I studied tap with Eddie at his private studio in San Francisco and then at Laney College in Oakland. His classes were so lively and there was only about 5 of us. I loved him.
Not sure if anyone cares but if you're stoned like me atm you can watch all of the latest series on instaflixxer. Have been watching with my gf during the lockdown :)
This dance was when he was about 70, a year or so before he died. His dancing was all improv, and all about complex rhythms. He dance in the 1930s with Duke, and Dizzy, among many other, and for 6 years with Bojangles Robinson. I don't think there are any videos of him at his peak.
'Came across this today after thinking about a once-teacher of mine; this, after listening to a UA-cam playing of Lester Young and Harry Sweets Edison -- Going for Myself, which brought back memories when after a year or so in northern California, and, so, the following is in part a repeat of what I shared in those comments -- on both the great Lester Young and the master himself, Eddie Brown, who inspired my contemplation. We will have lived and yet not even know it. Shortly after I discharged honorably from the U.S. Air Force, I matriculated at a college in which as part of the core curriculum one needed take 2 health-conditioning-related classes. So, I took up tap dance to fulfill one of the two criteria. On the first day of class, standing out in front of the doorway stood the man who would be the class teacher, who at first I thought was only a curious bystander but was, in fact, who would prove the teacher. By some serendipity, I soon learned and proved amazed that he was the master tap dancer Eddie Brown, a former hoofer with Bill (Bojangles) Robinson's dance troupe. We came to know each other beyond that of mere class formality. I often understood a tap step and feel, and he immediately could see that I did. Though I was then quite young, I was older than my years. From Wash., D.C., I also was once a trap drummer, who played in the Buddy Rich style [ Buddy was himself a tap dancer, a hoofer (and one could hear this in his drumming) ]. One day after a class, Eddie Brown takes me over to meet someone, he says, someone with whom he associated and carried with his earlier days. So, I thought this great. At that then-time, I owned a TR6 sports car. We then drive over to west Oakland (Ca) and to a city project building where on an upper floor set a small studio apartment. We knock on the door and were bade enter. Therein stands a short-stature lady who Eddie calls "Sis." I learn that she is Lester Young's sister! To me, the resemblance proves stark. Here I am thinking that I am standing amid royalty -- I was never so amazed that this should even occur. Lester Young was one of my favorite horn players -- I, too, played saxophone. I felt right at home with these two, were as if treating with family. Atop one piece of furnishing set pictures of her brother, Lester Young. The three of us then sat back, ate a meal that Eddie prepared, and commenced to talk; Eddie would do tap steps while cooking; our meal -- scrambled ground beef, mixed with onion and bell peppers and an assortment of other ingredients -- this, while the two would reflect and reminisce about their earlier days in show business and what and how dancing was out there on stage, and I was awed, transfixed, to which I did ask if they ever got stage fright up there before audiences -- both would share that they always felt a measure of stage fright before openings. I shall always remember this event, and I sometimes wonder even now -- if life had only turned for me in a wholly different direction and, say, proceeded on two octaves above whereof I then and now set, that maybe I will have met many more like people along my path.
I took a work shop with Eddie in the 80s at the Colorado Tap Fest, then again inthe 90's when Heather Cornell brought him to dance with Manhattan Tap at the Village Gate. He was a groovy dude with a smooth technique. Learned his Triple-out" :)
@tapmaan6150 I think Sammy would probably agree out of modesty, but I'm not quite so sure I would agree. LOL Sammy Davis Jr. Was an amazing tap dancer.
I most definitely agree that Sammy was a better tap dancer. However, I can't think of anyone who was a better tap dancer than Sammy. What's the difference between swing and what Sammy did if Sammy didn't swing?
So fortunate to have met and study with Eddie in SF and at the 80's tap festivals. Those were the days!
I studied tap with Eddie at his private studio in San Francisco and then at Laney College in Oakland. His classes were so lively and there was only about 5 of us. I loved him.
I would love to hear a story!
Not sure if anyone cares but if you're stoned like me atm you can watch all of the latest series on instaflixxer. Have been watching with my gf during the lockdown :)
@Alex Kyree yea, have been watching on instaflixxer for months myself =)
Im Jealous
This dance was when he was about 70, a year or so before he died. His dancing was all improv, and all about complex rhythms. He dance in the 1930s with Duke, and Dizzy, among many other, and for 6 years with Bojangles Robinson. I don't think there are any videos of him at his peak.
