JAM Magazine: April/May 1997 Issue: Folly Jazz News

by Doug Tatum

The final concert of the 1996-97 Folly Jazz Series will feature New York's Vanguard Jazz Orchestra on Friday, April 25 at 8:00 p.m. This band is the direct descendant of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra that, over 30 years ago, began playing every Monday night at New York's legendary jazz club, the Village Vanguard.

It was in 1966 that cornetist/composer/arranger Thad Jones and drummer Mel Lewis left their respective tours with Count Basie and Stan Kenton to pool their enormous creative talents. Two events led to the formation of the Jones/Lewis band. One was the breakup in 1964 of the Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band, of which Thad Jones, Mel Lewis and Bob Brookmeyer were members. The second was Count Basie's commissioning of Jones to write a number of arrangements for the Basie band in 1965. In his nine years as a Basie sideman, Jones had already contributed significantly to the Basie library. This new commission, however, resulted in Jones' most adventurous writing for Basie. Eventually Basie rejected all of the material; apparently he considered it too atypical of the band's customary style.

It was then that Jones and Lewis decided to call a rehearsal band together in December, 1965 to play this new music. Most of the musicians they contacted were, like themselves, active in the New York studio scene, and, at that time, the three major television networks had large staff orchestras. The musicians recruited included such veterans as trumpeters Snooky Young and Jimmy Nottingham; saxophonists Jerome Richardson, Jerry Dodgion, Joe Farrell, Eddie Daniels and Pepper Adams; trombonists Bob Brookmeyer and Garnett Brown; pianist Hank Jones, and bassist Richard Davis. The new band got together about once a week, typically rehearsing from midnight until 3:00 a.m.

Thad and Mel soon contacted the owner of the Village Vanguard, Max Gordon, who, after attending a rehearsal was mightily impressed. At the time, the Vanguard was dark on Monday nights, but Gordon promptly booked the band for two Monday nights as an experiment. What was obvious to everyone present on the night of February 7, 1966 was that an exceptional ensemble had been born. The club was packed that first night and the acclaim was instantaneous. Just a few months later, in May of '66, the band began its notable recording career.

What no one could have predicted was that the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra would become one of the most acclaimed and innovative big bands in jazz history, that it would tour extensively throughout three continents, and that the band would still be in residence every Monday night at the same club over 31 years later. What began as an experiment has become an institution. Furthermore, big band Mondays have become a tradition at many jazz clubs around the world.

In 1979, Thad Jones decided to leave the band to move to Copenhagen to lead the Danish Radio Big Band. He later led the Count Basie Orchestra for a short time before becoming ill and passing away in 1986. The Jones/Lewis band carried on as Mel Lewis & The Jazz Orchestra. Lewis appointed Bob Brookmeyer to be musical director, continuing the tradition of innovative and exciting arrangements that Thad and Mel had begun. Other band members, encouraged by Mel, began contributing exciting compositions and arrangements. Among the most prolific was the acclaimed pianist, Jim McNeely.

Following Mel's death in 1990, the band decided to continue as a non-profit cooperative band. The band's tradition was so deeply ingrained, and the playing still so fresh, that both the band and Gordon's widow Lorraine, who had by then taken over the club, decided to forge on. The band was renamed the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra in honor of the club that had served so long as home.

The wonderful tradition of this group is alive and well. The band still performs every Monday night at the Village Vanguard, and each week they continue to dig deep into the book of Thad Jones and Bob Brookmeyer classics. If you happen to be in New York City on a Monday night, there is no better place to be than at 178 Seventh Avenue South.

Of course, now you have the option of catching the band at 300 W. 12th Street in Kansas City! And in conjunction with the concert, that evening we will also be celebrating the donation of Mel Lewis' musical collection to the Marr Sound Archive at UMKC's Miller Nichols Library. Chuck Haddix has advised me that this donation of materials is a major acquisition for the Marr Sound Archive. The Mel Lewis collection includes musical scores, recordings, photographs, and personal correspondence, among other items. Mel Lewis' widow, Doris, is scheduled to be present at the Folly as our honored guest on April 25th. Preceding the concert, Dick Wright will host a "Jazz Talk" discussion at 7:00 p.m. that will include the participation of Mrs. Lewis and members of the band.

For more information, call the Folly box office (816) 474-4444 Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. -- 5:30 p.m.

(Doug Tatum is the Executive Director of the Folly Theater.)

