What, I hear you ask, has the death of former heavyweight champ Joe Frazier to do with jazz? Actually nothing but he was one helluva fighter in an era when there were a lot of fighters fitting that description.However, the reason I have included 'Smokin' Joe Frazier is because of the hype surrounding one of his fights with Muhammad Ali. Ali announced, on the eve of the fight, that he'd booked Count Basie's Band for his victory party. To which Frazier counter punched with, "Oh yeah? Well I've booked Duke Ellington for mine!" (See picture - I guess Duke got the gig!.)
Frank Sinatra also worked as a press photographer on one of the fights!
R.I.P. Joe.
Lance.


0 comments; click to add more:
Post a Comment