DEATH OF A BEBOP WIFE
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Posted by: eJazzNews Readeron Friday, June 08, 2007 - 11:01 PM |
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Death of a Bebop Wife
by Grange (Lady Haig) Rutan
Published by Cadence Jazz Books, Redwood NY 13679
http://cadencebuilding.com/cadence/cjb.html
A review by James Riley {alto sax player and band manager}
Grange "Lady Haig" Rutan did it, and I'm so proud of her. I recently bought a copy of "Death of a Bebop Wife," and finished it yesterday. I think Rutan neatly accomplished her objective, to give a comprehensive overview of an interesting, but quite complex man, this Al Haig. There's nothing quite as attractive as an intelligent mystery, as this man undoubtedly was. He was an unusually accomplished pianist, and this in spite of his personality flaws. And when I say "flaws," I'm being generous, of course. Love and Marriage (as the song goes!) go well together, but so do sex, booze and violence in some quarters. Al didn't quite end up destroying his own life with his stupid strong-arm tactics, but he almost did. He did, however, destroy one life entirely, and left an indelible mark on others, all members of what are surely the "weaker" sex. What a shame! This Al Haig, this mystery man.
Not that there isn't enough mystery just in music! There is, of course. It's hard enough to put your finger on why we find one piece of music better than another. And one musician playing a certain style better than another. There are too many variables: style, technique, touch, approach, instrument, tone choice, the list is endless. But we all find it true that we prefer one over another. A lot of professional critics make a living out of trying to divine the reasons. A lot of it comes down to words and feelings, those nebulous and many defined characteristics of expression brought to the fore through experience. Whatever. We are all so ignorant of these things.
But Rutan's book's dual emphasis was the correct one. Why would such a praised musician be on trial for murder? I know that Lady Haig wanted to avoid this question at the beginning of her quest. He was acquitted, so he didn't do it, and why raise the possibility when there is so much more to the man, historically. But she eventually chose the correct path, to examine the man himself, not just his music, and to let us know what happened when Karma finally came to the surface. Al Haig loved to control women by whatever means. I really think he felt it was his right, this kingship he enjoyed by way of the keyboard and his role in the bebop movement. And I'm so happy Rutan included the comments of Stan Getz, who had such empathy with Al. Stan was the same way, prone to booze and abusing his wife. Stan hints at "lurid" truth but then defends Al with his refusal to say anything further.
What makes these guys this way? Again, the mystery, so attractive on its face but so devastating in life. There was a lot of anger in these men, and most of the time you couldn't see it, but it was there. It always came out in certain circumstances. It's so tragic.
I often wondered about Al. I wasn't just a former band manager. We were all struggling with our lives. I had lived in the Apple and had known some outstanding musicians. But my life stream had diverged. I opted for a life of teaching, a house, a loving intellilgent wife, respectability, a rural community residence I had never known. And to tell you the truth, I've been searching ever since, finally reaching a certain contentment. But such is life, this mysterious continum of breathing. We are so ignorant.
I loved so many of Rutan's chapters that dealt with Al the handsome non-musician, the woman abuser. Her opening was perfect, the first-hand account of her rape. How typical of the man. Then the testimony of Bonnie's mother who had tried to get her to leave Al beause of the physical abuse; the questioning of Al on the afternoon of Bonnie's death and all those evasive answers. Wow! Towards the end of her book, the account of the trial, the six and one-half days of testimony followed by the Monday testimony of Dr. Milton Halperin, the real authority and the only medical testimony that made sense. And then Hal Gaylor's relating his conversation with Al in the early seventies in the Edison Hotel lounge when Al admitted he had caused Bonnie's death; this is a great story with a great twist.
Lady Haig, to paraphrase the words of the man himself, you "nailed it." You were able to let us know the essence of the man, musical and non-musical. The story of the small-town trial for murder of this mystery man explains so much. The jury, of course, made the right decision. The medical examination was botched from the beginning what with the exhumation of the body, the claim of death from a brain hemorrhage, the claim of the use of a towel or cloth, and the final testimony of Dr. Halperin of there being no evidence of asphyxiation. How contradictory can things get? Yes, the jury made the correct decision even though Al probably contributed to Bonnie's death. He was so angry, of course. And I'm sure he knew what he had done. And without Al being there and doing what he did, Bonnie would have survived. You know, I don't know if Al really changed after all this, but he probably did. How could he not. He was intelligent and learned from his mistakes. I have often wondered about him.
Thanks Lady Haig for sticking with it and finishing the book as there were probably misgivings about certain things, but you did good. I recently bought a biography about my friend Willis Conover who was the jazz voice of Voice of Ameria for over thirty years. I am mentioned in it too. But the book could have used an effective editor because it is rife with plain ol' grammatical errors. A terrible read, to tell the truth. Grange's book has none of that, and is truly delightful. She deserves so much credit. Yes, she did good and I think she did the jazz community that I love so much a great service.
There are many in the future who will wonder about the jazz of the twentieth century and will research the many different eras that it contained. Death of a Bebop Wife tells a part, and is important. Thank you so much You did it! Kudos to you for being who you are.
Jim Riley
www.ladyhaig.com
grangeladyhaigrutan.com
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