[Dixielandjazz] Playing for free

[Steve Barbone]

Generally not a good idea, but there are some exceptions. Here's one that I
still remember and would be in favor of.

In the 1950s, Kids under 21 could not get into Philadelphia Jazz Clubs. So
how would they experience the beauty and freedom of live jazz?

Ellis Tollin (Sp?) was a well known jazz drummer here and owned a large, 3
story music store called Music City. The third floor was empty. In an effort
to bring jazz to the kids, he started a kids jazz night club. His own trio
played there, him free, and the bass and piano got paid union scale.

Cost the kids 25 cents to get in and sodas were available at cost. Hours
were early evening on Friday and Saturday.

Ellis convinced the visiting jazz musicians who were gigging at Philadelphia
venues to come in early on Fri and/or Sat night and perform a set free,
before going to their paying gigs at Peps, the Rendezvous Room, Ortlieb's,
and the other jazz joints.

Most were happy to oblige. Clifford Brown, Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday,
Lester Young, Muggsy Spanier, Billy Kretchmer, Count Basie and most of his
Orchestra, J.J. Johnson, etc., all came to pass the torch and get the music
to a new, young audience. It was a magical scene.

Our bass player, Ace Tesone, was on that gig as part of the trio and he
became Billie Holiday's bass player whenever she performed here because she
loved his sound, first heard there. He also got to make that last record of
Clifford Brown's at the Music City location.

Jazz for a new, young audience? Not a new idea, and certainly one of the
reasons Philadelphia was and still is home to a lot of great jazz musicians
and fans. 

Cheers,
Steve Barbone