Alaskan hick gets the big treatment in the Big Apple . . .

Posted by alaskahiatt (A) on April 23, 2014 at 18:05:18

I had to travel from Alaska to Manhattan for my daughter's wedding at the city clerk's office in New York. What a mad house in the clerk's office ,and my daughter and her husband were number 693. At least it was cheap, but she didn't come close the the $25 that my wife and I had to pay at the marriage commissioner's office in Anchorage, Alaska in 1975.

Anyway, after the ceremony, my son and I hit the record stores in Greenwich Village. I was actually disappointed in the stores in the Village compared to my visit there 24 years ago. The selection was real slim for jazz, and the prices were much higher. Because I am new to jazz, I was also a victim of the Scorpio re-releases at Bleecker Street Records. Thank goodness, I did find a new OJC copy of Bill Evans' "Live at Village Vanguard" in a small record store in Brooklyn where my daughter lives.

To be fair, we didn't have time to shop outside the Village except near my daughter's place in Brooklyn. However, my big treat after shopping was going to the late show at The Village Vanguard. We tried for the earlier show on standby basis, but we missed by two people. The door man suggested a club a couple blocks away, but a quick listen to the featured group including old man Lew Tabackin made us go back to the Village Vanguard for the late gig. We just got in on standby basis, and it was really a treat to be in this famous old club. What was even a greater treat was to hear such a fantastic group headed by saxophonist Javon Jackson. Jackson was so smooth whether playing fast or slow, and he had great sustain when he needed it. He also played with great dynamics, and he excellently shared
the solos with pianist Jeremy Manasia, bassist David Williams, and drummer Willie Jones III. All the members were fantastic, and Manasia was never outshone by Jackson. The group got a standing ovation as well.
This was a treat I will probably never experience again, but I will never forget the wonderful feelings I had. It was fun imagining all the famous jazzmen and women who played on that stage in the 50s and 60s and the fantastic recordings that emerged.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javon_Jackson (Open in New Window)

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Topic - Alaskan hick gets the big treatment in the Big Apple . . . - alaskahiatt 18:05:18 04/23/14 (14)

LA man! - hifitommy 00:02:16 04/27/14 (0)

RE: NYC ic one of the most gracious, welcoming cities f the world . . - mr.bear 10:15:12 04/24/14 (1)

RE: NYC jazz clubs - Bill Way 13:39:11 04/24/14 (0)

Now THAT is the Perfect bite of the Big Apple... - musetap 21:18:30 04/23/14 (6)

Thanks, and it did feel like an adventure of a lifetime , since I'm 68 already - alaskahiatt 23:36:06 04/23/14 (5)

RE: Thanks, and it did feel like an adventure of a lifetime , since I'm 68 already - collinslaw@fuse.net 03:50:47 04/24/14 (4)

Opinions vary considerably on the Scorpio reissues, so it is probably - alaskahiatt 08:11:46 04/24/14 (3)

The Scorpio releases are difficult to identify until you know the small - alaskahiatt 09:01:25 04/24/14 (2)

The "S" in the matrix code and label often looks strange. - olddude55 09:48:12 04/24/14 (0)

RE: The Scorpio releases are difficult to identify until you know the small - collinslaw@fuse.net 09:35:04 04/24/14 (0)

RE: Alaskan hick gets the big treatment in the Big Apple . . . - sanman 20:56:36 04/23/14 (2)

The club is very small, and I am guessing that it is 25 feet wide - alaskahiatt 23:30:56 04/23/14 (1)

Aside from its history and the great musicians the Vanguard presents........ - Rick W 20:27:36 04/24/14 (0)

RE: Alaskan hick gets the big treatment in the Big Apple . . . - middleground 19:22:01 04/23/14 (0)

Alaskan hick gets the big treatment in the Big Apple . . .

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