Strict Rules Govern Condon's Jazz Band

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28179, 18 January 1957, Page 11

Strict Rules Govern Condon's Jazz Band

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, January 16. < Eddie Condon, a 52-year-old . guitar-playing jazz performer in , New York night clubs, has arrived to give a series of jazz concerts starting in Glasgow and ending in the Festival Hall. London. He became known in the 1920’s ; when he played in speakeasies and ' gin palaces in Chicago, many of them owned by Al Capone. 1 In Condon’s band are players J internationally known for their < interpretation of jazz—“Wild Bill” Davison and his cornet, i Cutty Cutshall and his trombone. Gene Shroeder on the piano, and George Wettling on the drums. “Jazz is no more an art form ■

than cannin" peas,” said Condon. “Our form of jazz is not only confusion, it is disorganised confusion. There is as much formality about us as there is in a dog fight. “We have two rules. We gotta wear our shoes when we are playing, and any guy who falls off the has gotta get back under his own power.” At a news conference Condons agent handed out a press sheet which said that Condon had drunk 5102 bottles of whisky over the last seven years but was no d’-unk. The press sheet also gave his tip for curing a hang-over—take the juice of two quarts of whisky.