Published in CHOPS, April 2006
Selective Happenings:
Jazz, New York and the Seventies
“I had got into a very disillusioned attitude by 1969, a very despondent attitude…” however, ”I’m going to make my little contribution, whatever it might be. There’ll be no more hiatus for me from now until the end, which isn’t that far away when I consider the time I have left. Time, it’s a dimension I don’t understand at all. I look in the mirror and study myself and I see that my face is changing, that’s its aging, but inside I’m still little old me.” — Sonny Rollins, 1972.
Music, art reflects the times, feelings events of the culture. Art is never performed in a vacuum. The influences are immeasurable. The people, their art and music – their hopes, outlook, defined.
Watergate, Vietnam, Carter, Reagan, Nation-State wars, (conflicts is seems the human race never learns) movies, books – Jaws, the Exorcist, The Gulag Archipelago, Breakfast of Champions.
There are of course the passings of legends. Armstrong in 1971. Ellington in ’74. The revival of others: Eubie Blake: releasing three albums in 1974 releasing three albums at the age of 90. The mixing of old and new – The Newport Jazz Festivals-New York.
After eleven years The Newport Jazz Festival moved by George Wein from the quaint harbor to the culture shock of New York City for its 18th season. The festival began at Carnegie Hall on July 1st, 1972. Included, of course was Abstract, swing, blues, big band. It ended with Gospel at Radio City Music Hall and a drama about Sojourner Truth at the Carnegie Recital Hall. Yankee Stadium held two concerts. Diversity fitted well in New York but must have been a cultural and economic loss for Newport.
The Wollman Rink was the center of a number of concerts in ’73 from xylophone-like instruments of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, to George Benson. Thelonious Monk Jr. drummed at Alice Tully Hall. July 4th celebrated Louis Armstrong’s birthday at Flushing Meadow’s Singer Bowl. All five boroughs were active (there was the Musicians Five Borough Festive also occurring) with of course Ray and Ella at Carnegie Hall (different days) and rides up the Hudson.
1974 had Avant-Garde on a Carnegie Hall afternoon. A Polish violinist inspired by the Voice of America programs was one of the features. Jess Stacy who ended a fourteen-year retirement and his first return to the Hall since 1938. Reminders of Fifty-second Street occurred at Bradley’s in the Village with impromptu session from midnight to 2 a.m. when Stan Getz was joined by Zoot Sims. This overlapped the Roseland Ballroom ticket where Harry James, Sy Oliver and Tito Puente played. Harry James, king from the late 30’s to early 40’s played at Carnegie The last half of the bill featured Buddy Rich Teddy Wilson Lionel Hampton and Milt Hilton. Sarah Vaughan “controlled and lucid” performed at Avery Fisher Hall. Popular song invoked again, included Bobby Hackett, Freddy Waits and Jackie Cain. The passing of Duke Ellington on May 26th was represented through out the series and at Carnegie with Ben Webster and Eddie Condon. On the second to last night Big Band had its time when Count Basie appeared with Joe Williams.
The fourth Newport Festival had Gospel music on the second night. Later that evening had Benny Carter and Maria Muldaur at Carnegie. The Bobcats took ferry rides up the Hudson and Harry James and Buddy Rich returned. A “derivative” Japanese Band – Miyami and his New Herd played at Roseland. Zoot Sims played Gershwin; Miles Davis was at Avery Fisher Hall as well as Stan Getz. Coming out of semi-retirement was Thelonious Monk. Brazilian Jazz was represented by Tania Maria a pianist who sang in Portuguese. Avery Fisher had Sarah Vaughan and Stan Kenton and Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd appeared at Carnegie.
Tony Bennett opened the 1976 concert series and Charlie Mingus was also at Carnegie Hall appearing the next night. A Jazz Rock group called Cobham/Duke shared the late billing that night. Four repertories were given to Duke Ellington as well as a tribute to John Coltrane. Ellington’s work of the 1930’s were at the Hall. The New York Jazz Repertory Company made a number of appearances throughout the festival.
1977, the sixth in New York, opened with Sarah Vaughan – her fourth straight appearance. Dizzy Gillespie, unannounced joined her with Clark Terry. Mid-night at Carnegie was Betty Carter and Mel Torme the next night. Alice Tully Hall displayed Double Image and the Revolutionary Ensemble. A string of unencumbered jazz soloist were presented at Carnegie. Foreign interest in jazz appeared via a Manchurian-born Japanese pianist, Toshiko Akiyoshi. After an exile, Ornette Coleman with increasing intensity played “brilliant and real” With his band, Count Basie looking “fresh and fit” after a heart attack, played for around two hours and a dozen pieces.
June 23rd, celebrated the twenty fifth “Silver Anniversary” of the festival, but there were only 24 festivals (1961 was skipped). Ella Fitzgerald performed the next night and Cecil Taylor did the late show. Seventy-two years young, Wild Bilk Davison and his cornet appeared. Alberta Hunter paid tribute to American Pop song. Torme was accompanied by Buddy Rich and his band; Dizzy Gillespie soloed and Chick Corea was at Avery Fisher. Carnegie Hall saw the fiftieth-anniversary of Lionel Hampton’s first appearance.
Twenty-fifth yearly show of 1979 began with Al Haig the pianist. Gillespie and Betty Carter were both at Carnegie Hall, but on different nights. Fifty-second Street and its musicians, specifically, Gillespie, Holiday, Parker, Hawkins and Lester Young were honored with the placing of plaques. Seventy-nine year-old Hoagy Carmichael was honored, Patti Brown appeared, Count Basie played; American song was again celebrated by Torme and Gerry Mulligan.
“We’ll take a little breather so that the dream doesn’t wake up.” Ornette Coleman, June 30, 1977
“If I’m on the road to long, I start taking on the local accent.” Duke Ellington 1977.
Band stand side-bar: When Cab Calloway was singing, Dizzy Gillespie used to throw imaginary forward passes to band mate Tyree Glenn. Cab and Dizzy came to blows when Calloway accused Dizzy of throwing spitballs.
Happenings –
A new jazz club and restaurant is coming to New Rochelle @ 47 Lawton Street across from the Library. Mr. Paul Dunn and Johnny Garcia are the owners. Tradition, Big Band, Latin, all forms of jazz will be featured. The name will be “Cafe New Rochelle.’ Look forward to a May 2006 opening.
April is Jazz Appreciation Month
At the New Rochelle Public Library
There will be two concerts; one on April 22nd featuring Ed Bonoff’s Rhythm Devils and the second concert presents Joan Crowe and the Ted Firth Trio on April 29th. Both are on a Saturday at two-thirty in the afternoon. Only a two-dollar suggested donation at the door. They occur at the newly dedicated Ossie Davis Theater.
Dobbs Derry Public Library on April 3rd – Three Americas A concert Series with Janet Grice.
Mount Vernon’s Summer Breeze Concerts: they begin at June’s end and continue until August. A lot of cool, free jazz. Call – 665-2420. Plenty of styles, plenty of nights
The White Plains Public Library is having a hot concert on Sunday, April 2nd the Libby Richman Jazz Quartet.
The Village Vanguard…Monday Nights are reserved for the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. The Bill Frisell Quintet will perform from April 18 – April 23rd.
Tarrytown Music Hall has Theater Preservation Hall Jazz Band on April 7th. The Dave Brubeck Quartet are appearing on May 6th.
Galito’s Continues with its great jazz. This Portuguese Restaurant is across from the Mount Vernon New Haven Line train station (south side). Call 914-668-0100.
Jazz web site: “LaRitno.com” – Latin American Rhythm Magazine. Info on artist large and small.
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