| Blue Notes
Alfred Scott "Scotty" McLean, jazz drummer and long-time participant in the San Francisco jazz music scene died of a heart attack in his sleep on April 1 in San Alejandro. He was 78. A native of the northwest, he moved to S.F. in 1957 where he became a familiar presence at jam sessions in such local clubs as Jimbo's Bop City, the Cellar, the Tropics and, more recently, Pearl's in North Beach. A regular fixture in the local jazz landscape for 40 years, he was a tireless leader and promoter of his own small group combos well into the 1990's. Scotty is survived by his two brothers, Richard of Castro Valley and Bruce of Carson City, NV, nephew, Ian McLean of Castro Valley and niece, Caitlin Silver of Van Nuys. That obit was published in the newspaper. Having known him since his appearance on the jazz scene in S.F., I can add a few insights. His favorite player in the Bay Area was Vince Wallace, tenor saxophonist. During the 1960's, he jammed almost daily with the late Kent Glenn, pianist, where he met many of the jazzers with whom he would later gig, including Hart Smith, trombonist, Bill Atwood, trumpeter, many others including me. He was regular on the Grant Avenue scene during the "Beatnik" 1950's, which included playing at the Cellar, the Coffee Gallery, and other saloons that were nestled in the area. He was regular at the afterhours session at Soulville on McCalister St, in the old Fillmore district. He gigged whenever and wherever he could find a spot, sometimes creating a gig where none had been before. In recent years, before he had been stricken with a severe stroke, he worked with the talented pianist, composer, author, and arranger, Don Alberts. He drove cab around S.F. when it became impossible to find a gig. As a loyal promoter, he played jazz and touted the jazz clubs to his fares. The last time I saw Scotty was at Dogpatch on a sunny Sunday, where he wheeled up to me in his wheelchair and said some complimentary words and joked about bringing his "sticks" next time. Jackie Coon, jazz trumpet player, and well-known in the Monterey - Big Sur area, died on March 25, on the island of Kauii, Hawaii. Jackie was orginally from So. California and found his way to Monterey where he joined " Jake Stock and the Abolone Stompers." He befriended jazz lover and owner of the"River Inn", George Malone. The River Inn is where he and Jake played for years and at the time, was the only jazz in the Monterey area except for the festival. George Malone is the one who began the jazz policy at the Ramp, where jazz flourished under the leadership of Joe Ellis and the late Bob Yance, both trumpet players. I met Jackie when he was hired for the John Coppola / Chuck Travis Big Band. After a breakup with his girlfriend, Jackie left Big Sur and went to Hawaii where he spent his remaining days. |
Jazz Ed Drums: Subject: Amazon.com: Afro-Cuban
Drumset: Grooves you can Use: DVD: Curt Moore,Larry
Hauser Drum Workshop/Clinic With Mat Marucci : moderndrummer.com/events Campus: Sonoma St University CSU Sacramento Jazz Camp w/ Jim Widner Big Band Sax: http://www.michaelbrecker.com/
Trombone: www.frank-rosolino Festival: sfjazz festival
Ciudad de la pintura - Obra ampliada ZOOT Al Cohn was driving Zoot home from a record date one night. Zoot had downed a few and was asleep in the back seat. Riding in the front seat with Al was A&R man, Jack Lewis. Jack has a cast in one eye that limited its vision, and Al wore a prosthetic replacement for an eye he had lost to an infection some years earlier. As they drove along, Zoot suddenly roused up and leaned into the front seat between his two friends, examining them both alternately. .."What's up, Zoot?" asked Al. "I just wanted to make sure you guys were keeping both eyes on the road." A close friend of Zoot's standing by his bed as Zoot was fading. He muttered, " Zoot, I'd do anything to help you." Zoot, opened his eyes, signaled with his finger to come closer. Zoot whispered in his ear, " Take my place." |
