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Concord - city of jazz


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Did the Blue Devils choice of jazz as their primary style have anything to do with the Concord Jazz Festival or the Concord record label? I've always wondered that but never asked.

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I don't know if there was a direct correlation but there was and is a strong relationship between BD and the Concord jazz label and I believe there was even an album recorded under that label called "State of the Art" which included 1980 BD and SCV

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State of the Art was recorded and released by DCI. But it was done at the Concord Pavilion.

Edited by tommytimp
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I think it was probably the fact that the Blue Devils wanted to go where others weren't going. When they headed to the jazz idiom in 1974/75 it was pretty rare on the field. Jerry Seawright was a trendsetter, and he certainly had the staff (and membership) for making the successful transition.

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Carl Jefferson owned a car dealership across the street from Larson's Music in Concord where the Blue Devils used to rehearse.

Carl started the Concord label as well as sponsored a band of L.V. Larson's and from my understanding was friends with Jerry Seawright. If I recall, Jefferson Motors was a frequent sponsor of Precision West (BD's show) and I'm show kicked a few dollars here and there to the Blue Devils.

The following quote is from Frank Dorritie (ironlips) from the Blue Devils site regarding memories of Jerry:

A few weeks later, he [Jerry Seawright] got me a job with a little start-up record company, Concord Jazz. Suddenly I'm in a recording studio with Dave Brubeck. Jerry handed me a career. I'd have charged up San Juan Hill for that man.

So, yes, there was a connection.

Edited by TrainWreck
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I loved my "Jazz - Music of the 80's" T-shirt. How about "Jazz - Music of a Lifetime"

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Carl Jefferson owned a car dealership across the street from Larson's Music in Concord where the Blue Devils used to rehearse.

See, this is what I'm looking for! Now if we can just find the wrinkled bar napkin with the scrawled words "Channel One - Buddy's idea!" ...

Edited by MadScout80
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State of the Art was recorded and released by DCI. But it was done at the Concord Pavilion.

I don't know why in my mind Concord jazz had something to do with that Album. Either recording it or editing it. It might have been for DCI, but I still think Concord jazz was involved somehow.

Ahhh old age

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I thought they were as well.

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