European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 5, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A movie sound track produced a new distinction for the late jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong. By Ken franckling United press International for jazz 1988 was the year of the Bird. Thirty three years after his death modern jazz innovator Charlie Parker s life and music came under renewed focus with the release of Clint Eastwood s popular new film Bird. The movie provided a compelling reason to re evaluate the music of this Young Genius torn Between self destruction and self fulfilment. His music played with a frantic urgency stunned 1940s and 50s ears that needed time to adjust to be Bop. The sound track used Parker s actual music through a technique some critics termed the audio equivalent of movie colonization. His sidemen were filtered out and the Bird sound was digitally remixed with new stereo tracks Cut by contemporary players. As a pure sound track rather than a Bird legacy it served a legitimate purpose. But it would be Folly to consider the album in the same context As original sessions. Enough Fine original Parker recordings Are still available today. Poly ram added to the Cache in november with Bird the Complete Charlie Parker on verve a set of 10 compact discs containing 1 76 digitally remastered performances. Fifty one Are previously unreleased selections from 1946-1954. On the contemporary scene vocalist and one Man band Bobby Mcferrin crossed Over in a Large Way. Don t worry be Happy the feel Good Anthem with the reggae beat from his simple pleasures album hit the jazz country and top 40 charts. It became the first a Cappella song in 30 years to top billboard Magazine s hot 100 singles Chart. Seventeen years after his death Louis Armstrong made it to the billboard hot 100. His 1968 vocal what a wonderful world surfaced on the Good morning Vietnam movie sound track. The billboard distinction gave Armstrong a record 62-year Span of Chart hits beginning with his hot five recording of Muskrat ramble in 1926. Research this year disproved Armstrong s fabled july 4, 1900, birth Date. New Orleans music historian Tad Jones found a baptismal record showing Armstrong was born aug. 4,1901. Armstrong died on july 6, 1971, at 69, not 71 As previously believed. Intruders shot guitarist Larry Carlton in the neck at his los Angeles Home in april leaving him partially paralysed. On dec. 9, he staged a Benefit concert at the Universal amphitheatre for crime victims. Jazz trumpet innovator Miles Davis Cut Short a european tour in november after fainting at the end of a two hour show in Madrid. Spanish doctors said Davis 62, was suffering severe exhaustion and an irregular heartbeat. The 53rd annual Down beat readers poll voted electric Bass player Jaco Pastorius to its Hall of Fame and named trumpeter Wynton Marsalis musician of the year. Marsalis Standard time was voted jazz album of 1988. The Phil Woods quintet was named top acoustic jazz group. The Chick Corea electric band took fusion honors. Yale University and music masters records issued the first two sets of previously unreleased Benny Goodman recordings taken from the late bandleader s private collection of 400 master tapes. The National Academy of jazz disbanded after three years Short of Cash and unable to establish local chapters across the United states. Its aim was to provide music scholarships Relief funds for needy musicians and an annual to program honouring jazz performers for lifetime achievements. It did collect $45,000 for a Relief fund in memory of bandleader Woody Herman. More than 100 jazz musicians turned out oct. 9 for an All Nite soul Marathon at St. Peter s jazz ministry in new York celebrating the 24th anniversary of the Church s weekly jazz vespers. The event was dedicated to the late jazz composer and Arranger Gil Evans one of Many masters the jazz world lost in 1988. Others included trumpeter Chet Baker 59, who fell from his second Story Amsterdam hotel room May 13 while on a heroin Binge and four Brothers Tenor saxophonist Al Cohn. Also organist Don Patterson drummer songwriter Ray Bauduc a Veteran of Bob Crosby s Bob cats who with Bob Haggart wrote big noise from Winnetka and South Rampart Street Parade Bop pianist Joe Albany blues Singer Memphis slim Peter Chatman trumpeter Billy Butterfield a founding member of the world s greatest jazz band blues Singer Sara Dean and saxophonists Charlie Rouse Eddie clean head Vinson and Norwood Pony Poindexter. Also composer trumpeter bandleader by Oliver drummers Dannie Richmond Elmer Mousey Alexander and . Heard trombonist and bandleader Ashley Alexander and vet Boswell of the swing Era s Boswell Sisters Trio. Also trombonist Lawrence Brown and drummer Sam Woodyard veterans of the Duke Ellington band and pianist bandleader Horace Henderson. Also jazz producer discography Pioneer Charles Delaunay jazz film collector David Chertok Monte Kay founder of Birdland and the Royal Roost jazz clubs and Baroness Canonica de Koenig Swarter the jazz patroness. Fans honoured trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. The late Charlie Parker in his heyday. 10 stripes Magazine january 5, 1989