Randall Island Jazz Festivals especially 58 & 59

[romualdo]

Were there any recordings made of the Randall island (NYC) Jazz Festivals

Chet Baker played with Bob Zieff on piano in 1958 while Zieff led a larger band in 1959 that included Steve Lacy

I've never seen any of this material listed or circulating

particularly interested in any Zieff performances

Edited February 5, 2013 by romualdo

[JamesAHarrod]

This email is ten years old. Haven't been in touch with Zieff recently. FWIW. Jim

No, I don't have a recording of the Randall's Island concert; Phil Sunkel

and I had this group together. Steve Lacy was in the group also. Ev'ry

Mornin' was Phil's composition and arrangement.

I recorded 4 tracks under my name with another group for ABC which

were not released; trumpets Don

Joseph and Ty Frolund (he was with the Mulligan Quartet before

Chet--possibly in Albequerque), trombone Miltie Gold, altos Dick Meldonian

and Rich Henry, bass Peter Ind, drums John Yalenezian.

Titles: Not So Special, Medium Rock, With Sweep, Graphic Traffic.

1955 or 1956 I would guess.

Bob Zieff

JAZZ PATHWAYS

www.the-freq.com

WDCV, Carlisle

Wednesdays: 12 noon-2:00 (Eastern time)

[JSngry]

(he was with the Mulligan Quartet before

Chet--possibly in Albequerque),

Wow...when I lived in Albuquerque (mid 1982- mid-1984), there was an old guy, a local guy - alto player/dance-band leader named Dave (somebody...Willis?) told me about Mulligan hanging out in town with his "crazy wife" and always being high. To the extent that I gave credence to the story, I assumed that it was Judy Holliday and that they were probably smoking weed on vacation or something. But then I see this, and a little Googling turns up this: http://news.allaboutjazz.com/news.php?id=81832#.URF4VvKnB_Y

And last, Mulligan's girlfriend Gail Madden played maracas.

Why is the last point vital? The following spring, Madden would be Mulligan's road companion as the two hitched to Los Angeles, making stops in Reading, PA, and Albuquerque, NM. According to Matthew Ruddick's unpublished Funny Valentine: A Biography of Chet Baker:

“In the spring of 1952, Mulligan's drug addiction was starting to get out of control, and he was struggling to find regular work. He decided to sell his horns, and hitchhike to California with his girlfriend.

“ 'I did some playing along the way using borrowed horns, mostly tenors, and I remember playing in a cowboy band in a roadhouse outside Albuquerque for a while,' he said. 'I was lucky because I knew a guy who was teaching at the university there, and he helped me keep body and soul together.'

So, wow, true story. Completely.

[romualdo]

This email is ten years old. Haven't been in touch with Zieff recently. FWIW. Jim

No, I don't have a recording of the Randall's Island concert; Phil Sunkel

and I had this group together. Steve Lacy was in the group also. Ev'ry

Mornin' was Phil's composition and arrangement.

I recorded 4 tracks under my name with another group for ABC which

were not released; trumpets Don

Joseph and Ty Frolund (he was with the Mulligan Quartet before

Chet--possibly in Albequerque), trombone Miltie Gold, altos Dick Meldonian

and Rich Henry, bass Peter Ind, drums John Yalenezian.

Titles: Not So Special, Medium Rock, With Sweep, Graphic Traffic.

1955 or 1956 I would guess.

Bob Zieff

JAZZ PATHWAYS

www.the-freq.com

WDCV, Carlisle

Wednesdays: 12 noon-2:00 (Eastern time)

thanks Jim

that's a pity - hopefully there may have been audience recordings that could surface in the future

[wmba]

There seems to be very little information/documentation on the 1958 festival. I have quite a bit of interest in this festival, as my dad's band was the opening act on one of the evenings. I have a copy of the original program/book from the festival... but have found very little information otherwise.

[Stonewall15]

Anything new on Randall's Island Jazz Festival since 2013?

Edited July 28, 2016 by Stonewall15
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