Phil Schaap R.I.P.

[ghost of miles]

A friend just sent me a link to this tweet from Schaap’s cousin:

Phil Schaap has died

[Hardbopjazz]

It's a sad day. Despite how anyone felt about him talking too much, he loved the music and beyond a doubt it is why WKCR still has jazz programming. 

Edited September 8, 2021 by Hardbopjazz

[jazztrain]

RIP. 
Heard a lot of great music from him in my formative years. 

[Hardbopjazz]

It is with a heavy heart that WKCR mourns Phil Schaap, who passed away yesterday evening at the age of 70. For over 50 years, Phil has been an irreplaceable presence at the station. The mentorship that he has provided students as an educator has helped shape a new generation of jazz historians and appreciators, and his impact will be felt for decades to come.

Phil was unquestionably a giant in the jazz community. This past year he was recognized as a Jazz Master by the National Endowment of the Arts, and throughout his distinguished career has been awarded six Grammys and numerous other honors. 

WKCR will continue airing rebroadcasts of Phil's programs during their usual times.  Further details for an expanded tribute will be announced in the coming days on our website, wkcr.org

[Dan Gould]

Sad news though I suspected that his cancer battle wasn't going well because he had been so quiet on Facebook. It's been a while since he mentioned his troubles but the last update I recall, he stated more or less that the last treatment didn't get him into remission.

He was a great help to my Percy France website so I'll always be grateful for that. 

And like when Chris Albertson died, there is surely a ton of material that was in his possession that should not be allowed to end up in a dumpster.  I had contact with his assistant, Mr. Iselin, regarding Percy. I feel like I need to follow up with him, after a bit, about what happens to it. He said that Phil wasn't very well organized and it sounded like there was a stack of reel-to-reels recorded from the West End broadcasts (apparently liberated from WKCR), including at least one Percy France show.

All of it must be saved.

[Hardbopjazz]

Yes, all must be saved. There is too much historical music that would be a crime to see it in the dumpster. 

[Dan Gould]

In addition to whatever KCR recordings are in his house/apartment, I was told of a possible donation of Schaap interview tapes to some institution. No idea if there was progress there, and for that matter, will his assistant continue to digitize shows for Phil's website?  The site needs (or at least the College of Jazz Knowledge part) to stay up and available.

[gvopedz]

10 minutes ago, Hardbopjazz said:

Yes, all must be saved. There is too much historical music that would be a crime to see it in the dumpster. 

I suggest installing a security camera on all nearby dumpsters.

[Hardbopjazz]

11 minutes ago, gvopedz said:

I suggest installing a security camera on all nearby dumpsters.

Ha. 

[Hoppy T. Frog]

RIP, he's reached the final pause track.  

[Dan Gould]

I've had good contact with both the assistant and Sid Gribbetz the long-term jazz host. I think we can prevent a great loss of jazz history. Can't say the same for Chris A.'s stuff.

[Hardbopjazz]

1 minute ago, Dan Gould said:

I've had good contact with both the assistant and Sid Gribbetz the long-term jazz host. I think we can prevent a great loss of jazz history. Can't say the same for Chris A.'s stuff.

That's good to hear.

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

I think Phil would of wanted me to hold on to his Bird-Mobley acetate, please make sure his family aren't monsters and aren't tossing his stuff- which you guys are 1000% correct about happens all the time i know 1sthand

[Dan Gould]

Of course we're assuming that all of these reels are still playable which is probably a big assumption. On the Percy France Memorial broadcast, Phil tried to play a recording from the West End that was only six years old at the time, and he bailed after one tune due to the squeakiness of the tape heads. We're talking now about thirty years later.

[Teasing the Korean]

May I ask what became of Chris's collection/accumulation?

[Kevin Bresnahan]

3 minutes ago, Dan Gould said:

Of course we're assuming that all of these reels are still playable which is probably a big assumption. On the Percy France Memorial broadcast, Phil tried to play a recording from the West End that was only six years old at the time, and he bailed after one tune due to the squeakiness of the tape heads. We're talking now about thirty years later.

Sometimes, they have to bake those tapes to play them back. You can't just assume that pulling it out and hitting play will work for every tape.

[JSngry]

For a case study in saving stuff from the dumpster, see here:

https://soundamerican.org/issues/sun-ra/anything-can-happen-day-sun-ra-alton-abraham-and-taming-freak

[Dan Gould]

1 minute ago, Teasing the Korean said:

May I ask what became of Chris's collection/accumulation?

I don't think anyone knows.  I think his blog is still paid for and I think what he uploaded is still there but what else did he have in his closets?

[Brad]

A really sad day for me. His Bird show was invaluable in my jazz education. He will be sorely missed. Thank goodness we have the tapes of the shows. 

[JSngry]

7 minutes ago, Dan Gould said:

I don't think anyone knows.  I think his blog is still paid for and I think what he uploaded is still there but what else did he have in his closets?

Didn't he also have a storage locker? Or am I thinking about somebody else?

[Dan Gould]

No idea about a storage locker.

[bertrand]

42 minutes ago, Dan Gould said:

I've had good contact with both the assistant and Sid Gribbetz the long-term jazz host. I think we can prevent a great loss of jazz history. Can't say the same for Chris A.'s stuff.

He had a Herbie Nichols acetate, maybe even two. I was going to ask him about it but he got sick...

[EKE BBB]

Sad loss for the jazz community.

R.I.P., Phil 😢

[mikeweil]

R.I.P.  

Such a sad loss .............

[ghost of miles]

David Remnick’s lengthy (what else would it be? ) and poignant 2008 profile of Schaap for the New Yorker.