ELLA FITZGERALD AND OSCAR PETERSON AT THE GROSVENOR HOUSE HOTEL IN LONDON
I had always loved the performances of Ella Fitzgerald and pianist Oscar Peterson – truth be told, neither Oscar or Ella were at the very top of my favourite jazz artist list (Bill Evans and Billie Holiday just about pipped the post), but of course these two giants of jazz were a joy to behold on any stage. I had seen the Oscar Peterson Trio with Ray Brown (bass) and both with Ed Thigpen and/or Louie Bellson (drums) on a number of occasions and loved that trio – also I had seen Ella in concert, but not with Oscar.
I knew they had performed many times around the world together especially as part of their manager Norman Granz exciting Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts. However, the germ of an idea was springing into my mind – how about a week of performances at London’s largest ballroom (seating approximately 1,000 people in a dining format) in the large Grosvenor House Hotel situated on London’s Park Lane.
I had met (who was later to become my dear life-long friend) Michael Gelardi whom at that time was Managing Director of Grosvenor Theatrical Productions – Michael was booking all the entertainment into the Trust House Forte Group of hotels (and many other major venues) of which the Grosvenor House belonged.
Michael had already been presenting shows at the Grosvenor House and they had been hugely successful. This venue was the ideal location for a sensational week of Ella and Oscar performances – just what London needed. BUT would Ella and Oscar and their irascible manager agree?
Early in 1979 I boarded a flight to Los Angeles for my first meeting with Norman Granz, which was to take place at his Beverley Hills office on North Canon Drive. I knew a lot about Granz because of my life long passion for jazz (as a jazz drummer and collecting recordings from the Norman Granz label, Verve (formerly Clef and Norgran), which was, along with Blue Note, the most successful jazz record label probably of all time. Additionally of course as a professional drummer my heroes were Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson, Jo Jones, Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones and those other great drummers that inspired and changed my life. Norman Granz had toured most of these players, recorded and been a mentor to many of them.
I was thrilled to meet Norman, but he was a very tough negotiator. Not easy to talk to, very focussed on getting things done quickly and maybe a bit irascible. However, I have to say that he was scrupulously fair and delivered everything that was eventually contracted. Michael Gelardi had to get the approval of Willie Bauer the General Manager of the Grosvenor House, but everything was finally agreed for the summer 1980 – it was a GO (Yeah!)
Tickets went on sale and sold out quickly – we were right - there was a huge demand for a show of these legends. The tension mounted and suddenly we were there – Ella and Oscar had arrived and were in their suites at the Grosvenor House Hotel – phew!
One of the first people Michael and I met after introducing ourselves to Ella and Oscar was Pete Cavallo, who was Ella’s tour manager. Pete was a splendid character, as he regaled me (in between chain smoking Marlboro cigarettes) with wonderful stories of his life in jazz. One of my great joys was talking to Pete about his days as Gene Krupa's road manager. Pete loved Gene as did Norman Granz (and as did I).
Both Ella and Oscar were a delight to be with - there were so many questions I wanted to ask them both, but of course, I never did - why didn't I have the courage to talk with Ella about her formative years with Chick Webb and his band - the Savoy ballroom experiences; the Jazz at the Philharmonic tours, working with jazz giants like Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Ben Webster and so many more - but no, - Ella wanted Haagen-Dazs Ice cream and that was much more important. Why did Oscar prefer to play a Bosendorfer Piano and not a Steinway? What was it like playing with the jazz giants like Dizzy, Lester Young and all those others - how did he get on with his piano heroes like Nat 'King' Cole and Art Tatum - so many things I wanted to say - but never did!!!
Norman Granz attended the shows as he did a few years later when we worked with Michael for Ella to perform with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra at the same venue.
I was thrilled when Ella gave me a signed photo 'To Peter with Love, Ella' - I will always treasure this.
The Grosvenor House Hotel took full-page advertisements in Variety Magazine and other trade journals telling the world how successful the event had been – The excited Managing Director of Trust House Forte and also the Grosvenor House MD, thanked everyone for the huge success - I didn’t get a mention or even a thank you – but there you go – that’s show business!!!
I for one, "Doff my cap to Norman Granz" he gave all of us jazz fans some of the greatest live and recorded moments - he gave artists like Ella, Oscar, Art Tatum, Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Anita O'Day, Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich to name a few - an incredible opportunity and how they enriched our lives. They certainly enriched mine...
