Last Friday, Taj Mahal Foxtrot was launched in Bangalore by Maria Saldanha Vinda, sister of the maverick pianist Edward “Dizzy Sal” Saldanha. That’s a photo of the Saldanha family band in 1955, with Maria, the vocalist, in that gorgeous gown. Dizzy is in the beret.
Dizzy Sal, as readers of the book know, received a scholarship to study at the Berklee School of Music in the late 1950s. His classmates included the vibraphonist Gary McFarland, the trumpet player Paul Kelly and the Rhodesian composer Michael Gibbs.
As part of its programme, the college ran Berklee Records, a project that served as a training exercise both for its student musicians and for the sound engineers on its rolls. Each year, it issued new records as part of a series called Jazz in the Classroom. Volume V, issued in 1961, features Sal and his classmates playing new arrangements of tunes composed by the saxophonist Benny Golson.
Sal features on this tune, Haasan’s Dream, alongside Dan Nolan (trumpet), Ted Casher (tenor), Mike Gibbs (trombone), Peter Spassov (drums), Pearson Beckwith (bass) and Bill Fitch (conga). The band was conducted by Berklee instructor Herb Pomeroy, who taught arranging, improvisation and jazz history.
7 comments
Dear Naresh.Have not been ab;e tp get back since I crushed my index finger onSat following the launch.I am trying to type with one hand.I am sorry if i goofed up the launch.realised too late that i should have oped the book and launched it. So too good as these things but pretty good on stage singing and leading worship.Thanks for what you have done for dizzy and the whole saldanha clan.May I have some pictures on my mailing address to send to thr family.Launch that is.Dizzy did not really fade away after his ccom back from states.Played six months at theTaj.Mumbai.
Grand Calcutta..three jam packed concert at Bangalore and all the Maz Muellar Bhavans around the whole country.Only after the parkinsons started showing he had to give up.Thanks for everything.Where can I pick up copies as friends want to know here at Bangalore…lovr keep in touch maria
Hi Naresh You probably know that Dizzy Sal recorded with Ken McIntyre on “Stone Blues’ The album is available on Amazon for $ 13.39
Yes, thanks Ashwin. It’s quite a gem — and is the only studio album Dizzy made. I’m now trying to get my hands on a new biography of Ken McIntrye that has just been published.
Dear Carol. I used to be taken as a toddler by my grandfather to hear Dizzy Sal and the bank in South Bombay. Sweet memories.
Naresh Hi!
It was very interesting stumbling across the launch of this book. My name is Carol Brooks (nee Saldanha), the only daughter of pianist Dizzy Sal (Edward Saldanha). Sadly, I never knew my father except in later years, and certainly have not inherited any of his talent, being tone deaf.
It is also sad that although my mother was as talented as my father (she could out-Bassey Bassey), and sang in the same band (I believe it was with Ken Mac’s band at the Ambassador hotel in Bombay) and also did some radio broadcasts with him, she is rarely mentioned.
I will have to order me a copy of your book
Take care
Carol
Dear Naresh, I am a friend of Carol Brookes (Nee Saldanha) daughter of Dizzy. She never mentioned her illustrious and talented father to me as I am fond of music. Would love to have a copy. Please let me know from where I can get one. Regards, Sudhir (Raja) Andrews
Dear Sudhir,
It’s in most major bookstores in India. But you can also get in online. Details here:
http://www.tajmahalfoxtrot.com/?page_id=136