Page "Tricky Sam Nanton" Paragraph 5

When Joe Nanton joined the Ellington band, he was eager to solo.

Nanton had been playing with the band for several weeks before the jovial alto saxophonist Otto " Toby " Hardwick convinced Ellington to let him play.

According to Barney Bigard, “... he Nanton grabbed his plunger.

He could use that thing, too.

It talked to you.

I was sitting there, looking up at him, and every time he'd say ' wa-wa ,' I was saying ' wa-wa ' with my mouth, following him all the way through .”