My friend the German broadcaster Michael Rüsenberg was in the audience for my chat with Harvey Cohen, author of Duke Ellington’s America, when we discussed Cab Calloway on Monday, and he kindly sent me this photo. I’ve now participated in four or five public debates with Harvey about Duke, Billy Strayhorn, Irving Mills and other matters Ellingtonian, so it was a case of the boot being on the other foot as Harvey asked me about Cab, Blanche Calloway, Irving Mills, the Cotton Club (before and after Duke) and the world of 50s musical theatre, when Cab was a star of Porgy and Bess. More about my Cab book here – and you can click through the links to find out more about Harvey’s too.
