Monday, October 22, 2007

Exporing Queens jazz history

Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong were jazz legends, but did you know that they were also neighbors? NY1's Ruschell Boone tells us that when several musical greats moved into Queens, a jazzy borough was born.

Though Little-Known, Queens Was Once Haven For Jazz Musicians

“I moved here in 1964 to Corona at the urging of Clark Terry and Cannonball Adderly who were already here, because I had two young children and I liked the schools and the atmosphere,” says [Jimmy] Heath. “We had trees out here and I didn't have trees where I was living in Philadelphia.

Notice he said "had" trees.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

it's great that the city put John Coltrane's name and portrait on a street sign where he dwelt. He was a great and innovative musician who deserves the tribute and then some.

Anonymous said...

It's "nice" to have decorative markers put up
in lieu of real vibrant neighborhoods now destroyed
that fostered such talent!

Anonymous said...

Yeah......like......
i.e. "Here lies Flushing"......
an appropriate grave marker for a once
historically and architecturally rich town !

Anonymous said...

Interesting. The city renames the Interboro for Robinson who had nothing to do with it, stadiums after blacks sports heros, yet when it comes to real services for the African-American community (like school desks or something to address the subprime mortgage crisis), well, a pat on the head is all that can be expected for now.

Anonymous said...

"It's "nice" to have decorative markers put up
in lieu of real vibrant neighborhoods now destroyed
that fostered such talent!"

you make a good point there, sad to say.

verdi said...

Right on!....... poster #4.....
on how the African American community
has been tweeded for years.....
and mostly by clubhouse Democrats.....sad to say!

Anonymous said...

Listening to Coltrane's deep sounds.....
is almost better than a orgasm.

And it sure beats a sermon from the pulpit.

Man.....it's a truly religious experience !

Anonymous said...

if anyone is interested in checking out some free Coltrane videos this site has a good number, along with ones of other jazz artists from the past like Parker and Diz:

www.dailymotion.com

Anonymous said...

I know a girl from Queens. She is very prideful of her homeland dispite the connotations of having no trees. The land has a lot of jazz history behind it.

Funny comment you had. Keep alive.


Sincerely,
Devin T.