Savoy vs. Blue Note

[mjzee]

Looking again at the Bohemia After Dark cover, the photo seems to have been taken at Rudy's (by the curtains).  I'm struck by Paul Chambers doing the date in his undershirt.  Granted, it was recorded in July, but it struck me that in all of Francis Wolff's photos taken during recording dates, you never saw the musicians underdressed.  I wonder if BN had a dress code for musicians because they knew Frank's photos might be used on covers.

[Brad]

Different mindsets and approaches. 

[felser]

Maybe Francis Wolff was selective in what he was willing to shoot?

[mjzee]

I noticed the difference when I looked at the photos included in the Hank Mobley Mosaic box.  Man, those guys were sharply dressed!

[jazzbo]

Hank and Lee looked prim and proper on their Savoy covers. . . .

[JSngry]

How likely is it that PC came to the gig in his undershirt?

[mikeweil]

On 26.4.2019 at 5:25 AM, mjzee said:

Granted, it was recorded in July

June 28, to be exact ;-) 

Maybe PC came in a long sleeve shirt like Klook and it was getting hot, no big deal. I like the casualty of that shot. Even the scenes with musicians talking etc. taken at Blue Not sessions always look a little posed. Who took that photo? Different photographers, different producers, different approaches.

Edited April 27, 2019 by mikeweil

[Brad]

On top of everything, it’s not a great photo. Looks like something I could have taken, which ain’t sayin’ much. 

[JSngry]

I wonder if Rudy had hangers handy that he made the musicians use for their removed shirts, or if he just let them drop them on the floor for his wive to pick up.

[mjzee]

6 hours ago, mikeweil said:

June 28, to be exact ;-) 

You are correct.  I was mistaking this album for Spontaneous Combustion.

Edited April 27, 2019 by mjzee

[jazzbo]

3 hours ago, JSngry said:

I wonder if Rudy had hangers handy that he made the musicians use for their removed shirts, or if he just let them drop them on the floor for his wive to pick up.

It was his parent's house. So that was his Mom's job. (I bet they were draped on a chair).

[JSngry]

I dunno man, I bet his mom was like, son, it's bad enough that you bring this noise in here, you want that I should be a maid for them too? What's wrong with Elva?

[jazzbo]

Nah, he was a full-blown young adult when he started recording at his parents' and had a control booth built in; I bet Mom and Dad were not around when he recorded. I bet coats and shirts may have ended up draped over chairs or in a hall closet.

I think different producers had different ideas about the recording sessions and the artists behaved accordingly. Savoy was probably a looser run ship than Blue Note! Alfred seemed pretty involved in everything and probably had musicians respectfully well-attired.

I don't think Rudy ever married. I may be wrong. What a life.

[mikeweil]

I'm still curious - is there a photographer's credit?

[JSngry]

15 hours ago, jazzbo said:

I don't think Rudy ever married. I may be wrong.

Two wives, both of who preceded him in death. I bet it was all the maid work that killed them. We all know what a neat freak he was.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/26/arts/music/rudy-van-gelder-audio-engineer-who-helped-define-sound-of-jazz-on-record-dies-at-91.html

First wife was named Elva: https://www.geni.com/people/Elva-Van-Gelder/6000000046035598823

Cannot find the name of his second wife.

[jazzbo]

OK, thanks.

[JSngry]

Who's the white guy on the cover? That's not Rudy. Perhaps that's Frank, on loan from Nica. Frank picked shit up, that was his gig.

Or...if that's Ozzie Cadena, who, among the known parties present, is left to take the picture except for Rudy?

[jazzbo]

Looks like Ozzie on the cover to me.

Maybe Jerome took the picture.

Edited April 28, 2019 by jazzbo

[sidewinder]

Definitely Ozzie.

[Brad]

Did Alfred or Frank do anything like that, i.e., have themselves pictured on a cover. 

[mjzee]

2 hours ago, Brad said:

Did Alfred or Frank do anything like that, i.e., have themselves pictured on a cover. 

Yes, if you count a pair of trousered legs in the background of Cool Struttin'.

[Brad]

1 hour ago, mjzee said:

Yes, if you count a pair of trousered legs in the background of Cool Struttin'.

I hadn’t heard that Alfred was in the photo although Ruth Lion is. 

[mjzee]

1 hour ago, Brad said:

I hadn’t heard that Alfred was in the photo although Ruth Lion is. 

I can't remember where I read that.

[jazzbo]

I've always thought those were the legs of the two Lions but I am not sure I ever read that anywhere.