Being a drummer I must and will complement his outstanding tap dance routines my dru
Nothing but class...first class.
'Came across this today after thinking about a once-teacher of mine; this, after listening to a UA-cam playing of Lester Young and Harry Sweets Edison -- Going for Myself, which brought back memories when after a year or so in northern California, and, so, the following is in part a repeat of what I shared in those comments -- on both the great Lester Young and the master himself, Eddie Brown, who inspired my contemplation. We will have lived and yet not even know it.
Shortly after I discharged honorably from the U.S. Air Force, I matriculated at a college in which as part of the core curriculum one needed take 2 health-conditioning-related classes. So, I took up tap dance to fulfill one of the two criteria. On the first day of class, standing out in front of the doorway stood the man who would be the class teacher, who at first I thought was only a curious bystander but was, in fact, who would prove the teacher. By some serendipity, I soon learned and proved amazed that he was the master tap dancer Eddie Brown, a former hoofer with Bill (Bojangles) Robinson's dance troupe.
We came to know each other beyond that of mere class formality. I often understood a tap step and feel, and he immediately could see that I did. Though I was then quite young, I was older than my years. From Wash., D.C., I also was once a trap drummer, who played in the Buddy Rich style [ Buddy was himself a tap dancer, a hoofer (and one could hear this in his drumming) ]. One day after a class, Eddie Brown takes me over to meet someone, he says, someone with whom he associated and carried with his earlier days.
So, I thought this great. At that then-time, I owned a TR6 sports car. We then drive over to west Oakland (Ca) and to a city project building where on an upper floor set a small studio apartment. We knock on the door and were bade enter. Therein stands a short-stature lady who Eddie calls "Sis." I learn that she is Lester Young's sister! To me, the resemblance proves stark. Here I am thinking that I am standing amid royalty -- I was never so amazed that this should even occur. Lester Young was one of my favorite horn players -- I, too, played saxophone. I felt right at home with these two, were as if treating with family. Atop one piece of furnishing set pictures of her brother, Lester Young.
The three of us then sat back, ate a meal that Eddie prepared, and commenced to talk; Eddie would do tap steps while cooking; our meal -- scrambled ground beef, mixed with onion and bell peppers and an assortment of other ingredients -- this, while the two would reflect and reminisce about their earlier days in show business and what and how dancing was out there on stage, and I was awed, transfixed, to which I did ask if they ever got stage fright up there before audiences -- both would share that they always felt a measure of stage fright before openings. I shall always remember this event, and I sometimes wonder even now -- if life had only turned for me in a wholly different direction and, say, proceeded on two octaves above whereof I then and now set, that maybe I will have met many more like people along my path.
One more story please!!!!!!!! I learned the Eddie brown chorus from my teacher Steve Zee. Loved hearing steve talk about eddie
I took a work shop with Eddie in the 80s at the Colorado Tap Fest, then again inthe 90's when Heather Cornell brought him to dance with Manhattan Tap at the Village Gate. He was a groovy dude with a smooth technique. Learned his Triple-out" :)
Traci Mann I envy you! Wish I could have that honour to take his class ! You're blessed!
Holy cow! What an amazing hoofer.
so proud to have known him
Maravilloso
That's cool ❤
This mans technique is so good you dont even notice his feet are moving and clickin that fast.. I thought he was snapping his fingers at first
he reminds me a bit of Leon Collins
Anybody knows the name of the song+?
"Lover" by Richard Rogers, 1932
yes
Hiromi Kazunori live in Tokyo
Hooola 🙋 mi amor. 😃
Cuentame como estás?
Sammy Davis jr. was better, but no one was better than Sammy so that's not taking anything away from this guy because this guy is pretty darn good.
Eddie was a better tap dancer and Sammy was a better all around artist. I think that Sammy would agree.
@tapmaan6150 I think Sammy would probably agree out of modesty, but I'm not quite so sure I would agree. LOL Sammy Davis Jr. Was an amazing tap dancer.
Try Kazunori kumangai with Hiromi Huesara on piano ...and tell me after.
Sammy Davis junior swung more
One either swings or doesn't swing, there's no more or less swing. Mr. Junior had faster feet.
I most definitely agree that Sammy was a better tap dancer. However, I can't think of anyone who was a better tap dancer than Sammy. What's the difference between swing and what Sammy did if Sammy didn't swing?
piano is too loud.
This guy is nothing but I clown,try Jimmy slyde or Sandman Sims
Gosh, Jimmy and Sandman told me they thought highly of him?