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Blues Alley

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1073 Wisconsin Ave., NW

Opened January 7, 1965.

Capacity 124.

Owned by Tommy Gwaltney (1965-1969), Bill Cannon (1969-1973), John Bunyan (1973-2003), Harry Schnipper (2003-). Manager Tim Colgan (1965-), Gene Hart (1974), John Dimitriou (1976), Wanda Fears (1980), Ralph Camilli (1985-2008-), Kris O’Connor Ross (2015). Booking manager Bob Israel (1983).

One feature that distinguished Blues Alley from other Washington clubs in early years was that it had a house band of local musicians that backed visiting “single” performers.

1965 house band: Tommy Gwaltney (cl, vbs), Steve Jordan (g), Newton Thomas (p), Norman Williams (b) (WP 1/15/65 p.D11)

1966 house band: Tommy Gwaltney (cl, vbs), Steve Jordan (g), John Phillips (p), Keter Betts (b), Bertell Knox (d) (WP 11/6/66 p.G7)

1968 house band: Tommy Gwaltney (cl, vbs), Steve Jordan (g), John Phillips (p), Billy Taylor, Jr. (b), Bertell Knox (d)

1969, house band reduced from quintet to quartet: drummer Bertell Knox dropped. (WES 1/4/69 p.12)

1970 house band: Steve Jordan (g), John Eaton (p), Billy Taylor, Jr. (b), Tommy Moropoulis (d)

1971 house band: John Eaton (p), Billy Taylor, Jr. (b), George ‘Dude’ Brown (d). As of October 26, 1971, the club discontinued the house band entirely. Dixieland, including guitarist Steve Jordan featured on Mondays. (WES 10/9/71 p.12)

1986 saw the formation of the Blues Alley Music Society, sponsor of the Blues Alley Youth Orchestra. Harry Schnipper was executive director of the society. He later became owner of the club. A Baltimore location, Blues Alley Supper Club, opened in September 1988. Japanese locations were scheduled to open in 1990 in Tokyo, Yokohama, and Kyoto.

Recordings by Tommy Chase (1960s?), Cliff Jackson (1965), Tommy Gwaltney (1965-1966), Willie ‘The Lion’ Smith (1970), George Shearing (1979), Bill Harris (1982), Wynton Marsalis (1986), Ahmad Jamal (1991), Hugh Masekela (1993), Jerry Gonzalez (1996), Ron Kearns (1999), Rick Wurzbacher (2001), George Colligan (2002), Hod O’Brien (2004), Mark Taylor & Steve Fidyk (2005).

