This excellent documentary film, Earl ‘Fatha’ Hines, was made by Charlie Nairn for the British ATV network (now-defunct). It features a good deal of footage of Earl Hines, both speaking and playing, filmed at Blues Alley in Washington, DC in the spring of 1975.
Continue ReadingMax Roach at Blues Alley, 1981
This installment in the four-part Jazz in America series was filmed at Blues Alley in Washington, DC on March 2, 1981. It’s a nice hour-long set, without any introduction, historical context, or commentary. The band is Roach’s quartet with Cecil Bridgewater (t), Odean Pope (ts), and Calvin Hill (b), all of whom are in top form.
Continue ReadingUnicorn Times, 1973-1985
While not exclusively a jazz publication, Unicorn Times published some very informative articles on Washington, DC jazz. It also contains advertisements for clubs, concerts, and artists. The publication has been digitized (PDF) by the DC Public Library.
Continue ReadingWPFW/Pacifica Paper, 1977-1985
WPFW-FM is an important part of the Washington, DC jazz ecosystem. It is part of the Pacifica network of stations.
A collection of the station’s program guides have been digitized by the Internet Archive.
WPFW/Pacifica Paper, 1977-1985
Continue ReadingBill Harris: I am the Blues, 1988
This brief promotional film features footage of guitarist and vocalist Bill Harris as a member of The Clovers; giving a solo performing at his DC club Pigfoot; as well as a feature on a mid-1970s installment of the WTTG-TV show Panorama, introduced by host Maury Povich.
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