This article was published in the IAJRC (International Association of Jazz Record Collectors) journal in 1982. It fills in some blanks regarding Earle Spencer’s activity after leaving California. SPENCERIA: A FORGOTTEN BAND OF THE LATE 1940S By John S. Lewis Geographically and politically there are two Kansas Cities, but musically the town to the […]
Continue ReadingStan Kenton
SHELLY’S MANNE HOLE – FIFTH ANNIVERSARY
By Charles M. Weisenberg “How many club owners could distinguish between Miles Davis, a glockenspiel and a C clef?” This question was raised about five years ago in an article by the poet Kenneth Rexroth who maintained that a jazz club is no place for a musician who considers himself a creative artist. Rexroth’s […]
Continue ReadingTiffany Club – 1955 – Part Two
Chris Connor opened at Tiffany Club on Friday, July 8, 1955. Slim Gaillard and his crew were held-over for the sixth time. Down Beat published a profile of Chris that started out on the wrong foot when they printed her last name as “Connors.” Corrected for entry here: New York—Young, energetic Chris Connor, the former […]
Continue ReadingThe Haig – Part Four
Newspaper ads for the Haig in 1955 were sparse. It seems that John Bennett relied on the good graces of Down Beat for the occasional mention of who was performing at the club. The twice a month publication of the magazine required considerable lead time before each issue went to press. The “freebies” were noted […]
Continue ReadingJAZZ CITY PART SIX JANUARY – JUNE 1956
The December 28, 1955, issue of Down Beat magazine ran a short column announcing a series of West Coast bookings for Miles Davis’s current combo with Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, Red Garland, and John Coltrane. The new quintet had a recent release on the Prestige label, MILES, that featured the new quintet. Miles Davis’s new quintet opened at Jazz City on Friday, January 6, 1956. The quintet’s engagement ran through Thursday, January 19, 1956. Prior to heading north to San Francisco for their booking at the Black Hawk, Paul Chambers joined a combo led by Kenny Drew for Jane Fielding’s second album for Herb Kimmel’s Jazz:West label.
Continue ReadingJAZZ SCENE USA – VHS & DVD
JAZZ SCENE U.S.A. – CODA Commentary © James A. Harrod, Copyright Protected; All Rights Reserved Steve Allen had hoped to continue his Jazz Scene USA syndication series for a second round of twenty six shows so that the package would contain a year’s worth of programs for potential licensees who wanted to broadcast the series […]
Continue ReadingJAZZ SCENE USA #13 – STAN KENTON
The 13th episode of Steve Allen’s Jazz Scene USA featured Stan Kenton and his Mellophonium Orchestra:- Conte Candoli, Marvin Stamm, Bob Behrendt, Dalton Smith, Keith LaMotte, trumpet; Bud Parker, Tom Ringo, Bob Fitzpatrick, trombone; Jim Amlotte, bass trombone; Dave Wheeler, bass trombone, tuba; Dwight Carver, Joe Burnett, Lou Gasca, Ray Starling, mellophone; Gabe Baltazar, alto sax; Don Menza, Ray Florian, tenor sax; Allan Beutler, bar-sax; Joel Kaye, bar-sax, b-sax; Stan Kenton, piano, leader; Bucky Calabrese, acoustic double bass; Dee Barton, drums.
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