Artists

  • Tommy Gwaltney (1965)
  • Lurlean Hunter (1965)
  • Peanuts Hucko (1965)
  • Billy Butterfield (1965)
  • Louise Tobin (1965)
  • Maxine Sullivan (1965)
  • Buck Hill (1965)
  • Toots Thielemans (1965)
  • Bobby Hackett (1965)
  • Lurlean Hunter (1965)
  • Carol Sloane (1965)
  • Peanuts Hucko (1965)
  • Jimmy Rushing (1965)
  • Roy Eldridge (1966)
  • Joya Sherrill (1966)
  • Pee Wee Russell (1966)
  • Carol Sloane (1966)
  • Marge Dodson (1966)
  • Jimmy McPartland (1966)
  • Marian McPartland (1966)
  • Lurlean Hunter (1966)
  • Bobby Hackett (1966)
  • Henry ‘Red’ Allen (1966)
  • Tommy Chase (1966)
  • Tommy Gwaltney (1966)
  • Jimmy McPartland (1966)
  • Helen Merrill (1966)
  • Buck Clayton (1966)
  • Marge Dodson (1966)
  • Henry ‘Red’ Allen (1966)
  • Renee Morris (1967)
  • Baby Laurence (1967)
  • Clark Terry (1967)
  • Renee Morris (1967)
  • Charlie Shavers (1967)
  • Lurlean Hunter (1967)
  • Wild Bill Davison (1967)
  • Big Chief Russell Moore (1967)
  • Renee Morris (1967)
  • John Dengler (1967)
  • Marge Dodson (1967)
  • Clark Terry (1967)
  • Eddie Barefield (1967)
  • Renee Morris (1967)
  • Jimmy Rushing (1967)
  • Wild Bill Davison (1967)
  • Lurlean Hunter (1967)
  • Charlie Shavers (1967)
  • Janet Lawson (1967)
  • Pee Wee Russell (1967)
  • Renee Morris (1967)
  • Tommy Gwaltney (1968)
  • Wild Bill Davison (1968)
  • Marge Dodson (1968)
  • Big Chief Russell Moore (1968)
  • Carol Sloane (1968)
  • Wild Bill Davison (1968)
  • Yank Lawson and Lou McGarity (1968)
  • Marshall Brown (1968)
  • Tommy Gwaltney (1968)
  • Original Washington Monumental Jazz Band (1968)
  • Clancy Hayes (1968)
  • Urbie Green and Kathy Preston (1968)
  • Yank Lawson and Benny Morton (1968)
  • Original Washington Monumental Jazz Band (1968)
  • Flip Phillips (1968)
  • Dick McCormick (1968)
  • Don Ewell (1969)
  • Buck Clayton (1969)
  • Jimmy Rushing (1969)
  • Marian McPartland (1969)
  • Maxine Sullivan (1969)
  • Roy Eldridge (1969)
  • Marian McPartland (1969)
  • Teddy Wilson (1969)
  • Steve Jordan (1969)
  • Urbie Green (1969)
  • Zoot Sims (1970)
  • Willie the Lion Smith (1970)
  • Buck Clayton (1970)
  • Ray Bryant (1970)
  • Bobby Hackett (1970)
  • Wally Garner (1970)
  • Earl Hines (1970)
  • Tyree Glenn (1970)
  • Ray Nance (1970)
  • Wild Bill Davison (1970)
  • Jimmy McPartland (1971)
  • Don Byas (1971)
  • Mary Lou Williams (1971)
  • Anita O’Day (1971)
  • Maxine Sullivan (1971)
  • Thad Jones (1971)
  • Buddy Tate (1971)
  • Monty Alexander (1971)
  • Monty Alexander (1972)
  • Sonny Stitt (1972)
  • Earl Hines (1972)
  • Blues Alley All Stars (1972)
  • Chuck Mangione (1972)
  • Teddi King (1972)
  • Hal Posey (1972)
  • Urbie Green (1972)
  • Wild Bill Davison (1972)
  • Ruby Braff (1972)
  • Zoot Sims (1972)
  • Maxine Sullivan (1972)
  • Marian McPartland (1972)
  • Original Washington Monumental Jazz Band (1972)
  • Tyree Glenn (1972)
  • Bobby Hackett (1972)
  • Anita O’Day (1972)
  • Al Cohn (1973)
  • Marian McPartland (1973)
  • Bobby Hackett and Vic Dickenson (1973)
  • Monty Alexander (1973)
  • Urbie Green (1973)
  • Dick Wellstood (1973)
  • Maxine Sullivan (1973)
  • Zoot Sims (1973)
  • Mary Lou Williams (1973)
  • Hal Posey (1973)
  • Carol Sloane (1973)
  • Hal Posey (1973)
  • Eddie Daniels (1973)
  • Earl Hines (1973)
  • Hal Posey (1974)
  • Bill Reichenbach, Jr. (1974)
  • Monty Alexander (1974)
  • Richie Cole (1974)
  • Marian McPartland (1974)
