewalk in Newark, New Jersey and died, aged 41.

Tough is fascinating as a drummer, but also as a human being. He was a talented writer, who worked on a novel (as of yet still unfound) through his life, published a book of poetry so good it was praised by Kenneth Rexroth 40 years later, and wrote music criticism and advice columns for Metronome. In the same vein, he was very interested in, and knowledgeable about, art, literature, linguistics, etc. But he felt that he was an awful writer and an even worse drummer. Those close to him remembered him as a thin, quiet, hilarious little man (about 5’6” and 98 lbs) who always had a book and never had a kind word for himself. A lot of them thought his self-hatred was the root cause of his alcoholism, and why he eventually drank himself to death. 

No-one else saw Tough the way he saw himself, though. He was universally beloved for his extraordinary kindness, and regarded as one of the greatest drummers ever. Woody Herman said, “A giant rhythm player! With the least amount of ‘chops,’ Dave inspired a whole big screamin’ band with his subtleties and strong feeling for time. And he was probably the most gentle, the kindest, one of the grooviest cats you’d ever want to know." Everyone who knew him said the same. Giants of jazz like Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton, etc. went on praising him years after his death and the most extraordinary thing you run into reading about him is that basically no-one had a bad thing to say about him. 

Bud Freeman (1906-1991), the saxophonist, became friends with Tough as a kid, and remained probably the closest one he had through his whole life. They were in the Austin City High School Gang together, went to NYC together, worked to find each other positions in Europe, worked together constantly in the ‘30s, etc. After Dave died, Bud, who was a composer and writer in addition to being a musician, made it a mission to ensure that the world didn’t forget his friend. Dave appears constantly in all of his books. 

“Dave started playing drums as a Boy Scout. He was an Eagle Scout and a fantastic drummer at twelve…Even as a young kid, Dave had something very special. He made it easy for those who worked with him. He practically played your instrument for you. When I performed with other drummers, my fingers would lock up because these guys didn't keep good time. Dave's beat was so powerful that my fingers flew over the horn. Dave was a little beyond being a drummer. That was a hell of a deep mind working there. I don't think an ordinary man could play that well. He was just incredible. So strong yet so subtle. He sounded like another note in the band.”

“The great man who was later to lead all the bop drummers in what they thought was a new style.” 

“Dave Tough, who would become the greatest jazz drummer in America, or anywhere…” 

“In my view, he was a Louis Armstrong, a Bix Beiderbecke, a James P. Johnson. A true giant!”

Essentially, he used his second life as a memoirist as a way to help make Tough immortal, and to carry on their longest standing argument after his death, to try to convince Dave that he really was a great musician.  I think the little story he tells about Dave in Crazeology is a beautiful encapsulation of their relationship. 

Shakepeare, Swing and Louis Armstrong: So What Went Wrong?

Swingin’ The Dream, a musical based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream was a flop on Broadway, but this 1939 show (which ran for only 13 performances) hosted a bevy of great names, including Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman’s Sextet, Maxine Sullivan and Bud Freeman’s Summa Cum Laude Orchestra. A New York Times article reflected on this show and an upcoming revival.

-Scott Wenzel

Various Artists

Newport Jazz Festival All Stars

@1958 UK 1st Pressing

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Introduction: Nick Fatool, a drummer who seamlessly transitioned between the swing and Dixieland jazz eras, left an indelible mark on American jazz music. Known for his impeccable timing, versatile drumming style, and ability to adapt to various bandleaders’ unique styles, Fatool carved out a prominent role in the evolution of jazz from the 1930s through the 1960s. His legacy continues to…