RETURN TO APRIL/MAY 1997 MAIN INDEX

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© Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.






	Search our site:		by Doug Tatum The final concert of the 1996-97 Folly Jazz Series will feature New York's Vanguard Jazz Orchestra on Friday, April 25 at 8:00 p.m. This band is the direct descendant of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra that, over 30 years ago, began playing every Monday night at New York's legendary jazz club, the Village Vanguard. It was in 1966 that cornetist/composer/arranger Thad Jones and drummer Mel Lewis left their respective tours with Count Basie and Stan Kenton to pool their enormous creative talents. Two events led to the formation of the Jones/Lewis band. One was the breakup in 1964 of the Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band, of which Thad Jones, Mel Lewis and Bob Brookmeyer were members. The second was Count Basie's commissioning of Jones to write a number of arrangements for the Basie band in 1965. In his nine years as a Basie sideman, Jones had already contributed significantly to the Basie library. This new commission, however, resulted in Jones' most adventurous writing for Basie. Eventually Basie rejected all of the material; apparently he considered it too atypical of the band's customary style. It was then that Jones and Lewis decided to call a rehearsal band together in December, 1965 to play this new music. Most of the musicians they contacted were, like themselves, active in the New York studio scene, and, at that time, the three major television networks had large staff orchestras. The musicians recruited included such veterans as trumpeters Snooky Young and Jimmy Nottingham; saxophonists Jerome Richardson, Jerry Dodgion, Joe Farrell, Eddie Daniels and Pepper Adams; trombonists Bob Brookmeyer and Garnett Brown; pianist Hank Jones, and bassist Richard Davis. The new band got together about once a week, typically rehearsing from midnight until 3:00 a.m. Thad and Mel soon contacted the owner of the Village Vanguard, Max Gordon, who, after attending a rehearsal was mightily impressed. At the time, the Vanguard was dark on Monday nights, but Gordon promptly booked the band for two Monday nights as an experiment. What was obvious to everyone present on the night of February 7, 1966 was that an exceptional ensemble had been born. The club was packed that first night and the acclaim was instantaneous. Just a few months later, in May of '66, the band began its notable recording career. What no one could have predicted was that the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra would become one of the most acclaimed and innovative big bands in jazz history, that it would tour extensively throughout three continents, and that the band would still be in residence every Monday night at the same club over 31 years later. What began as an experiment has become an institution. Furthermore, big band Mondays have become a tradition at many jazz clubs around the world. In 1979, Thad Jones decided to leave the band to move to Copenhagen to lead the Danish Radio Big Band. He later led the Count Basie Orchestra for a short time before becoming ill and passing away in 1986. The Jones/Lewis band carried on as Mel Lewis & The Jazz Orchestra. Lewis appointed Bob Brookmeyer to be musical director, continuing the tradition of innovative and exciting arrangements that Thad and Mel had begun. Other band members, encouraged by Mel, began contributing exciting compositions and arrangements. Among the most prolific was the acclaimed pianist, Jim McNeely. Following Mel's death in 1990, the band decided to continue as a non-profit cooperative band. The band's tradition was so deeply ingrained, and the playing still so fresh, that both the band and Gordon's widow Lorraine, who had by then taken over the club, decided to forge on. The band was renamed the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra in honor of the club that had served so long as home. The wonderful tradition of this group is alive and well. The band still performs every Monday night at the Village Vanguard, and each week they continue to dig deep into the book of Thad Jones and Bob Brookmeyer classics. If you happen to be in New York City on a Monday night, there is no better place to be than at 178 Seventh Avenue South. Of course, now you have the option of catching the band at 300 W. 12th Street in Kansas City! And in conjunction with the concert, that evening we will also be celebrating the donation of Mel Lewis' musical collection to the Marr Sound Archive at UMKC's Miller Nichols Library. Chuck Haddix has advised me that this donation of materials is a major acquisition for the Marr Sound Archive. The Mel Lewis collection includes musical scores, recordings, photographs, and personal correspondence, among other items. Mel Lewis' widow, Doris, is scheduled to be present at the Folly as our honored guest on April 25th. Preceding the concert, Dick Wright will host a "Jazz Talk" discussion at 7:00 p.m. that will include the participation of Mrs. Lewis and members of the band. For more information, call the Folly box office (816) 474-4444 Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. -- 5:30 p.m. (Doug Tatum is the Executive Director of the Folly Theater.) RETURN TO APRIL/MAY 1997 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.