By Donald Van Deusen
Last Wednesday, December 2, was the "birthday" of Charlie Ventura, but none
of the Philadelphia major (or minor, for that matter) media here seemed to
notice or care. ThatÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs something of "situation normal" for Philadelphia,
which doesnÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt pay that much attention to its present day jazz stars much less
the shining lights of the past. Ventura didnÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt even get his star on the
"Walk of Fame" on Broad Street until just a few years ago.
Born on December 2, 1916 in Philadelphia, Ventura (Venturo) was the fourth of
13 children. He worked in his fatherÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs hat factory as well as at the Navy
Yard. He was a major jazz sax ( tenor and baritone) star during the 1940s
and ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ50s, working at various points with Bill Harris, Dizzy Gillespie, Roy
Eldridge, and, most notably, with Gene Krupa, as well as leading his own
groups.
His recordings of "StompinÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ at the Savoy," "Body and Soul" and "Dark Eyes"
with the Gene Krupa Trio are among the most heart-felt, spine-tingling sax
solos ever recorded. He made pioneering bop vocal recordings with Buddy
Stewart and then with Jackie Cain and Roy Kral. I recall seeing them at the
Royal Roost and Birdland in about 1947 when Ms Cain, as cute as the proverbial
button, looked down shyly when she finished singing their distinctive, now-
famous renditions of "Euphoria" and "IÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂm Forever Blowing Bubbles". This was
long before the efforts of Bobby McFerrin or the Manhattan Transfer.
Although Ventura wasnÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt really a bop musician, his "Bop for the People"
groups featuring such top talent as Chubby Jackson, Dave Tough, Buddy Rich and
Bill Harris brought this new kind of jazz into focus for many. He was a
featured player with the famous Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts and toured
from Las Vegas to Japan. From 1950 to 1954, he ran his own club, Open House.
in Lindenwold, N.J. and at Saxon East (later Portofinos) on Walnut Street in
1969.
Among his various honors were the Esquire New Star award, Downbeat and
Metronome polls for tenor sax and small combos plus the first Playboy poll
shared with Stan Getz in 1957. He introduced various young talents such as
Jackie and Roy, PhiladelphiaÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Billy Bean, Ed Shaughnessey, Bennie Green, Dave
McKenna and local drumer-vibes man and writer, Bruce Klauber.
Still remembered fondly by many former neighbors in South Philadelphia as
well as jazz fans all over the world, VenturaÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs most devoted follower is
almost certainly Klauber.
Bruce started as a teenager with Ventura, dedicated his book, "World of Gene
Krupa" in part to him, and used to call him every "Fathers Day" just to say
hello. Ventura died on Jan. 14, 1992, but for jazz fans he will, of course,
live forever.
Klauber notes a recent flood of new recordings attesting to that immortality
with a reissue of a 1956 session called "Running Wild" that featured Billie
Bean on guitar, VerveÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs 10-CD JATP sets covering 1944-49 with various
Ventura/Krupa trio sides and a planned Mosaic issuance of "The Complete
Charlie Ventura and Flip Phillips on Verve" covering much of their 1950ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs
work. Bruce, himself, is working on a concert that he recorded in Lewiston,
PA., in the late 70ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs.
Bruce said that Ventura told him once, "there is nothing more beautiful than
just playing the song." ThatÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs what Ventura did --he did it with his horn,
his orchestra and his recordingsÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂhe sang the song!