MovieChat Forums > Paris Blues (1961) Discussion > who played the trombone and sax parts

who played the trombone and sax parts

posted 17 years ago by elkanap
7 replies | jump to latest

I'd love to know the answer to this trivia q. Both Newman's and Poitier's parts were definitely dubbed: even if they could play some rudimentary stuff on those instruments, there's no way they could play at the level exhibited in this scene. If they did, they could have made a living as jazz musicians. The sax could have been Sonny Rollins (just a wild guess - a popular 60's jazzman) The trombone sounds a little less be-boppy.....Jack Teagarden, maybe?

Anyway, if anyone knows the answer, please post here or email me at
elkanap @ yahoo. com

Thanks

George

[–] Jeffthinx 15 years ago

George,

I came to these boards with exactly the same question. I was disappointed that imdb didn't have that info. They are often good about that. The first thought that came to me about the trombone was Bill Watrous...with that great vibrato. But he would have been only about 22 at the time this film was made.

Well, I'll keep checking back to see if anyone has the answer.

Ciao, e buon auguri

[–] Jeffthinx 15 years ago

George,

I just stumbled across another post on these boards. The poster cites a book by David Meeker ("Jazz in the Movies") which apparently says that Paul Gonsalves was the ghost for Sidney Poitier and Murray MacEachern was the ghost for Paul Newman.

Sound credible to you?

Ciao, e buon auguri

[–] jamese1045-12 13 years ago

Sounds right to me. Gonzalves was a masterful soloist. MacEchern is not that familiar to me, but what a beautiful tone and style. Billy Beyers trained Newman in he use of the slide positions and Newman did a very good job with the synchrony. The Strayhorn-Ellington music of course speaks for itself, soulful, wonderful. jaime

Too bad Strayhorn (wonderful name) didn't get some credit.

Notes are to tones as numerals are to numbers.

[–] Jeffthinx 13 years ago

Jaime,

I have some limited familiarity with Paul Gonzalves, but, alas, I'm not much familiar with MacEchern.

Strayhorn got way too little recognition. Ellington's fault? Hmmm...

Jeff

[–] jamese1045-12 13 years ago

That longtime relationship was complex, but it was Ellington first, Strayhorn second chair: Ellington was not shy about blowing his own horn--oh, wait, make that piano. And it is indeed jaime here.:) Hey, who was Jeffthinx?

Notes are to tones as numerals are to numbers.

[–] Jeffthinx 13 years ago

Jamie,

Jeffthinx is Jeff. Sorry for the confusion.

OK, I'm off to listen to Bill Watrous. Check out the great vibrato on "Lil Darlin".

Ciao, e buon auguri

Jeff...uh...thinx :-)

[–] DeepFriedJello 12 years ago

I too came here wondering if Newman and Pontier were doing some of their own music. With the star-power in this film, I'm wondering why I never heard of it before today. Enjoyable film.