I first heard of the Lighthouse on radio station KNOB, in Long Beach, Ca. The DJ was Sleepy Stein. It was the mid-fifties. When we got cars, the Lighthouse is were we went! The home of West Coast Cool Jazz. Glad I was there.
The Neil Buckley Octet is playing this style of music in Santa Rosa, Ca. We have some you tube videos if you care to check us out. West Coast Cool Jazz rules!
I love going down to Hermosa Beach and the Lighthouse. In fact, I enjoy the whole mall which now has some plaques in honor of great jazz artists who have played there. We showed this film at the Lighthouse itself a few years ago and a copy of it is in the Hermosa Beach Museum which honors the Lighthouse and jazz in Hermosa in one section.
That's a special interest of mine of course. There is a Yahoo group dedicated to jazz on the west coast during this time period. You might be interested in checking it out.
Oh God I remember eating acid and going to the Lighthouse in the 60's, seeing big names like Freddie Hubbard, Tom Scott, John Klemmer, etc. Good times.
The bopper on the keys -could- be Russ Freeman, the late pianist/composer, who also happens to be my father. (Yes, for real!) He played at the Lighthouse off and on many times during the 1950's. Email me if you'd like more details...
Beadbop: I'd love to make contact with you. I met Russ in his later years at a music convention in LA dedicated to west coast jazz and we had some wonderful chats. I think I was also in touch with his daughter (your sister?) while making the Lighthouse film to see if I could get some photos, memorabilia, etc. which I would have loved to included. But apparently none was available. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I was away.
@beadbop My dad Stan Levey played there in the mid 50's with the original "AllStars." I have several pics of that era on my facebook photo page if interested. He is featured in the Lighthouse film also. - Chris Levey
@clevey4 What a small world! I'm sure that my dad knew your dad. Your father was a drummer, wasn't he? My father was best friends with Shelly Manne, another of the all-time great jazz drummers. Please email me with your Facebook address so that I can see your photos. Best wishes, from beadbop.
klactv - it sure sounds like Hamp Hawes to my ears, but it could easily be Jolly or Claude Williamson as Hawes influenced so many of the west coast pianists of that era including Andre Previn.
I first heard of the Lighthouse on radio station KNOB, in Long Beach, Ca. The DJ was Sleepy Stein. It was the mid-fifties. When we got cars, the Lighthouse is were we went! The home of West Coast Cool Jazz. Glad I was there.
ghtaboma 6 months ago
The Neil Buckley Octet is playing this style of music in Santa Rosa, Ca. We have some you tube videos if you care to check us out. West Coast Cool Jazz rules!
ocdrums77 1 year ago
I love going down to Hermosa Beach and the Lighthouse. In fact, I enjoy the whole mall which now has some plaques in honor of great jazz artists who have played there. We showed this film at the Lighthouse itself a few years ago and a copy of it is in the Hermosa Beach Museum which honors the Lighthouse and jazz in Hermosa in one section.
selfdoc 1 year ago
the lighthouse is still there and there are still very fine players performing there, such as Rick Zunigar.
TheDarmardar 1 year ago
I wish i had seen this when i was writing my dissertation.. !
Argyrakis 1 year ago
What was your dissertation on?
selfdoc 1 year ago
@selfdoc cool jazz & the west coast
Argyrakis 1 year ago
That's a special interest of mine of course. There is a Yahoo group dedicated to jazz on the west coast during this time period. You might be interested in checking it out.
selfdoc 1 year ago
@selfdoc yeh, i'll have a look.. thanks
Argyrakis 1 year ago
Hermosa Beach eats its young. Ozzie, Dez Cadena, Greg Ginn, Keith Morris, and all that is left that was run out of town: fuck y'all.
raydog699 1 year ago
Oh God I remember eating acid and going to the Lighthouse in the 60's, seeing big names like Freddie Hubbard, Tom Scott, John Klemmer, etc. Good times.
TheJomogogo 1 year ago
The bopper on the keys -could- be Russ Freeman, the late pianist/composer, who also happens to be my father. (Yes, for real!) He played at the Lighthouse off and on many times during the 1950's. Email me if you'd like more details...
beadbop 2 years ago
Beadbop: I'd love to make contact with you. I met Russ in his later years at a music convention in LA dedicated to west coast jazz and we had some wonderful chats. I think I was also in touch with his daughter (your sister?) while making the Lighthouse film to see if I could get some photos, memorabilia, etc. which I would have loved to included. But apparently none was available. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I was away.
selfdoc 2 years ago
Hi, My father also played with the All stars and has a photo in this film as a group with Howard Rumsey. I would like to talk with you! Email me.
libertylove7 2 years ago
@libertylove7 Sorry, I didn't see your comment until just now. Yes, I'll drop you an email today!
beadbop 1 year ago
@beadbop My dad Stan Levey played there in the mid 50's with the original "AllStars." I have several pics of that era on my facebook photo page if interested. He is featured in the Lighthouse film also. - Chris Levey
clevey4 1 year ago
@clevey4 What a small world! I'm sure that my dad knew your dad. Your father was a drummer, wasn't he? My father was best friends with Shelly Manne, another of the all-time great jazz drummers. Please email me with your Facebook address so that I can see your photos. Best wishes, from beadbop.
beadbop 1 year ago
klactv - it sure sounds like Hamp Hawes to my ears, but it could easily be Jolly or Claude Williamson as Hawes influenced so many of the west coast pianists of that era including Andre Previn.
blue47er 3 years ago
Many thanks, Selfdoc! An endearing two minutes. Who is the boppish piano player? Not someone like Pete Jolly or Lou Levy, I would guess.
klactv 4 years ago
I'd love to see the whole thing. I just love West Coast Jazz to death. Thank you, Howard!
retrorex 4 years ago