Trumpetman Roy “Little Jazz” Eldridge (left), vocalist Ella Fitzgerald and bassist Ray Brown chat at the Nikkatsu hotel, Tokyo, Nov. 3, 1953. (Stars and Stripes)
This article first appeared in the Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, Nov. 4, 1953. It is republished unedited in its original form.
TOKYO, Nov. 3 — Some of the coolest cats in the world arrived in Tokyo yesterday afternoon — and took the city by storm.
Norman Granz and his Jazz at the Philharmonic all-stars, after a wild parade through the streets of downtown Tokyo, were feted at the Nikkatsu hotel by the public and press.
“First Lady of Song” Ella Fitzgerald and pianist Raymond Tunia at the Jazz at the Philharmonic reception at the Nikkatsu Hotel, Tokyo, Nov. 3, 1953. (Stars and Stripes)
Trombonist Bill Harris enjoys a smoke at the Jazz at the Philharmonic reception at the Nikkatsu Hotel, Tokyo. (Stars and Stripes)
Bassist Ray Brown, trumpetist Roy Eldridge and guitarist Herb Ellis at the Jazz at the Philharmonic reception at the Nikkatsu Hotel, Tokyo, Nov. 3, 1953. Norman Granz and his Jazz at the Philharmonic all-stars — after a wild parade through the streets of downtown Tokyo — were feted at the Nikkatsu hotel’s sixth-floor banquet room by the public and press. (Stars and Stripes)
Famed jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald at the Nikkatsu hotel in Tokyo, Japan Nov. 3, 1953. Fitzgerald was in town with Norman Granz and his Jazz at the Philharmonic. She and the band attended a reception held in their honor on the sixth-floor banquet room of the hotel. (Stars and Stripes)
Japanese newspapermen, photographers and a few lucky jazz fans crowded the hotel’s sixth-floor banquet room to meet and talk with the outstanding group of musicians that included Benny Carter, Gene Krupa, Willie Smith, Bill Harris, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Roy Eldridge and Ella Fitzgerald.
Flashbulbs popped, autographs were signed and the entire group was kept busy answering a barrage of questions concerning their trip, jazz in general, and Japanese jazz in particular.
Norman Granz (left) and others at the Jazz At The Philharmonic reception at the Nikkatsu Hotel, Tokyo. (Stars and Stripes)
Music impressario, producer and founder of Jazz at the Philharmonic Norman Granz (right) at the JATP reception at the Nikkatsu Hotel, Tokyo. (Stars and Stripes)
Tenor saxophonist and clarinet player Flip Phillips at the Jazz at the Philharmonic reception at the Nikkatsu Hotel, Tokyo. (Stars and Stripes)
Drummer and percussionist Gene Krupa at the Jazz At The Philharmonic reception at the Nikkatsu Hotel, Tokyo, Nov. 3, 1953. The famed jazz musician’s life would become the subject of a biopic six years later when Sal Mineo starred as Krupa in “The Gene Krupa Story.” (Stars and Stripes)
The musicians obviously were impressed by the rousing reception they were given and the consensus seemed to be that this was one of the most enthusiastic greetings they have received so far.
Concerning a trip to Korea, Granz said there was a possibility they might go over but the whole thing would hinge on what arrangements could be made with the Army.
The entire group can be seen at the Ernie Pyle theater Nov. 12 and 13 for two performances a night — at 6 and 9. Tickets, on sale at the Pyle, are going fast and sell for $1.75 each.
Find more of Al Ricketts’ entertaining reports on entertainment from 1952-1967 — including his long-running “On The Town” — in our Pacific Stars and Stripes by subscribing to Stars and Stripes’ historic newspaper archive. We have digitized our 1948-1999 European and Pacific editions, as well as several of our WWII editions and made them available online through https://starsandstripes.newspaperarchive.com/
