Music & Musical Instruments

This badge is from the Home Theater and Specialty Audio Show [Hi-Fi ’98] in Los Angeles, California, in 1998. It is made of white paper with black ink, laminated in plastic, with a metal spring clip on the back. The badge is printed:

HI-FI '98
The Home Theater & Specialty Audio Show
Floyd Levin
Jazz Journal International
PRESS

Hi-Fi is an annual event, sponsored mostly by Stereophile magazine, with exhibits featuring the latest in audiophile gear as well as panel discussions and seminars relating to electronic audio recording and reproductions. Hi-Fi ’98 was held in the Westin Hotel and Exposition Center in Los Angeles, California, June 9-14, 1998.

Floyd Levin (1922-2007) was a Los Angeles textile manufacturer who turned his passion for jazz into a second career as an influential jazz journalist and historian. His numerous reviews, profiles, and articles were published in magazines such as Down Beat, Jazz Journal International, Metronome, and American Rag. He also authored Classic Jazz: A Personal View of the Music and the Musicians. Items in this collection (2011.3086) were acquired from Levin’s attendance at Jazz Festivals, conferences, and other music events.

This drum was made by Latin Percussion Inc. in Garfield, New Jersey, in 1999. It is a Galaxy Giovanni Series Conga drum, 11-3/4” diameter Conga, made of ash, with gold-tone metal fittings. This drum is from a matched set of four congas Tumbadora (2000.3030.12.01), Conga (2000.3030.12.02), Quinto (2000.3030.12.03), and Requinto (2000.3030.12.04).

As indicated in an LP brochure from the period, “Hand crafted of premium environmentally friendly North American Ash wood, these 30" tall drums have resonance, attack and warmth found in no other conga. The LP Galaxy Giovanni Series Congas yield commanding bass, rich mid tones and crackling highs with attention getting projection. Each drum is crafted with LP's exclusive construction process using three plies of wood which are assembled utilizing internal steel pins for reinforcement. All of the natural colors and tones of this premium wood shine through the rich, deep gloss finish. These drums are accented by gleaming, gold tone hardware and feature LP's improved patented Extended Collar Comfort Curve® II Rims which increase tonal range. The drums are topped with all-natural hand-picked rawhide heads.”

This badge is from the Indian Wells Jazz festival in Palm Springs, California, 1991-1992. It is made of red paper with black ink covered with a clear film, on a two-piece metal button with a pin back. There is a pink ribbon attached to the back of the button. The button is printed:

Indian
Wells
Jazz
91-92

(The ribbon is printed:)

PATRON

Floyd Levin (1922-2007) was a Los Angeles textile manufacturer who turned his passion for jazz into a second career as an influential jazz journalist and historian. His numerous reviews, profiles, and articles were published in magazines such as Down Beat, Jazz Journal International, Metronome, and American Rag. He also authored Classic Jazz: A Personal View of the Music and the Musicians. Items in this collection (2011.3086) were acquired from Levin’s attendance at Jazz Festivals, conferences, and other music events.

This button is from a Preservation Hall concert in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1994. It is a made of light green paper with black ink covered with a clear film, on a round two-piece metal button with a pin back. The button is printed:

I DANCED WITH THE BAND
PRESERVATION
HALL
NEW ORLEANS
AT WARNER CENTER PARK, JULY 10, 1994

Preservation Hall is a world-renown jazz venue in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

Floyd Levin (1922-2007) was a Los Angeles textile manufacturer who turned his passion for jazz into a second career as an influential jazz journalist and historian. His numerous reviews, profiles, and articles were published in magazines such as Down Beat, Jazz Journal International, Metronome, and American Rag. He also authored Classic Jazz: A Personal View of the Music and the Musicians. Items in this collection (2011.3086) were acquired from Levin’s attendance at Jazz Festivals, conferences, and other music events.

This badge is from the 10th Annual International Ellington Conference in Culver City, California, in 1991. It made of white paper with black, blue, and red ink, encapsulated in plastic. The badge is printed:

Lucille Levin
Studio City
CA
THE DUKE ELLINGTON SOCIETY
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER
PRESENTS13,14
15,16
THE TENTH
ANNUAL
INTERNATIONAL
ELLINGTON
CONFERENCE

Floyd Levin (1922-2007) was a Los Angeles textile manufacturer who turned his passion for jazz into a second career as an influential jazz journalist and historian. His numerous reviews, profiles, and articles were published in magazines such as Down Beat, Jazz Journal International, Metronome, and American Rag. He also authored Classic Jazz: A Personal View of the Music and the Musicians. Items in this collection (2011.3086) were acquired from Levin’s attendance at Jazz Festivals, conferences, and other music events.

