Some research regarding Hall Overton and Monk. Hall lived in the loft where Monk rehearsed and knew him for some time before Town Hall. So that's how he knew what to do with the orchestrations.
Starting on page 51 of Sam Stephenson's The Jazz Loft Project, this book provides evidence regarding The Town Hall Concert to Orrin Keepnews (from your video) and may even answer his wish that "one day, some old guy would come out of nowhere and say 'This is the way we did it.'"
Gene Smith moved into the loft in 1957 and recorded things in photo and sound. And Dick Cary's diary includes his writing about the rehearsals for Town Hall. Really an amazing book. The collection at Duke contains photos, recordings, and Cary's writing - some of which is in the book, and the rest is at Duke University - where one can visit and listen! I just remember reading this when the book appeared and I was wishing I could go. I called Stephenson at Duke, and he said "just let me know when you're coming."
These are epic interviews documenting one of the most important jazz record producers ever. They belong in the National Archives. You deserve an award for these alone. As you discovered, Orrin could be an ‘easy’ interview IF you had credibility and didn’t set off his highly-tuned bullshit meter.
Crusty and irascible as he was-he didn’t suffer fools. Somehow, I was fortunate to pass the test and we were friends the last 25 years of his life. His book The View From Within is highly recommended for those interested.
You’ve done a real service here and it’s wonderful for those who never met him…to meet him. Bravo Brett!
Thank you Brett, for these recordings ...creative resilience in the face of the vicious frozen consciousness of settler colonialism is a shining light for all...and underlines the purpose of all art
Some research regarding Hall Overton and Monk. Hall lived in the loft where Monk rehearsed and knew him for some time before Town Hall. So that's how he knew what to do with the orchestrations.
Starting on page 51 of Sam Stephenson's The Jazz Loft Project, this book provides evidence regarding The Town Hall Concert to Orrin Keepnews (from your video) and may even answer his wish that "one day, some old guy would come out of nowhere and say 'This is the way we did it.'"
Gene Smith moved into the loft in 1957 and recorded things in photo and sound. And Dick Cary's diary includes his writing about the rehearsals for Town Hall. Really an amazing book. The collection at Duke contains photos, recordings, and Cary's writing - some of which is in the book, and the rest is at Duke University - where one can visit and listen! I just remember reading this when the book appeared and I was wishing I could go. I called Stephenson at Duke, and he said "just let me know when you're coming."
These are epic interviews documenting one of the most important jazz record producers ever. They belong in the National Archives. You deserve an award for these alone. As you discovered, Orrin could be an ‘easy’ interview IF you had credibility and didn’t set off his highly-tuned bullshit meter.
Crusty and irascible as he was-he didn’t suffer fools. Somehow, I was fortunate to pass the test and we were friends the last 25 years of his life. His book The View From Within is highly recommended for those interested.
You’ve done a real service here and it’s wonderful for those who never met him…to meet him. Bravo Brett!
Thank you Brett, for these recordings ...creative resilience in the face of the vicious frozen consciousness of settler colonialism is a shining light for all...and underlines the purpose of all art
Well said.
Terrific interviews. Monk at Town Hall. So good.
Thanks! It was fun working with Orrin.
Monk at Town Hall ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