So this is what jazz musicians spend their money on

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I just found this interesting little tidbit in Milt Buckner's discography. It relates to the gig he did with Illinois Jacquet and Alan Dawson at Lennie's on the Turnpike which was recorded by Cadet and released as "Go power".

Can anyone comment on how much $400 a week wages was worth in 1966? And how much $49.86 was worth as spending money?

Also, my guess is that $400 does not include Milt's recording fee(s). The album was recorded over two days; would Milt have got two fees?

I greatly admire the fact that Milt's missus got half of his money. Is/was that unusual?

MG

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Oh, here's the link to the discog site.

http://www.jazzdocumentation.ch/buckner/di...y/buckner2.html

MG

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

One more thing - I assume that the note "To Ill" by the transportation entry means that the three musicians were sharing the petrol costs. I'd have thought that Illinois, as leader, would have been responsible for getting his sidemen to the gig.

MG

[Stereojack]

One more thing - I assume that the note "To Ill" by the transportation entry means that the three musicians were sharing the petrol costs. I'd have thought that Illinois, as leader, would have been responsible for getting his sidemen to the gig.

MG

I saw them at Lennie's that early that week. I remember Lennie (the host) announcing that they would be recording the gig on the weekend. Of course, I bought the album when it came out later. $400 dollars was pretty good pay at that time, easily the equivalent of 3 or 4 times that now, although they played six nights and a Sunday matinee, which was typical in those days. The transportation costs probably include air fare. There was a motel up the street from the club, and usually the club took care of providing rides to and from the club, and it wouldn't surprise me if Lennie's also got them to and from the airport as well. Dawson was a local musician, and no doubt provided his own transportation.

[Van Basten II]

Found a site that tries to answer that question

http://www.measuringworth.com/index.html

It would be worth around 2800 $ in 2006, not a bad deal.

Edited August 16, 2008 by Van Basten II

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

One more thing - I assume that the note "To Ill" by the transportation entry means that the three musicians were sharing the petrol costs. I'd have thought that Illinois, as leader, would have been responsible for getting his sidemen to the gig.

MG

I saw them at Lennie's that early that week. I remember Lennie (the host) announcing that they would be recording the gig on the weekend. Of course, I bought the album when it came out later. $400 dollars was pretty good pay at that time, easily the equivalent of 3 or 4 times that now, although they played six nights and a Sunday matinee, which was typical in those days. The transportation costs probably include air fare. There was a motel up the street from the club, and usually the club took care of providing rides to and from the club, and it wouldn't surprise me if Lennie's also got them to and from the airport as well. Dawson was a local musician, and no doubt provided his own transportation.

Wow! To judge by the album, the trio gave value for money! I think it's some of the best playing by any of them.

Thanks Jack. So, would Milt & Illinois have flown up from New York? I thought it would only be three hours or so by car. Or does "to Ill" mean he was flying from/to Chicago?

MG

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Found a site that tries to answer that question

http://www.measuringworth.com/index.html

It would be worth around 2800 $ in 2006, not a bad deal.

Not a bad deal at all, if you can get it every week.

Interesting site, VBII. Saved in favourites. Thanks.

MG

[Stereojack]

Wow! To judge by the album, the trio gave value for money! I think it's some of the best playing by any of them.

Thanks Jack. So, would Milt & Illinois have flown up from New York? I thought it would only be three hours or so by car. Or does "to Ill" mean he was flying from/to Chicago?

I was a young jazz enthusiast at the time, not yet 21, and I remember being totally blown away. The album, good as it is, is tame in comparison to my memory!

New York to Boston is a 4 hour + drive - I expect they would have flown up. There were cheap shuttle flights between NY and Boston back then. Lennie's was north of Boston, about 15-20 miles from the airport. Jacquet was New York based, not sure where Buckner lived.

[AllenLowe]

anybody else notice the mistake in the addition? Should be $360.14 -

[papsrus]

anybody else notice the mistake in the addition? Should be $360.14 -

Nope. Nice catch.

[AllenLowe]

shows why jazz musicians never have any money -

Edited August 18, 2008 by AllenLowe

[mikeweil]

Is that album still available?

[Stereojack]

Is that album still available?

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&a...10:fcfixqegldde

Reissued in 2004, don't know if it's still available. Disagree with Yanow about the organ - Buckner was a powerhouse, and this band rocks!

[mikeweil]

Thanks Jack - saw there was a European reissue as well - this was on my radar for some time, but I needed a boost in form of board member commentaries like yours to make me really want and get this