makpjazz57

Hi All, Just returned from L.A. and Gerry Wiggins' brithday celebration/CD release party at the Jazz Bakery. Quite a lineup with a few surprises: Eric Reed (Wig has known Eric since his high school days in L.A. and Eric attended and played as the surprise guest), John Campbell, John Hammond, Art Hillery, Ernie Andrews, Rebecca Parris, Bob Maize, Bill Cunliffe, Jim Hughart, Wig's son, Hassan Shakur (J.J. Wiggins), John Clayton, Steve Huffstetter, Cyrus Chestnut, Ralph Penland, Paul Humphrey. In attendance, but not performing were Buddy Collette, Horace Silver, Bill Henderson. Also, actor Brock Peters. While there were many outstanding musical moments, perhaps one of the most beautiful for me was Bill Cunliffe's tribute to Wig - he played Wig's composition, "Sonor." Also, the segment with Cyrus, Wig's son and Ralph Penland, was very exciting - they sounded like they had been swinging together for years! Marla

Tony, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where did you get your photo of Minton's Playhouse? Looks like the windows are red for Christmas (I can see the Santa perched atop the front of the Hotel Cecil)> Minton's is at 118th and St. Nicholas in Harlem. It is a shell inside, other than the famous mural. Several attempts, including one by Robert DeNiro back in the late 90's, were made to reopen, but none have been successful to date. There are several videos out with very good glimpses inside of Minton's. Unfortunately, those glimpses are of Minton's as it is today; not as it was in it's heyday. I believe the American Masters documentary on Monk (available as a DVD) uses Minton's a lot throughout the film (place is bare other than a piano that was brought in for filming). Minton's Playhouse had their own stickball team when Minton's first came on the scene (before Teddy Hill ran the place). If you look at the famous picture of Monk, Eldridge, McGhee and Hill, you can see they are standing by an awning. That awning is no longer there and today, that door is kind of cemented. There is a newer neon sign (which you can see in the photo of Minton's). Thank goodness Minton's has been declared an historic landmark, so no NYC developers can rip it up or tear it down! I am fascinated by the history of Minton's, particularly the times when Monk (and then Horace Silver with Tony Scott) led the house band. I read somewhere that when Horace, Doug Watkins and Arthur Edgehill were the house trio, Blakey, Kenny Dorham and Hank Mobley would visit Minton's to sit in and...that edition of the Jazz Messengers was born! Very, very exciting time in jazz history - all in that little club. Marla

Someone from one of the AOL jazz chat rooms also announced Elvin's passing, but with no information. I'm going to hope the info is incorrect. I sure do remember what happened wtih Joe Henderson! Marla

Oops....I've got to figure out how to correctly add an image to the body of the email...back to the drawing board! What I did try to post was the famous William Gottlieb photo of Monk, Teddy Hill, Howard McGhee, Roy Eldridge standing outside of Minton's - I think the photo was taken in 1948. Marla

My avatar is in honor of one of the greatest and most historical jazz clubs EVER! Minton's Playhouse in NYC. While Minton's has been closed for quite sometime, it is now preserved as an historic landmark so the greedy developers can't get their hands on it. It is part of the Hotel Cecil, which is now housing for Single Room Occupancy folks. http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:HT1B.../~lw5/m1948.jpg

Jazztimes.com has a front page update that focuses less on his decline and more on his getting better. Marla

I just found this at branfordmarsalis.com's forum and it sounds a bit more hopeful: From: Menachem May 03 2004 10:12AM JUST spoke by IM w/ Sherman Irby who is playing alto for 'Veen. He said: "He is sick, but he is getting better. If he gets his rest this month, he will be back playing in June. - He feels the love out there, and he really wants to play. So keep praying for him, and he will be back." --- Just thought everyone should know. --- Keep posting the well wishes. We will get them to him. Marla

Thanks for the welcome, EKE BBB. I think I'll concentrate getting from "NEWBIE" poster to whatever the next step is! Marla

I buy from the usuals - CDuniverse and amazon. I also check cdbaby.com every few days. I've been surprised by what I've found there - Clare Fischer, Joe Wilder, for example. Also, when I'm looking for hard to find or out of print stuff (particularly LPs), I'll go to musicstack.com. Marla

Thanks, Dan. I did a quick cut/paste from the body of an email. Had I not been in such a rush (assuming it would have been OK to post this), I would have taken everything off other than the date and the musicians involved with the gig. Suffice it to say, I'll be real careful in the future! Marla

Thanks, Pete. Just a wee bit shy about posting unless I have something possibly worthy of posting! I will hopefully contribute more in the future. Regards, Marla

Apologies. Won't do that again. I've been a "lurker" for many months and thought it would be OK because Wig is a loved and respected member of the jazz community - I have no monetary interest whatsoever in the upcoming gig, etc. It is just going to be a great night of straight ahead jazz with some very special "surprise" guests, so I wanted to get the word out. Again, sincere apologies and won't happen again. Marla

DOUBLE CELEBRATION FOR THE WIG 82nd Birthday Celebration/CD Release Party Monday, May 17 at the Jazz Bakery 3233 Helms Avenue, Los Angeles 1st Show 8:00 p.m. – Champagne/Cake 9:15 p.m. – 2nd Show 9:45 p.m. WIG’S TRIO (with BOB MAIZE and PAUL HUMPHREY) will be featured, Along with pianists BILL CUNLIFFE, JOHN HAMMOND, and JOHN CAMPBELL, bassist HASSAN JJ WIGGINS SHAKUR (Wig’s son), drummer RALPH PENLAND, Jazz Diva REBECCA PARRIS, and exciting surprise guests! Plus the CD Release of “GERRY WIGGINS & FRIENDS: CELEBRATING WIG’S 80TH at the JAZZ BAKERY with BOB and PAUL, KENNY BURRELL, JOHN CAMPBELL, JOHN CLAYTON, BILL CUNLIFFE, RON ESCHETE, BENNY GREEN, PAUL KREIBICH, BOBBY RODRIQUEZ $12.00 each show, includes champagne and birthday cake CD Special: $10.00 (one copy only) Reserve now! (310) 271-9039 Be there to celebrate with Gerry Wiggins Please visit http://www.gerrywiggins.com in mid- May for CD availability update. While you are “surfing” Wig’s website, be sure to leave a note for Wig in his guestbook. He loves hearing from everyone!