23-November-1998 -- Les Pacholski writes:

I've got two questions for you folks. The first one concerns a big band chart that our son played while in middle and high school bands. The tune was called "Tiger of San Pedro" and was supposedly written by or associated with trombonist Bill Watrous. I have looked high and low for ANY recording of this tune and have found none. We live in the Milwaukee area and, as you might suspect, there are no music stores which cater to the jazz fan. I've tried the Muse computer at Barnes and Noble stores - nothing. I regularly check out the titles of the big band artists - Rich, Bellson, Ferguson, Watrous, etc. - wherever I shop, but have had no luck. This is a noisy, good tune! Somebody must have recorded it! Help. Also, just curious....why does bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen have four names? Thanks guys. Enjoy your site.

Les, indeed trombonist Bill Watrous (b. June 8, 1939, Middletown, CT) released an LP entitled "Tiger of San Pedro" (Columbia PC 33701, 1975). The All Music Guide of Jazz rates this recording as the best of genre with editor Scott Yanow opining, "["Tiger of San Pedro"] well deserves to be reissued on CD..." Alas, a thorough search of the electronic and print sources has failed to turn up a recording by anyone. We, like you, believe that someone should have recorded this tune. Thus, we send this challenge out of our readership. If anyone can help Les find a recording of "Tiger of San Pedro", please contact him at Les Pacholski.

The answer to your question regarding Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen's name ended up having an interesting history. We had recently received a question from Henrik Safwenberg of Sweden and while trying to research his question we decided to ask him about the reason why many Scandinavian people have multiple names. Pedersen is Danish and his true first name is a hyphenation of two names: "Niels" and "Henning", not unlike what is becoming popular today in the West. Henrik says that it is quite normal for children to be given double forenames and usually it is a "binding" between the two names, though he feels this practice is more common with older generations. Henrik goes on to say that double family names, on the other hand, come from women keeping their maiden names or the children of unmarried couples being named with both parenteral surnames. This is not totally unlike the trend in America today. We thank Henrik for his kind help and you, Les for your questions and interest.

23-November-1998 -- Henrik Safwenberg writes:

I've got a little question. Today I heard a fantastic jazz tune [by] a band called London Jazz 4...or something like that. I wonder where I can get my hands on one or more of these records.

Henrik, we have looked high and low, by paper page and electronic byte, and have not found anything close to the "London Jazz 4 [Four]". Dropping back to punt, are there any of our readers who can help Henrik? If anyone can help, please write him at hsafwenberg@hotmail.com.

12-November-1998 -- Moshe Davidow asks:

I am looking for information about a woman jazz musician who dressed and acted like a man, because at the time women jazz musicians were frowned upon.

I believe this person's name was Billy Templeton, or something like that. This person had a band of their own at one point (I believe a trio), and had a wife and adopted children.

Can you point me to a site or sites where I might find out more information about them??

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Moshe, great timing! John Firehammer just reviewed "Suits Me: The Double Life of Billy Tipton" for AAJ. You can access the review and learn a little about Ms./Mr. Tipton by clicking here.