This Patron badge is from the Los Angeles Classic Sweet & Hot Music Festival, in 1996. It made of yellow paper with black lettering, encapsulated in plastic. The badge is printed:

First Annual [foundation logo] THE LOS ANGELES
SWEET & HOT
MUSIC FESTIVAL
PATRON
1996.

Founded in 1996, The Sweet & Hot Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the music of the 1920s through 50s. The foundation produces an annual event in Los Angeles which support jazz education programs for Los Angeles area high school students.

The foundation also honors legends in classic jazz by placing permanent bronze plaques with their names, in the ground surrounding the pool and garden area at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel. Known as the “Sweet & Hot Music Walk of Fame,” it features jazz greats Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin and Benny Goodman, Cole Porter, Lionel Hampton and Billie Holiday.

Floyd Levin (1922-2007) was a Los Angeles textile manufacturer who turned his passion for jazz into a second career as an influential jazz journalist and historian. His numerous reviews, profiles, and articles were published in magazines such as Down Beat, Jazz Journal International, Metronome, and American Rag. He also authored Classic Jazz: A Personal View of the Music and the Musicians. Items in this collection (2011.3086) were acquired from Levin’s attendance at Jazz Festivals, conferences, and other music events.

This button is from The Fresno Dixieland Society Mardi Gras festival in Fresno, California, in 1994. It is a made of yellow paper with black printing covered with a clear film, on a round metal button with a pin back. The button is printed:

Fresno
Dixieland Society's
10th Annual
Mardi
Gras
'94
Sunday.

The Fresno Dixieland Society sponsors an annual weekend-long Mardi Gras festival with parades, performances, and dances featuring traditional jazz. The festival is held at several venues throughout Fresno.

Floyd Levin (1922-2007) was a Los Angeles textile manufacturer who turned his passion for jazz into a second career as an influential jazz journalist and historian. His numerous reviews, profiles, and articles were published in magazines such as Down Beat, Jazz Journal International, Metronome, and American Rag. He also authored Classic Jazz: A Personal View of the Music and the Musicians. Items in this collection (2011.3086) were acquired from Levin’s attendance at Jazz Festivals, conferences, and other music events.

This button is from the San Diego Jazz Party, in 1990. The button is a made of yellow paper with black and blue ink covered with a clear film, on a round two-piece metal button with a pin back. The button serves as an attendee identifier to the SDJP. The button is printed:

SAN DIEGO JAZZ PARTY
244
1990

The San Diego Jazz Party (SDJP) is an annual weekend-long event featuring public live performances of traditional jazz music. It is a non-profit organization that also provides scholarships for young jazz musicians at the high school or college level. The SDJP was originally presented in Downtown San Diego by Bill and Beverly Muchnic, in 1988.

Floyd Levin (1922-2007) was a Los Angeles textile manufacturer who turned his passion for jazz into a second career as an influential jazz journalist and historian. His numerous reviews, profiles, and articles were published in magazines such as Down Beat, Jazz Journal International, Metronome, and American Rag. He also authored Classic Jazz: A Personal View of the Music and the Musicians. Items in this collection (2011.3086) were acquired from Levin’s attendance at Jazz Festivals, conferences, and other music events.

This badge is from the Sacramento Dixieland Jubilee Jazz Festival, in 1995. The button is a made of white paper with black and silver lettering covered with a clear film, on a round two-piece metal button with a pin back. There is a rectangular hole in the button for a name tag. There is red ribbon attached to the back of the button. The button is printed:

SACRAMENTO
[image of riverboat]
LUCILLE LEVIN
JAZZ JUBILEE
1995

(The ribbon is printed):

MEDIA

The Sacramento Music Festival (formerly the Old Sacramento Dixieland Jazz Jubilee) was an annual event held every Memorial Day weekend in Sacramento, California. Organized by the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society, the festival was launched in 1974 and presented its final festival in 2017.

Floyd Levin (1922-2007) was a Los Angeles textile manufacturer who turned his passion for jazz into a second career as an influential jazz journalist and historian. His numerous reviews, profiles, and articles were published in magazines such as Down Beat, Jazz Journal International, Metronome, and American Rag. He also authored Classic Jazz: A Personal View of the Music and the Musicians. Items in this collection (2011.3086) were acquired from Levin’s attendance at Jazz Festivals, conferences, and other music events.

