The Jazz Voyager

Masked up and on the wing to that city by the bay is the next stop for this Jazz Voyager to take in an evening at the Comstock Saloon situated at the crossroads of North Beach, Chinatown, Financial District and Jackson Square. I’ve been hearing about Gaucho Jazz, and having sparked my curiosity, decided to satisfy or see if it will kill this cat. So it’s off to hear them live and experience a performance for myself.

Of course while I’m in this city I’ll ride another trolley, make my way down the crooked street, roll across the bridge to Berkeley, go hang in the Tenderloin, Haight~Ashbury and Nob Hill and just enjoy the sights and sounds. I’ve also heard about this Dynamo Spiced Chocolate Donut that the saloon serves up with vanilla ice cream and during the night I’m going to see what this dessert hoopla is all about.

Showtime is 8:00pm ~ 11:00pm and there is no mention of a cover or reservations required. I guess I’ll be dropping in a little before showtime. The address of the Comstock Saloon is 155 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, California 94133. For more information, the number is 415-617-0071 or comstocksaloon.com.

CALIFORNIA JAZZ FOUNDATION

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ROY HARGROVE BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE

CELEBRATING THE CO-FOUNDER OF THE JAZZ GALLERY

Jaleel Shaw ~ saxophones
Giveton Gelin – trumpet
Orrin Evans -piano
Mimi Jones -bass
Johnathan Blake –drums

With Special Guests
Renee Neufville -vocals
Tadataka Unno -piano
Justin Robinson –saxophone

Guest MC: Lezlie Harrison

Sets at 7.30pm + 9.30pm ET
$30/$10 members; cabaret seating: $40/$20 members; LIVESTREAM: $20/$5 members

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Freddie Jenkins was born on October 10, 1906 in New York City, New York and played in the Jenkins Orphanage Band when young before he attended Wilberforce University. Following this he played with Edgar Hayes and Horace Henderson between 1924 and 1928. 

He then took a position in Duke Ellington’s Orchestra in 1928 where he soloed in the 1930 film Check and Double Check, during a performance of the song Old Man Blues. He remained with the Ellington Orchestra until 1935, when lung problems forced him to quit.

Recovered, he formed his own group in 1935, recording one session as a leader. His sidemen included Ward Pinkett, Albert Nicholas and Bernard Addison. After this he played with Luis Russell in 1936. Rejoining Ellington in 1937 he played with him for a year, then for a short time thereafter played with Hayes Alvis. 

After 1938, his lung ailment returned and he retired again from performance. In his later years he worked as a songwriter, disc jockey, and in music press. He became a deputy sheriff in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Trumpeter Freddie Jenkins transitioned in 1978.

Bestow upon an inquiring mind a dose of a New York City trumpeter to motivate the perusal of the genius of jazz musicians worldwide whose gifts contribute to the canon…

Freddie Jenkins: 1906~1978 | Trumpet



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TOM HARRELL QUINTET

The trumpeter Tom Harrell has been doing this a long time, through various schools and vogues: He can play slow and fast and in between, sometimes all within a single line. But his improvising is always temperate and proportionate. He keeps you on the hook, but doesn’t shout, doesn’t stop the clock. Plenty of improvisers are specialists in now-ness, revealing a solo as a series of events, or present-tense flashes. With Mr. Harrell, it’s all one event. He’s always processing ahead and behind, and you feel as if you’re hearing the whole of the narrative at all times, from was to is to will be.

Tom Harrell – Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Dayna Stephens – Saxophone

Luis Perdomo – Piano

Ugonna Okegwo – Bass

Adam Cruz – Drums

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

EdgarPuddingheadBattle was born on October 3, 1907 into a musical family in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1921 while a student at Morris Brown University he started playing trumpet and formed his own band, the Dixie Serenaders. A few years later the group changed their name to Dixie Ramblers.

Battle played with Eddie Heywood Sr., and toured with the 101 Ranch Boys traveling show. During the 1920s he worked with Gene Coy, Andy Kirk, Blanche Calloway, Ira Coffey, and Willie Bryant. A move to New York City in the early Thirties saw him doing short stints with Benny Carter and Sam Wooding before joining George White’s ensemble on Broadway.

Over time, he began doing more work as a studio musician and arranger, writing charts for Cab Calloway, Paul Whiteman, Fats Waller, Earl Hines, Rudy Vallee, and Count Basie. During World War II, Edgar held a position as an electrician in a shipyard, while simultaneously running a big band with Shirley Clay.

In the 1950s, he founded Cosmopolitan Records and continued to play in big bands part-time through the 1960s. Among his numerous jazz compositions are the pieces Topsy, co-composed with Eddie Durham and Doggin’ Around with Herschel Evans.

Trumpeter, trombonist, saxophonist and pianist Edgar “Puddinghead” Battle, who was also a composer and arranger, transitioned in New York City on February 6, 1977, at the age of 69.

BRONZE LENS

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