This trumpet was made by King Musical Instruments, Inc. in Eastlake, Ohio in 1981. It is a B-flat trumpet, serial #863033, made of brass with 3 piston valves with mother-of-pearl buttons. This trumpet is engraved “Harry James” on the bell, and played by him.
Harry Hagg James (1916-1983) began his early career playing with his father’s circus band. By 1935, James joined Ben Pollack’s band and two years later would go on to star with Benny Goodman’s Orchestra. James formed his own orchestra in 1939, which would continue through the early 1980s.
Harry James appeared in several movies from 1937 to 1983, including Swing Fever (1943), Bathing Beauty (1944), and If I’m Lucky (1946).
The trumpet case was made by King Musical Instruments in Eastlake, Ohio, in 1981. It is made of wood, covered with black stained embossed leather and black stained leather trim, with metal fittings, leather covered handle, and green plush interior. Accessioned with King trumpet (1988.0057.01).
This necktie was made by “Jane,” undetermined place and date. It is a hand-made necktie made of white fabric with a cream-colored fabric lining. This necktie was previously worn by jazz musician Adolphus "Doc" Cheatham. There are numerous signatures in black ink on the front of the tie, one is dated “85.” There is an embroidered label:
FASHIONED AND HAND MADE BY JANE
Adolphus Anthony “Doc” Cheatham (1905-1997), first learned to play saxophone as well as trumpet. Early in his career, Cheatham performed with the African American Vaudeville theater in Nashville. Around 1924, Cheatham moved to Chicago where he heard trumpeters King Oliver and Louis Armstrong, both would have a lifelong influence on Cheatham’s playing.
Cheatham performed with several jazz musicians including Benny Carter, Fletcher Henderson, and Benny Goodman throughout the 1930s to the 1960s. In the 1970s, Cheatham worked to improve his playing by recording and listening to himself. After the age of 70, Cheatham’s self-assessment work would result in him receiving his best acclamations and critical reviews.
This button is from the San Diego Thanksgiving Dixieland Jazz Festival in San Diego, in 1988. It is a made of white 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 DIXIELAND JAZZ FESTIVAL 10th [stylized image of clarinet and trumpet players] ANNIVERSARY 1989
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 banner is made of white vinyl with red, pink, orange and brown paint, and red fringe on side and bottom. There is a rod pocket on the top. This banner was used as a backdrop for performances by Benny Carter and his Orchestra. The banner is printed:
BENNY CARTER and his ORCHESTRA
Benny Carter, born in New York City in 1907, was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader who made a significant contribution to jazz throughout his seventy year career. He has received two Grammy Awards, and in 1986 was granted the NEA Jazz Masters award by The National Endowment for the Arts. Carter died in 2003 at the age of 95.
This plaque was presented to Benny Carter by the American Society of Music Arrangers, in 1980. It is a wood plaque with gold-painted trim and printed paper document. The surface of the plaque is lacquered. The paper certificate is printed:
AMERICAN SOCIETY OD MUSIC ARRANGERS In recognition of continued excellence and achievement of the highest standards in the arts of composing, arranging and orchestrating, the Society awards to: Benny Carter [musical note] THE GOLDEN SCORE Signed: [signature of Eddy L. Manson] [signature of Bert Shefter] Dated: [in script: June 8 1980]
Benny Carter, born in New York City in 1907, was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader who made a significant contribution to jazz throughout his seventy year career. He has received two Grammy Awards, and in 1986 was granted the NEA Jazz Masters award by The National Endowment for the Arts. Carter died in 2003 at the age of 95.
This linoleum print with black ink on white paper was made by Peter Bodge in Newburyport, Massachusetts, in 1982. It is a portrait of American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, and singer John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (1917–1993) entitled Dizzy! Print number 10/10.
Peter Bodge is a jazz drummer, art teacher, and printmaker in Massachusetts. Bodge creates linoleum prints and other works on paper. His work most often features portraits, action shots semi-abstract interpretations of such famous jazz musicians, such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Elllngton , Count Basie and John Coltrane. In 1977, Bodge created a short animated film based on the life of Charlie Parker entitled Bird Lives!:
Benny Carter’s badge to the 1984 Monterey Jazz Festival held in Monterey, California. The badge is a pink laminated card with Carter’s photograph and a metal clip.
The Monterey Jazz Festival held its debut in 1958 and is one of the longest consecutively running jazz festivals. Founded by Jimmy Lyons and his colleague Ralph Gleason, the festival is a celebration of jazz’s legacy through performances by top jazz artists as well as educational programs. Since 1984 (the date on this badge) organizers have sent festival musicians into schools around the Monterey County School District to work with music students.
Benny Carter, born in New York City in 1907, was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader who made a significant contribution to jazz throughout his seventy year career. Carter was a featured performer in the 1984 Monterey Jazz Festival. He has received two Grammy Awards, and in 1986 was granted the NEA Jazz Masters award by The National Endowment for the Arts. Carter died in 2003 at the age of 95.
This button is from the Monterey Jazz Festival in Monterey, California, in 1983. It is a made of orange paper with black ink covered with a clear film, on a round two-piece metal button with a pin back. The button is printed:
25th [image of trumpet on chair] PRESS monterey JAZZ festival
The Monterey Jazz Festival was founded by jazz disc jockey Jimmy Lyons, in 1958. The festival is held annually on the Monterey County Fairgrounds on the third full weekend in September. Since its inception, the festival has grown to become one of the most prominent and diverse jazz experiences in the world. The Monterey Jazz Festival is a non-profit organization that supports jazz education through jazz in the school programs, summer jazz camp, artist-in-residence, next generation jazz festival, and scholarships.
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 Great American Dixieland Jazz Festival in San Diego, in 1988. It is a made of light blue paper with dark blue and orange 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:
THE GREAT AMERICAN DIXIELAND JAZZ FESTIVAL SAN DIEGO 1988
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.