This button is from Jazz on the Lake weekend, in 1997. It is a square-shaped button made of paper with a red background and black and white printing covered with a clear film, on a two-piece metal button with a pin back. The button is printed:

JAZZ
ON THE LAKE
[image of piano]
May 17-18, 1997

Floyd Levin (1922-2007) was a Los Angeles textile manufacturer who turned his passion for jazz into a second career as an influential jazz journalist and historian. His numerous reviews, profiles, and articles were published in magazines such as Down Beat, Jazz Journal International, Metronome, and American Rag. He also authored Classic Jazz: A Personal View of the Music and the Musicians. Items in this collection (2011.3086) were acquired from Levin’s attendance at Jazz Festivals, conferences, and other music events.

This button is from the San Diego Thanksgiving Dixieland Jazz Festival in San Diego, in 1992. It is a made of gold paper with blue and red ink covered with a clear film, on a round two-piece metal button with a pin back. There is an image of clarinet and trumpet players on the front. The button is printed:

SAN DIEGO THANKSGIVING
1992
[stylized image of clarinet and horn players]
DIXIELAND JAZZ FESTIVAL

The non-profit organization, America’s Finest City Dixieland Jazz Society (AFCDJS) in San Diego, California, held its first Great American Dixieland Jazz Festival, in 1979. The festival now known as The San Diego Jazz Fest & Swing Extravaganza is held every Thanksgiving weekend. The organization supports the San Diego traditional jazz community with monthly concerts, education programs, publication of a newsletter, an adult traditional Jazz camp, and a lending library of small band music.

Floyd Levin (1922-2007) was a Los Angeles textile manufacturer who turned his passion for jazz into a second career as an influential jazz journalist and historian. His numerous reviews, profiles, and articles were published in magazines such as Down Beat, Jazz Journal International, Metronome, and American Rag. He also authored Classic Jazz: A Personal View of the Music and the Musicians. Items in this collection (2011.3086) were acquired from Levin’s attendance at Jazz Festivals, conferences, and other music events.

This button is from the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee Festival, in 1994. It is a made of green paper with black printing covered with a clear film, on a round two-piece metal button with a pin back. The button is printed:

I DID IT
AT THE
1994
SACRAMENTO JAZZ JUBILEE

The Sacramento Music Festival (formerly the Old Sacramento Dixieland Jazz Jubilee) was an annual event held every Memorial Day weekend in Sacramento, California. Organized by the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society, the festival was launched in 1974 and presented its final festival in 2017.

Floyd Levin (1922-2007) was a Los Angeles textile manufacturer who turned his passion for jazz into a second career as an influential jazz journalist and historian. His numerous reviews, profiles, and articles were published in magazines such as Down Beat, Jazz Journal International, Metronome, and American Rag. He also authored Classic Jazz: A Personal View of the Music and the Musicians. Items in this collection (2011.3086) were acquired from Levin’s attendance at Jazz Festivals, conferences, and other music events.

This button is from a Preservation Hall Jazz Band concert at Caltech (California Institute of Technology) in Pasadena, California, in 1991. It is a made of red paper with black and red lettering covered with a clear film, on a round two-piece metal button with a pin back. The button is printed:

CALTECH
public events
PRESERVATION
HALL
JAZZ BAND
FEBRUARY 9, 1991.

Preservation Hall is a world-renown jazz venue in the French Quarter of New Orleans with its resident musicians known as the Preservation Jazz Hall Band.

Floyd Levin (1922-2007) was a Los Angeles textile manufacturer who turned his passion for jazz into a second career as an influential jazz journalist and historian. His numerous reviews, profiles, and articles were published in magazines such as Down Beat, Jazz Journal International, Metronome, and American Rag. He also authored Classic Jazz: A Personal View of the Music and the Musicians. Items in this collection (2011.3086) were acquired from Levin’s attendance at Jazz Festivals, conferences, and other music events.

This button is from the Jazz Club of Sarasota, Florida, in 1991. It made of gold-tone plastic with black lettering. There is evidence of a straight-style pin back. The button is printed:

PATRON
the [image of trumpet] jazz club
of Sarasota
1991

The Jazz Club of Sarasota was founded by retired advertising executive Hal Davis. The club started as a casual get-together of jazz enthusiasts listening to music in the home of Hal and Evelyn Davis. By 1980, the club held its first concert featuring American jazz guitarist John Paul “Bucky” Pizzarelli (1926-2020) and his son John. The Jazz Club continued to expand its scope and reach to include a yearly program of concerts and lectures as well as school residency and scholarship programs.

Floyd Levin (1922-2007) was a Los Angeles textile manufacturer who turned his passion for jazz into a second career as an influential jazz journalist and historian. His numerous reviews, profiles, and articles were published in magazines such as Down Beat, Jazz Journal International, Metronome, and American Rag. He also authored Classic Jazz: A Personal View of the Music and the Musicians. Items in this collection (2011.3086) were acquired from Levin’s attendance at Jazz Festivals, conferences, and other music events.