Beautiful story! so well written; I’m learning new info even though I had seen some Allen footage in the past, always glad to get hip to more cool jazz history.
Also Bob Dylan, and if you watch Dylan and Kerouac back to back they both have a slightly embarrassed, "what am I doing here" demeanor. Until they start up, that is.
Steve Allen, a great moment in early television. Only television program I can remember my father ever watching. I also remember him telling me about seeing Lenny Bruce, probably in one of Detroit’s jazz clubs that he and my mother frequented. Great article, Thanx Bret
My father was a political science professor and loved political humor, the more satirical and “dirty” the better. At the time Lenny and Honey were living in a part of Detroit known as Highland Park, literally a few blocks away from us, for a short while. Lenny was doing his shtick in Detroit clubs while Honey was dancing across the river in Windsor. I have been accused but I don’t make these things up.
We were seated next to each other long ago during dinner at an LA fundraiser for jazz musicians and he exuded both humor and gravitas. We chatted about his performance with Kerouac among other things. I kidded him about his being a beatnik himself which of course he was not.
Thank you for a great post on Steve Allen, Bret! I was too young to watch Allen on the Tonight Show, but I did watch him as often as possible on his early 60s Westinghouse show. I LOVED when Steve cracked up because of something that had happened in a skit or was shouted from offstage. I'm sure you know that Allen brought Davis back to that later show to perform on TV. Shorter, Hancock, Carter, and Williams. By the way, it's not fitting to use the term "modal" to describe either piece that Davis performed that day (neither was "Walkin'"). I could explain! Thanks also for the Terry Gibbs video.
Muchas gracias! I saw some of Steve Allen, don't remember much. Dig these clips! I was in college, without TV from 54 to 58. But was bedazzled by Al "Jazzbo" Collins as a high schooler up to 1954. His "Purple Grotto," on New York's WNEW (AM) radio, was a fantasy underground scene which included a frog named Henderson, I think, a stalagmite turntable and theme music, "Easy Listenin' Blues" played solo by Nat "King" Cole, with Al's humorous patter and a range of cool music like Woody Herman, Stan Getz, Slim Gaillard and many more--just what my late weekday evenings needed then. I channeled him to write a parody of "The Night Before Christmas" for my friends. Good memories. Steve Allen was a champion.
I remember Allen's shows. Saw them on re-runs. Remember him showing a picture of 5 power lines with birds (notes) on it and he sat down and made a melody out of it. Recall his humor but missed these adventures into Jazz sessions in clubs. Imagine not only sitting with Basie, but dueling with him in front of his band. He was great!
Thanks Brett for resurrecting this amazing man and his place in TV and musical history!
Ha, thought I wrote a comment but I can't find it. Mainly to say, gracias. I hadn't realized he was such an innovator and ahead of his time in that way.
Oh yeah!! About time to be reminded of Steve Allen! Bravo, brother Bret! 👍🏻😘❣️
Beautiful story! so well written; I’m learning new info even though I had seen some Allen footage in the past, always glad to get hip to more cool jazz history.
This is great! Thank you for presenting this, great article. Is it known if the video of the '55 appearance still exists?
Thank you Steve Allen--and Bret Primack for reminding us of his brilliance!!
Also Bob Dylan, and if you watch Dylan and Kerouac back to back they both have a slightly embarrassed, "what am I doing here" demeanor. Until they start up, that is.
Steve Allen, a great moment in early television. Only television program I can remember my father ever watching. I also remember him telling me about seeing Lenny Bruce, probably in one of Detroit’s jazz clubs that he and my mother frequented. Great article, Thanx Bret
Your parents saw Lenny Bruce? That's amazing.
My father was a political science professor and loved political humor, the more satirical and “dirty” the better. At the time Lenny and Honey were living in a part of Detroit known as Highland Park, literally a few blocks away from us, for a short while. Lenny was doing his shtick in Detroit clubs while Honey was dancing across the river in Windsor. I have been accused but I don’t make these things up.
We were seated next to each other long ago during dinner at an LA fundraiser for jazz musicians and he exuded both humor and gravitas. We chatted about his performance with Kerouac among other things. I kidded him about his being a beatnik himself which of course he was not.
That's wonderful Richard. He was more beatnik than hippy, that's for sure.
Frank Rosolino, Allen's trombonic straight man. You remember! I watched Steve Allen always; forget the other shows.
Thank you for a great post on Steve Allen, Bret! I was too young to watch Allen on the Tonight Show, but I did watch him as often as possible on his early 60s Westinghouse show. I LOVED when Steve cracked up because of something that had happened in a skit or was shouted from offstage. I'm sure you know that Allen brought Davis back to that later show to perform on TV. Shorter, Hancock, Carter, and Williams. By the way, it's not fitting to use the term "modal" to describe either piece that Davis performed that day (neither was "Walkin'"). I could explain! Thanks also for the Terry Gibbs video.
Smock Smock
Steve Allen - BeBop's Fables
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmzykUwsR7w
Muchas gracias! I saw some of Steve Allen, don't remember much. Dig these clips! I was in college, without TV from 54 to 58. But was bedazzled by Al "Jazzbo" Collins as a high schooler up to 1954. His "Purple Grotto," on New York's WNEW (AM) radio, was a fantasy underground scene which included a frog named Henderson, I think, a stalagmite turntable and theme music, "Easy Listenin' Blues" played solo by Nat "King" Cole, with Al's humorous patter and a range of cool music like Woody Herman, Stan Getz, Slim Gaillard and many more--just what my late weekday evenings needed then. I channeled him to write a parody of "The Night Before Christmas" for my friends. Good memories. Steve Allen was a champion.
Oh...and SMOCK SMOCK!
I remember Allen's shows. Saw them on re-runs. Remember him showing a picture of 5 power lines with birds (notes) on it and he sat down and made a melody out of it. Recall his humor but missed these adventures into Jazz sessions in clubs. Imagine not only sitting with Basie, but dueling with him in front of his band. He was great!
Thanks Brett for resurrecting this amazing man and his place in TV and musical history!
Ha, thought I wrote a comment but I can't find it. Mainly to say, gracias. I hadn't realized he was such an innovator and ahead of his time in that way.