Luter was born in Paris on 23rd July 1923, the son of a professional pianist. After learning to play the piano from his father, in his teens he started playing clarinet. He started studying naval architecture, but gave up his studies to pursue his musical career. He took clarinet lessons, and haunted the Parisian jazz scene, meeting and playing with many of the prominent musicians of the time.
Luter started his own band in 1946 with a residency at the Club Lorientais, but the club closed two years later (because of fire regulations), and the band moved to the Vieux Colombier, popular with intellectuals and students.
In 1948 he played at the first Nice jazz festival, and met and became friends with Barney Bigard, the clarinettist with Louis Armstrong; the two later performed and recorded together. In 1949 he met Sidney Bechet, who became one of his major influences; Bechet sat in with Luter's band at the Vieux Colombier, and when he settled in France he continued his association with Luter -- an association that helped to popularise jazz and to make Luter's name. Luter went on to visit New Orleans on a number of occasions, taking part in the centenary celebrations of Bechet's birth, and recording.
Luter died after a fall on 6th October 2006.
Tiger Rag
Claude Luter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hold that tiger
Hold that tiger
Hold that tiger
Hold that tiger
Hold that tiger
Hold that tiger
Where's that tiger?
Where's that tiger?
Where's that tiger?
Where's that tiger?
Where's that tiger?
Where's that tiger?
The lyrics of Claude Luter's song Tiger Rag may seem repetitive and ordinary at first glance, but upon closer examination, they reveal an intense and frenzied energy that perfectly matches the song's upbeat jazz rhythm. The repetitive lines of "Hold that tiger" and "Where's that tiger" serve to pump up the excitement and anticipation for the arrival of the "tiger," which represents the wild and untamed nature of jazz music itself. The repetition of the lines also serves to create a sense of unity and communal celebration among the listeners and musicians alike, as everyone basks in the raw energy of the music.
The use of the word "tiger" also has deep cultural significance in jazz music, serving as a metaphor for the African American musicians who originated the genre and who faced immense discrimination and oppression during its early days. The tiger represents their fierce determination and resilience in the face of adversity, and the lyrics of Tiger Rag serve as a call to arms for all jazz lovers to hold onto the spirit of the music and never let it be tamed or commodified by mainstream society.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold that tiger
Don't let that tiger get away, keep it close and under control.
Where's that tiger?
Where could that tiger be? Is it still around or has it disappeared?
Lyrics © PAUL RODRIGUEZ MUSIC LTD.
Written by: ANTONIO SBARRO (DP), EDWIN EDWARDS (DP), HENRY RAGAS (DP), LARRY SHIELDS (DP), SIDNEY BECHET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind