Little Walter/Be-Bop

[Aeskow@xxxxxxx]

The only specific reference that I've seen in print RE Little Walter and 
be-bop--or jazz in general--can be found in Tony Glover's biography of him.  At 
one point, one of his part-time sub drummers--I think it's Sam Lay, 
actually--describes just how much was left OUT of Walter's recorded legacy by the Chess 
Brothers, who preferred to keep milking the Juke money-cow...He talks about 
hour-long jams on Lester Leaps In and other Young masterpieces--always played at 
Walter's insistence--that would, if heard now, expand our whole vision of 
Walter's genius.  According to this account, part of Walter's growing disaffection 
with Chess, and creative frustration in general, resulted from this refusal to 
let him cut any jazz...and, of course, the mind reels at the thought of what 
may have been denied us...

Johnny T
Mayfield Road Gang