Comments on: We get email

By: geoffrey wheeler

geoffrey wheeler — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 13:24:13 +0000

A last wee bit o’ history for this segment. In 1948 or ’49, I went by myself to a midnight concert at Carnegie Hall featuring Lionel Hampton. My family and I were in town for a vacation. I got to see Hampton jump up and down on his floor tom like it was a trampoline. Also on the bill were Louis Jordan and His Tympani Five dressed in bright green suits and orange shoes. I was both amazed and horrified. That was not at all what I expected!

By: geoffrey wheeler

geoffrey wheeler — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 23:54:37 +0000

The IAJRC had a meeting this past weekend in Racine as part of the Bix Fest. I didn’t go. While I like the original music of each era, I don’t care for rehashes. The original music and recordings capture what musicians were thinking and playing at the time. Rehashes don’t. Those who come to jazz on record do so from their own age and cultural background. To me, this is what makes record collecting interesting because each perspective is individual.

Clifford, welcome to the impecunious club! The serious jazz record collector never has enough money to buy what he wants. This is a good thing because it forces us to be smart about what we like and buy, and how much we pay for what we like.

By: Clifford

Clifford — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 17:18:24 +0000

I like the idea of someone at IAJRC meetings flossing Hugh Steinmetz. Thanks for the stories and history, Geoffrey.

I was born in 1977 and grew up in a jazz-centric household, though didn’t really appreciate it until early college and got the collecting bug at around 20 — so the Blue Notes were still relatively affordable then, though still expensive for a twenty-something college and grad student.

By: Gregory The Fish

Gregory The Fish — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 16:58:48 +0000

geoffrey, that is so neat!

I didn’t even know there was an association, and I am shocked that so few like post-war jazz!

By: Anders Wallinder

Anders Wallinder — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 08:27:51 +0000

Thanks for sharing Geoffrey!

By: Karel Barnoski

Karel Barnoski — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 02:49:41 +0000

@Frederik To each their own. I appreciate the financial value of my collection as much as the music or graphic design of the covers. There is nothing wrong with admiring the value of something from multiple angles. I organize my collection by value and hardly play my most valued stuff.

By: geoffrey wheeler

geoffrey wheeler — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 23:19:03 +0000

Thank you Mark, thank you Gregory. I was born March 4, 1936 into a jazz household. I had a brother who was 11 years older than me who was already hooked on jazz so that, and classical music, was the first music I heard. I have been in love with jazz ever since–all kinds of jazz! I discovered Bop about 1948 or ’49 and bought my first Charlie Parker 78. It took repeated plays before I got the music. From then on it was Bop post-Bop, you name it. I’ve heard hundreds of jazz players live–Parker, Gillespie, Jackie McClean, Dexter, Art Pepper, Max Roach, Goodman, Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Buddy Rich, the Jazz Messengers, Horace Silver, Miles, Kenny Clark, Bunk Johnson, George Lewis, etc. Jazz keeps the brain alive and humming. I don’t understand why more people don’t like jazz of whatever kind. I am president of the International Association of Jazz Record Collectors and one of the few members who digs jazz past 1940. I even enjoy some avant-garde jazz live (mainly German and Danish groups) but have nothing on LP or CD.

By: Gregory the Fish

Gregory the Fish — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 22:55:51 +0000

wow, geoffrey those are awesome stories! I was BORN in 1988. amazing stuff.

perhaps Al would let you write your story out for the site…

(of course, this is not MY site, so no guarantees!)

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 20:43:45 +0000

Fascinating to hear Geoffrey! I was born in 1973 so needless to say I was not buying early Blue Notes as they came out 😉

By: geoffrey wheeler

geoffrey wheeler — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 20:29:32 +0000

In 1958 and 1959, I took drum lessons from Philly Joe Jones. He had huge hands. I could pick up a basketball with my right hand but his fingers were even longer than mine!