  • Earl Hines (1974)
  • Al Cohn (1974)
  • Clark Terry (1974)
  • Kenny Burrell (1974)
  • Richie Cole (1974)
  • Hal Posey (1974)
  • Renee Morris (1974)
  • Richie Cole (1974)
  • Hal Posey (1974)
  • Bobby Hackett (1975)
  • Roy Eldridge (1975)
  • Monty Alexander (1975)
  • Teddy Wilson (1975)
  • Milt Jackson (1975)
  • Maxine Sullivan (1975)
  • Clark Terry (1975)
  • Earl Hines (1975)
  • Zoot Sims (1975)
  • Buddy Tate and Wild Bill Davis (1975)
  • Joe Venuti (1975)
  • Kenny Burrell (1975)
  • Red Norvo (1975)
  • Marian McPartland (1975)
  • Richie Cole (1975)
  • Milt Jackson (1975)
  • Peanuts Hucko (1976)
  • Kenny Burrell (1976)
  • John Lewis (1976)
  • Milt Jackson (1976)
  • Dick Hyman (1976)
  • Ray Bryant (1976)
  • Eddie ‘Lockjaw’ Davis (1976)
  • Hal Posey (1976)
  • Urbie Green (1976)
  • Bucky Pizzarelli (1976)
  • Clea Bradford (1976)
  • Yank Lawson and Bob Haggart (1976)
  • East Coast Offering (1976)
  • Barbara Carroll (1976)
  • Cedar Walton (1976)
  • Art Blakey (1976)
  • East Coast Offering (1976)
  • Art Blakey (1977)
  • Stan Getz (1977)
  • Jim Hall (1977)
  • Joe Henderson (1977)
  • Jim Hall (1977)
  • Art Blakey (1978)
  • Joe Pass (1978)
  • New York Jazz Quartet (1978)
  • Hank Crawford (1978)
  • Joe Venuti (1978)
  • Ted Curson (1978)
  • Ron Carter (1978)
  • Max Roach (1978)
  • Kenny Burrell (1978)
  • Red Norvo (1978)
  • Urbie Green (1978)
  • Jackie Cain and Roy Kral (1978)
  • Louie Bellson (1978)
  • Monty Alexander (1978)
  • Billy Eckstine (1978)
  • Clea Bradford (1978)
  • Hal Galper (1978)
  • Clark Terry (1978)
  • Horace Silver (1978)
  • Steve Kuhn (1978)
  • L.A. Four (1978)
  • Teddy Wilson (1978)
  • Dexter Gordon (1978)
  • Al Grey (1978)
  • Sonny Stitt (1978)
  • Milt Jackson (1978)
  • Max Roach (1978)
  • McCoy Tyner (1978)
  • Lou Donaldson (1978)
  • Tim Eyermann (1978)
  • Heath Brothers (1979)
  • Eddie Jefferson (1979)
  • Sheila Jordan (1979)
  • Urbie Green (1979)
  • Stars of the Future (1979)
  • Stan Getz (1979)
  • Jaki Byard (1979)
  • Jimmy McPartland and Marian McPartland (1979)
  • Elvin Jones (1979)
  • Dizzy Gillespie (1979)
  • Swingworks (1979)
  • Max Roach (1979)
  • Helen Humes (1979)
  • Art Farmer (1979)
  • Swingworks (1979)
  • Dexter Gordon (1979)
  • Earl Hines (1979)
  • Wallace Roney (1979)
  • Yolande Bavan (1979)
  • Clea Bradford (1980)
  • Heath Brothers (1980)
  • Chris Connor (1980)
  • Clark Terry (1980)
  • Hugh Masekela (1980)
  • Joe Williams (1980)
  • Betty Carter (1980)
  • Stan Getz (1980)
  • John Abercrombie (1980)
  • Carmen McRae (1980)
  • Milt Jackson (1980)
  • Joe Pass (1980)
  • Jackie Cain and Roy Kral (1980)
  • Morgana King (1980)
  • Mary Lou Williams (1980)
  • Dexter Gordon (1980)
  • Clark Terry (1980)
  • Max Roach (1980)
  • Stan Getz (1980)
  • Pat Metheny (1980)
  • Sonny Fortune (1981)
  • Art Blakey (1981)
  • Stan Getz (1981)
  • Freddie Hubbard (1981)
  • Dexter Gordon (1981)
  • Joanne Brackeen (1981)
  • Milt Jackson (1981)
  • Esther Satterfield (1982)
  • Stef Scaggieri (1982)
  • Stanley Turrentine (1982)
  • McCoy Tyner (1982)
  • Stan Getz (1982)
  • Freddie Hubbard (1982)
  • Joe Pass (1983)
  • Jean Carn (1983)
  • Esther Phillips (1983)
  • Sunday Morning Jazz Band (1983)
  • Wynton Marsalis (1983)
  • Bill Potts (1983)
  • Betty Carter (1983)
  • Jimmy McGriff (1983)
  • Bobbi Humphrey (1983)
  • Jon Lucien (1983)
  • Port City Jazz Ensemble (1983)
