J Larsen Posted July 17, 2003 Report Share Posted July 17, 2003 It occured to me the other day that I know very little about the history of jazz in San Francisco (who the major players were, where they performed, etc.) outside of a handfull of Lu Watters, Turk Murphy and Wally Rose recordings I have. Does anyone know where I could look for more info? Web links, book recommendations, or direct information would all be appreciated. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted July 17, 2003 Report Share Posted July 17, 2003 I'll recommend a book called "Jazz on the Barbary Coast" by Tom Studdard. Now it won't take you up into the forties, but it will give a fascinating account of the jazz music in the area from the teens (and before) up to the late thirties, compiled from interviews with musicians from the time, and with fascinating photos. You can get this cheap. . . Daedalus Books has it for 6 or 7 dollars, and I noticed on Amazon.com that there were some used copies available even cheaper. I really enjoyed reading this! Someone else may be able to recommend a book that will go up the timeline from there. . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Larsen Posted July 17, 2003 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2003 Thanks Lon, I'll go downtown and pick that up today. I'm going back home for a week next month. I think it would be sort of fun to have the book read beforehand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mule Posted July 17, 2003 Report Share Posted July 17, 2003 WEST COAST JAZZ by Ted Gioia goes into a fair amount of detail on the SF jazz scene tracing the careers of Dave Brubeck and Cal Tjader. Great book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted July 17, 2003 Report Share Posted July 17, 2003 Darn! Beaten by the Mule... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFrank Posted July 18, 2003 Report Share Posted July 18, 2003 While not exactly history, this is a good source for 'all things jazz' in the Bay Area - JazzWest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Fitzgerald Posted July 18, 2003 Report Share Posted July 18, 2003 You're going to get a whole 'nother view of San Francisco jazz when my book on Henry Grimes comes out. Don't hold your breath, as I've just started it and we're not talking months, but years. There is a world out there that has never been documented and is *amazing*. I'm speaking about the 1967-70 period. I've done several interviews over the past week of SF musicians from this time and they were doing remarkable things. There may even be recordings. Stay tuned. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertrand Posted July 18, 2003 Report Share Posted July 18, 2003 Would Dewey Redman be included, or had he left San Francisco before the period you are investigating? Bertrand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Late Posted July 19, 2003 Report Share Posted July 19, 2003 And, probably not what you're looking for, but this album is loads of fun: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFrank Posted July 19, 2003 Report Share Posted July 19, 2003 I don't understand the name change. This was originally called "San Francisco Moods". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFrank Posted July 19, 2003 Report Share Posted July 19, 2003 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Larsen Posted July 19, 2003 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2003 Hey Late, I do like that Jesse Fuller record a lot. Thanks to all for the suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Fitzgerald Posted July 19, 2003 Report Share Posted July 19, 2003 Dewey Redman's name does come up. It remains to be seen how big a role he will play. BTW, if there are SF residents who were seeing gigs from that period (1967-70), I'd be interested in hearing from them. Drop me an email. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenny weir Posted July 19, 2003 Report Share Posted July 19, 2003 Mike, I'd like to think Mike Nock will get a bit of a run in your new book. I think he was pretty active in SF during that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Fitzgerald Posted July 19, 2003 Report Share Posted July 19, 2003 Yes. The guys from The Fourth Way are on the hit list. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Larsen Posted August 3, 2003 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2003 Well, "Jazz on the Barbary Coast" has been a bit tough to track down, but I've been reading Gioia's book and I'm really enjoying it. It's very well written and there's a ton of stuff in there I didn't know. For instance, the apartment in which I grew up is located just about ten blocks up the street from the former location of The Blackhawk. I never knew what block that club was on. Thanks for the recommendations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted August 3, 2003 Report Share Posted August 3, 2003 Looks as if Daedalus has finally sold out of Jazz on the Barbary Coast! That's a shame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrJ Posted August 3, 2003 Report Share Posted August 3, 2003 kenny weir Posted: Jul 19 2003, 02:08 AMÂ Mike, I'd like to think Mike Nock will get a bit of a run in your new book. I think he was pretty active in SF during that time. Isn't Nock originally from New Zealand? It seems he's moved around a lot - playing, for example, with Lateef during his tenure at Impulse! I wouldn't have automatically identified him with SF, but then again I think he also recorded with John Handy...speaking of which, DON'T overlook Handy's classic recordings for Columbia (and a little before that, Roulette) in exploring the history of jazz in the SF Bay Area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Larsen Posted August 3, 2003 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2003 Looks as if Daedalus has finally sold out of Jazz on the Barbary Coast! That's a shame. Amazon still says they'll ship one this week (although I did order it a couple weeks ago...) They do have several used copies, but I'm holding out to see if they come through with a new one. I've had many bad experiences with the Amazon Marketplace. I'm sure I'll get a hold of a copy one way or another. If all else fails, I can probably find it at City Lights when I go back to SF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted August 3, 2003 Report Share Posted August 3, 2003 I'm pretty sure I've seen it at Green Apple Books. Their used prices are on the steep side, but there is the advantage of it being right there in front of you! Give them a call when you get into town. Plus you could stop in for a bite at the Toy Boat ice cream shop at 5th Avenue and Clement. Yum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Larsen Posted August 12, 2003 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2003 My copy of Jazz on the Barbary Coast just arrived yesterday, just in time for my trip! It looks like the perfect length for my plane trip, too. Thanks for the recommendations. BTW, Bruce, I used to shop at Green Apple all the time as a teen. I'm glad it's still there. I don't know what it's like now, but in the mid-80s it was a, well, off-center shop. They kept copies of the Anarchist Cookbook and the Satanic Verses in the window. It may be pricey overall, but one day in 1988 or so I walked in with about $40 and walked out with a stack of ultra-rare 70s punk singles - like the first Bad Brains 7", the first two Husker Du 7"s, etc. I barely made it around the corner before I started dancing in the street! I still can't believe they didn't know how to price those records! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted August 14, 2003 Report Share Posted August 14, 2003 It's still there, and still a cool neigborhood place. There used to be a used record store two doors down the street called "Revolver Records." Well, that went out of business a few years back and the space was taken over by Green Apple. It's now their "Annex"---used music, fiction, magazines, DVD's, videos, and music books. (Pretty good used jazz books section.) The main store now has new books, and a new coat of paint on the facade, but the spirit of the place is intact. As you must know, Clement Street used to have loads of bookstores of all types---now Green Apple is about the only one left, but seems to be doing fine. Give it a visit when you're in town (can't guarentee you'll make a killing like in '88, but still...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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