Charlie Beal 1908

Pianista statunitense (Los Angeles, California, 14.9.1908 – San Diego, California, 31.7.1991). Fratello maggiore di Eddie Beal, anch’egli pianista, che ha suonato in particolare con Buck Clayton e Teddy Weatherford a Shangai nel 1934 e accompagnato le cantanti Ivie Anderson eBillie Holiday.

Gli inizi di Charlie a Los Angeles sono segnati dall’ingaggio al Sebastian’s Cotton Club nell’orchestra he dirige Les Hite (1930). Nel 1932 si stabilisce a Chicago, producendosi in assolo al Gran Terrace Hotel e nelle formazioni di Jimmie Noone, Erskine Tate, Frankie Jaxon, prima di essere chiamato da Louis Armstrong (che l’ha conosciuto presso Les Hite) per sostituire Teddy Wilson nel 1933.

Passa allora nelle orchestre diCarroll Dickerson e Noble Sissle, poi, a New York, si produce da solista nei club di grido (Adrian’s Tap Room, Famous Door, Onyx Club) e accanto al violinista Eddie South. Smobilitato, si ritrova a Los Angeles (Jococo Room, 1946) dove Armstrong lo ingaggia nella formazione che si esibisce nel film New Orleans.

Nell’ottobre 1948 percorre l’Europa, esibendosi soprattutto in Italia (Piano Club, a Roma) e sulla Costa Azzurra fino al 1975. Ritorna negli Stati Uniti e mette su un gruppo che si produce in California (Racquet Club) alla fine degli anni ’70.
Earl Hines e FatsWaller – che gli ha prodigato i suoi consigli – sono alla base dello stile di questo pianista dall’esecuzione sciolta ma dall’ispirazione un po’ limitata.
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[A.C.]

American pianist (Los Angeles, California, 14.9.1908 - San Diego, California, 31.7.1991). The older brother of Eddie Beal, also a pianist, who played in particular with Buck Clayton and Teddy Weatherford in Shanghai in 1934 and accompanied the singers Ivie Anderson and Willie Holiday.

Charlie's beginnings in Los Angeles are marked by his engagement at Sebastian's Cotton Club in the orchestra he conducts Les Hite (1930). In 1932 he settled in Chicago, producing solo at the Gran Terrace Hotel and in the formations of Jimmie Noone, Erskine Tate, Frankie Jaxon, before being called by Louis Armstrong (who met him at Les Hite) to replace Teddy Wilson in 1933.

Then he moved to the orchestras of Carroll Dickerson and Noble Sissle, then, in New York, he produced as a soloist in the famous clubs (Adrian's Tap Room, Famous Door, Onyx Club) and alongside violinist Eddie South. Demobilized, he finds himself in Los Angeles (Jococo Room, 1946), where Armstrong hires him in the formation that performs in the movie New Orleans.

In October 1948, he traveled through Europe, performing mainly in Italy (Piano Club, in Rome) and on the Cote d'Azur until 1975. He returned to the United States and set up a group produced in California (Racquet Club) at the end of the years '70.

Earl Hines and FatsWaller - who gave him his advice - are the basis of this pianist style with a loose execution but a little limited inspiration.
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[A.C.]