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Eddie Johnson Remembered by Eric Schneider
Eddie Johnson Remembered by Eric Schneider
Date Posted: May 21 2010
Written By: chicago jazz
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One of the best golfers on the tour has the nickname “the Big Easy,” because everything about his game appears to be so effortless. That described Eddie Johnson.
His golf swing, the way he played the horn, even the way he won (or lost) at the casino–– all were effortless and elegant.
In his typical self-effacing manner, he said he “stole” from both Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young, but I think he learned, absorbed and processed both masters’ styles, and what came out was Eddie Johnson, which was a wonderful thing. What he had that neither Hawk nor Pres had, was a tinge of kick-you-in-the-rear R&B. And of course his ballads were something to behold.
Whether it was a recording from the early fifties or the late nineties or in-person, two notes and you knew it was Eddie. The fundamentals of his style didn’t change, His ears were open, as long as it swung or was pretty. He dug playing with Charlie Parker.
I had the honor and pleasure of sharing a bandstand with him in Chicago for many years. We played together in Europe, we played golf, went on a jazz cruise together, and went to Vegas. All great fun. It’s a long story, but because of him I got the gig with Count Basie.
I mentioned the jazz cruise. This would have been in the mid-eighties and there were maybe seventy of us from Chicago on the ship. We got on board and were offered a welcome-aboard drink. Prior to that first sip was the last sober breath Eddie took all week. As a matter of fact, after putting on his tux for a formal dinner he fell into the shower. He didn’t hurt himself, but he was laughing so hard he couldn’t get back up. His girlfriend Pat had back problems and couldn’t help him. I don’t know how that situation was ever resolved.
We used to have card games which we called “fellowships” at John Terry’s place on 71st and Prairie. They’d start at 7pm or 8pm and sometimes go until 4am or 5am. By the end of the night it was usually down to Terry, Eddie and me, and the stakes got serious. I mean serious. They could be for hundreds or even a grand or two a hand. That’s when musicians worked a lot. I always claim I bought that pinkie ring Eddie used to wear. Conversely, the first time Eddie and Pat came over he wanted to see the high-end ottoman Nora and I bought courtesy of Eddie. We called it “The Eddieman.” The funny thing is that after all those games that lasted forever, and all the checks we wrote––“don’t cash this for a couple days”––we often said we wound up about even.
We had epic battles on the golf course. Money was not the object, it was pride. More than one time we’d laugh at the irony of beating each other’s brains out for four hours, for far less than a single bet at Terry’s house.
One time Freddie Cole was in town, and Eddie and I caught up with him. We were talking about golf and Freddie mentioned was a great golfer he was. Ray Brown also happened to be in town, so we set up a game. Eddie, Ray and I didn’t particularly distinguish ourselves that day, but Freddie flat out stunk up the joint, to use one of Eddie’s favorite expressions. Later, I asked Ray if he remembered that game. Cleaning up Ray’s language, he said something like, “Goodness, yes. What does that blankety-blank-blank think is going to happen when he shoots a blanking 104?!”
Proper golf course decorum was very important to Eddie. Decorum, period was important to Eddie. He took music seriously, but was determined to have fun. A little show business was not a bad thing in his eyes. We disagreed only on two things: Sidney Bechet’s vibrato and Lester Young’s clarinet playing.
What else can be said about Eddie? Well, he was movie-star handsome and always dressed well. I’ve received many e-mails and phone calls from his friends, fans, fellow musicians and even drummers from across the country. Each one stressed what a gentleman and a sweetheart and a great player he was.
It was a thrill, and honor and a pleasure to know Eddie. He was one of a kind, and he will be missed.
Eric Schneider is a Chicago saxophone/clarinet player who has had a four-year run with Earl “Fatha’” Hines’ band followed by a two-year stretch in the “hot” tenor chair of the Count Basie Orchestra. Schneider appears on several Grammy Award-winning albums, has performed with many of America’s instrumentalist and vocalist jazz legends, and continues to be a first-call saxophonist in Chicago for some of the biggest names in jazz.
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