  • Tom Browne (1983)
  • Heath Brothers (1983)
  • Jon Lucien (1983)
  • Bill Potts (1983)
  • Ben Sidran (1984)
  • Rare Silk (1984)
  • Wynton Marsalis (1984)
  • Phillip Manuel (1984)
  • Herbie Mann (1984)
  • Jesse Winchester (1984)
  • Esther Phillips (1984
  • Ralph Towner and John Abercrombie (1984)
  • Anita Baker (1984)
  • Roy Ayers (1984)
  • Jaco Pastorious (1984)
  • Phyllis Hyman (1984)
  • Kenny Rankin (1984)
  • Jerry Butler (1984)
  • Lisa Rich (1984)
  • Buddy Rich (1984)
  • Tom Browne (1984)
  • Brenda Jones (1984)
  • Lonnie Liston Smith (1984)
  • UDC Jazz Ensemble (1984)
  • Jean Carn (1984)
  • James Williams and Folger Theatre Shakespeare (1984)
  • Bill Decker and Steve Jordan (1984)
  • Maynard Ferguson (1984)
  • Liz Story (1984)
  • Don Cherry and Ed Blackwell (1984)
  • Pharoah Sanders (1984)
  • Mad Romance (1984)
  • Terri Lyne Carrington (1984)
  • Stan Getz (1984)
  • Kenny G (1984)
  • Harold Mann (1984)
  • Ramsey Lewis (1984)
  • Beverly Cosham (1984)
  • Stanley Turrentine (1984)
  • Bill Potts (1984)
  • Rodney Franklin (1984)
  • Woody Herman (1984)
  • Jan Garbarek and Eberhard Weber (1984)
  • Pat Metheny (1984)
  • Widespread Jazz Orchestra (1984)
  • Ahmad Jamal (1984)
  • David Perry (1984)
  • Hunter Davis (1984)
  • Freddie Hubbard (1984)
  • Barry Gurley (1984)
  • K. Shalong (1984)
  • Dizzy Gillespie (1984)
  • Alive! (1984)
  • Les McCann (1984)
  • Junior Mance (1984)
  • Milt Jackson and Ray Brown (1984)
  • Michael Hedges and Darol Anger (1984)
  • Joe Williams (1984)
  • Jon Hendricks (1984)
  • Stephane Grappelli (1984)
  • Bob James (1984)
  • Tom Browne (1984)
  • Paula Hatcher (1984)
  • Michel Petrucciani (1984)
  • Billy Paul (1984)
  • Noel Pointer, Roy Ayers, Lonnie Liston Smith (1984)
  • Artie Shaw Big Band (1984)
  • War (1984)
  • Larry Seals (1984)
  • Maynard Ferguson (1984)
  • Lisa Rich (1984)
  • George Howard (1984)
  • John Hicks (1984)
  • Betty Carter (1984)
  • Branford Marsalis (1984)
  • Rare Silk (1984)
  • Buddy Rich (1984)
  • Count Basie (1984)
  • Carmen McRae (1984)
  • Jerry ‘The Iceman’ Butler (1984)
  • Beverly Cosham (1984)
  • Ahmad Jamal (1984)
  • Jesse Winchester (1984)
  • Jimmy Smith (1984)
  • Brenda Jones (1984)
  • Phyllis Hyman (1984)
  • Chuck Mangione and Don Potter (1984)
  • Chilites (1984)
  • Roy Ayers and Noel Pointer (1984)
  • Stanley Turrentine (1984)
  • Jean Carn (1984)
  • Woody Herman (1984)
  • Ramsey Lewis (1984)
  • Clea Bradford (1984)
  • McCoy Tyner and John Abercrombie (1984)
  • Claude Bolling (1984)
  • Phoebe Snow (1984)
  • Stanley Clarke (1984)
  • Maura Sullivan (1984)
  • Kenny Rankin (1984)
  • Preston Reid (1984)
  • Herbie Mann (1984)
  • Lisa Rich (1984)
  • Alive! (1984)
  • Stan Getz (1984)
  • Art Blakey (1984)
  • Dizzy Gillespie (1984)
  • Jaco Pastorius (1984)
  • Dave Samuels and David Friedman (1984)
  • Milt Jackson (1984)
  • Hot Jazz (1984)
  • Bill Potts (1984)
  • Les McCann (1984)
  • Taj Mahal (1984)
  • Buddy Rich (1984)
  • Maynard Ferguson (1984)
  • Hot Jazz (1984)
  • Rare Silk (1984)
  • Wynton Marsalis (1984)
  • Aztec 2-Step (1984)
  • Maura Sullivan (1984)
  • Paquito D’Rivera (1984)
  • Pieces of a Dream (1984)
  • Ahmad Jamal (1984)
  • Shirley Horn (1984)
  • Lee Oskar (1985)
  • Flora Purim (1985)
  • Ralph Towner (1985)
  • Stephane Grappelli (1985)
  • Stan Getz (1985)
  • Wayne Shorter (1985)
  • Stan Getz (1987)
  • Joe Henderson (1990)
Center map

