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Lawrence Lucie

In an interview given before the swing guitarist's death, Alyn Shipton talks to Lawrence Lucie about his work, including with Fletcher Henderson, Lucky Milliner and Benny Carter.

Swing guitarist Lawrence Lucie died in 2009, aged 101. Not long before his death, Lucie met Alyn Shipton in New York to look back over his remarkable career, which not only included stints with Fletcher Henderson, Lucky Millinder and Benny Carter, but a long stay in Louis Armstrong's orchestra. Lucie was also the longest surviving member of Jelly Roll Morton's band, and he looks back on his work with the self-styled "inventor of jazz".

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45 minutes

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Sun 19 Dec 2010 00:15
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • The Chocolate Dandies

    I Never Knew

    Composer: Fio Rito, Kahn Performers: Max Kaminsky (trumpet), Floyd O'Brien (trobone), Benny Carter (alto sax), Chu Berry (tenor sax), Teddy Wilson (piano), Lawrence Lucie (guitar), Ernest 'Bass' Hill (bass), Sid Catlett (drums). 14 March 1933.

    • Benny Carter: The Music Master.
    • Proper.
    • Properbox 68 CD 1.

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    Climax Rag

    Composer: Scott Performers: Sidney DeParis, t; Albert Nicholas, cl; Fred Robinson, tb; Happy Cauldwell, ts; Jelly Roll Morton, p; Lawrence Lucie, g; Wellman Braud, b; Zutty Singleton, d. 28 Sept 1939.

    • Essential Collection.
    • Avid.
    • number 890 CD 2.

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    High Society

    Composer: trad arr Morton. Performers: Sidney DeParis, t; Albert Nicholas, cl; Claude Jones, tb; Happy Cauldwell, ts; Jelly Roll Morton, p; Lawrence Lucie, g; Wellman Braud, b; Zutty Singleton, d; Sidney Bechet, ss. 14 Sept 1939.

    • Oh Didn't He Ramble.
    • Phantom.
    • number 669672.

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    Winin Boy Blues

    Composer: Morton Performers: Sidney DeParis, t; Albert Nicholas, cl; Claude Jones, tb; Happy Cauldwell, ts; Jelly Roll Morton, p; Lawrence Lucie, g; Wellman Braud, b; Zutty Singleton, d; Sidney Bechet, ss. 14 Sept 1939.

    • Doctor Jazz.
    • Proper.
    • Properbox 113 CD 4.

  • Benny Carter and His Orchestra

    Swing It

    Composer: Carter Performers: Benny Carter, as, t, v; Shad Collins, Leonard Davis, Bill Dillard, t; George Washington, Wilbur DeParis, tb; Howard Johnson, Chu Berry, reeds; Rod Rodriguez, p; Lawrence Lucie, g; Bass Hill, b; Sid Catlett, d. 14 March 1933

    • The Music Master.
    • Proper.
    • Properbox CD 1.

  • Benny Carter

    Symphony in riffs

    Composer: Carter Performers: Benny Carter, as, t, v; Eddie Mallory, Dick Clark, Bill Dillard, t; JC Higginbotham, Fred Robinson, Keg Johnson, tb; Wayman Carver, Glyn Pacque, Johnny Russell, reeds; Teddy Wilson, p; Lawrence Lucie, g; Bass Hill, b; Sid Catlett, d. 16 Oct 1933.

    • The Music Master.
    • Proper.
    • Properbox CD 1.

  • Henry Red Allen with the Mills Blue Rhythm Band

    Ride Red Ride

    Composer: Mills, Millinder Performers: Lucky Millinder, v, dir; Wardell Jones, Shelton Hemphill, Henry Allen, t; George Washington, JC Higgibotham, tb; Gene Mikell, Crawford Wetherington, Joe Garland, reeds; Edgar Hayes, p; Lawrence Lucie, g; Elmer James, b; O'Neil Spencer,

    • 1934 1936.
    • Classics.

  • Louis Armstrong

    I'll Be Glad When You;re Dead You Rascal You

    Composer: Theard Performers: Louis Armstrong, t; v; Shelton Hemphill, Gene Prince, Frank Galbraith, t; George Washington, Norman Greene, Henderson Chambers, tb; Rupert Cole, Carl Frye, Prince Robinson, Joe Garland, reeds; Luis Russell, p; Lawrence Lucie, g; Hayes

    • You Rascal You.
    • Naxos.
    • number 8.120806.

  • Louis Armstrong

    Hey Lawdy Mama

    Composer: Easton Performers: Louis Armstrong, t; v; George Washington, tb; Prince Robinson, reeds; Luis Russell, p; Lawrence Lucie, g; Johnny Williams, b; Sid Catlett, d. 10 March 1941.

    • You Rascal You.
    • Naxos.
    • 8.120806.

  • Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra

    Guess Who

    Composer: Freed/Lane Performers: Jonah Jones, t; Johnny Hodges, as; Harry Carney, cl, bar; Teddy Wilson, p; Lawrence Lucie, g; John Kirby, b; Cozy Cole, d; Billie Holiday, v. 30 June 1936.

    • Blues in C Sharp Minor.
    • Naxos.
    • number 8.120665.

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