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to January 2012 Jazz Show
Aaron Bridgers
Jazz Pianist
January 10, 1918 -- November
3, 2003
Click
for Obituary & Short Bio
Aaron Bridgers met Billy
Strayhorn in 1939 and they were lovers until Bridgers
moved to Paris in 1948, for his first professional engagement. It's
been widely
reported that it was Duke Ellington's son, Mercer, who introduced them,
as he felt
Billy needed someone. Bridgers became a French citizen in 1974, and
remained
in France the rest of his life. Strayhorn visited him often when in
Paris. In 1961 he
appeared in the movie "Paris Blues."
"Music for Dreaming,"
by Aaron Bridgers, 1950
The LP had no "cover,"
just a cardboard sleeve with an opening showing the label
Side A was of all Gershwin songs, and Side B split between Duke Ellington,
Billy Strayhorn and Jimmy Davis. I think it's interesting that for jazz
recordings,
these songs are all rather short.
Side A
1. Summertime
(3:23)
2. It
Ain't Necessarily So (2:50)
3. Bess
You Is My Woman Now (3:58)
4. I've
Got Plenty O' Nuttin' (2:45)
5. I
Loves You Porgy (3:54)
6. My
Man's Gone Now (3:13)
7. The
Man I Love (3:49)
8. Somebody
Loves Me (2:10)
Side B
1. Caravane
(3:45)
2. In
a Sentimental Mood (3:53)
3. Black
Butterfly (3:09)
4. Lush
Life (4:03)
5. A
Flower Is a Lovesome Thing (2:43)
6. L'amour
Est Venu Sous Mon Toit (3:00)
7. Loverman
(3:47)
8. Perdido
(3:13)
Below, two photos from
"Lushlife," the excellent
1997 biography of Billy Strayhorn, by David Hajdu
Below, one of the few recordings
featuring Bridgers backing up
other artists, in this case Jimmy "Loverman" Davis, who co-wrote
the standard, "Loverman"
Or,
on a different label...
Below, 1999 French recording
of the Tissendier Septet, with guest musicians,
including Bridgers, who contributed one track, "Phil," which
I've read
was dedicated to Billy Strayhorn
Bridgers appeared in the
1961 film "Paris Blues," of which parts
were shot in Paris. He is tenth in the credits, and did not have any
lines or
a character name, just listed as "Pianist." Surprisingly,
the complete film
is on Youtube.
Bridgers first appears at the 00:37 mark. His scenes
were so brief that I pretty much captured them below. He only
appears once outside of the club where the Newman character plays.
Great shot with the film
stars Newman and Portier