Bibliography

Bennett, Bill. “Jazzman Milt Jackson Can’t Fail to Please.” Washington Star, May 11, 1976.
Bennett, Bill. “Soloist John Lewis Carries On for ‘MJQ.’” Washington Star, May 4, 1976.
Berg, Chuck. “Caught...: Blues Alley Stomp.” Down Beat, October 20, 1977.
Brace, Eric. “The Band Box: Heidi Martin with George Colligan Trio.” Washington Post, December 2, 1994.
Brower, William A. “All That Jazz.” Washington Informer, March 14, 1984.
Brown, Joe. “The Band Box: The Candace DeBartolo Jazz Quartet, Blues Alley.” Washington Post, July 31, 1992.
Del Sesto, Cristina. “The Band in the Alley.” Washington Post, January 11, 1987.
DeMicheal, Don. “Caught in the Act.” Down Beat, June 12, 1969.
Dorfman, John. “Caine and Kral.” Washington Post, July 11, 1979.
Dorfman, John. “L.A. 4 at Blues Alley.” Washington Post, July 19, 1979.
Dreyfuss, Joel. “Milt Jackson: Love of Jazz.” Washington Post, December 3, 1975.
Gaivar, Carlos. “Happy New Year! Happy New Year! Happy New Year! From NPR: DC.” Radio Free Jazz, February 1980, 8.
Gilstrap, Peter. “Limelight: Surplus Sax.” Washington Post, August 2, 1992.
Glass, Roger. “Old Jazz and New Musicians.” Washington Star, November 27, 1979.
Harrington, Richard. “Limelight.” Washington Post, January 8, 1984.
Harrington, Richard. “Limelight: Master of the Mallets.” Washington Post, July 10, 1983.
Harrington, Richard. “Gap Mangione.” Washington Post, August 16, 1978.
Harrington, Richard. “Ron Carter.” Washington Post, August 30, 1978.
Harrington, Richard. “Jazz Machine.” Washington Post, August 6, 1980.
Harrington, Richard. “Morgana King.” Washington Post, March 25, 1981.
Harrington, Richard. “Betty Carter.” Washington Post, June 3, 1981.
Harrington, Richard. “Betty Carter: Lady Sings the Blues.” Washington Post, February 4, 1983, sec. Weekend.
Harrington, Richard. “Counting On the Fans.” Washington Post, October 2, 1983.
Harrington, Richard. “Lorber’s New Direction.” Washington Post. April 7, 1985.
Harrington, Richard. “Benson’s Back.” Washington Post, March 8, 1987.
Harrington, Richard. “Charlie Byrd.” Washington Post, May 23, 1979.
Himes, Geoffrey. “Esther Phillips at Blues Alley.” Washington Post, January 19, 1983.
Himes, Geoffrey. “Stan Getz.” Washington Post, October 29, 1980.
Himes, Geoffrey. “Stan Getz’s Gliding Saxophone.” Washington Post, March 27, 1987.
Himes, Geoffrey. “Clark Terry.” Washington Post, June 6, 1978.
Himes, Geoffrey. “Dexter Gordon.” Washington Post, September 27, 1978.
Himes, Geoffrey. “Minimal Lou Donaldson.” Washington Post, December 8, 1978.
Himes, Geoffrey. “Sheila Jordan.” Washington Post, March 13, 1979.
Himes, Geoffrey. “The McPartlands at Blues Alley.” Washington Post, June 13, 1979.
Himes, Geoffrey. “Masekela’s Magic.” Washington Post, March 6, 1980.
Himes, Geoffrey. “Abercrombie Quartet.” Washington Post, April 30, 1980.
Himes, Geoffrey. “Milt Jackson at Blues Alley.” Washington Post, June 12, 1980.
Himes, Geoffrey. “Joe Pass at Blues Alley.” Washington Post, June 19, 1980.
Himes, Geoffrey. “Mary Lou Williams.” Washington Post, July 30, 1980.
Himes, Geoffrey. “Max Roach.” Washington Post, October 22, 1980.
Himes, Geoffrey. “Family Affair: The Marsalis Magic at Blues Alley.” Washington Post, January 10, 1984.
Himes, Geoffrey. “Pat Metheny.” Washington Post, April 28, 1984.
Himes, Geoffrey. “Stanley Turrentine.” Washington Post, September 5, 1979.
Himes, Geoffrey. “Adam Makowicz.” Washington Post, May 13, 1980.
Himes, Geoffrey. “Eddie Jefferson.” Washington Post, January 31, 1979.
Himes, Geoffrey. “Ron Holloway.” Washington Post, August 22, 1983.
Howe, Desson. “Ace of Clubs.” Washington Post, April 9, 1984.
Joyce, Mike. “Guitarist Joe Pass.” Washington Post, January 5, 1983.
Joyce, Mike. “Wynton Marsalis.” Washington Post, January 26, 1983.
Joyce, Mike. “Ballads by Betty ‘Bebop’ Carter.” Washington Post, February 3, 1983.

Wiki Tags: 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s

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