This trumpet was made by Severinsen-Akright in Oakland, California in 1994. It is a B-flat trumpet, 54 Bel Canto model, serial #0601, made of brass with 3 piston valves. This trumpet was given to American trumpeter Doc Cheatham for his 90th birthday from Doc Severinsen, Dick Akright, and Donald Byrd in 1994. This trumpet is engraved:
HAPPY 89TH BIRTHDAY DOC CHEATAM from DOC SEVERINSEN DICK AKRIGHT DONALD BYRD JUNE 13th, 1994
and
SEVERINSEN-AKRIGHT MODEL 54 Bel Canto 564-14th St. OAKLAND, CA 94612
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 trumpet case was made by Yamaha Corporation, 1990s. It is made of wood, covered with black vinyl and black vinyl trim, metal fittings, and black plush interior. Accessioned with Severinsen-Akright trumpet (2002.0218.01).
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 bust of American jazz trumpeter, musician, bandleader, and composer Miles Dewey Davis III (1926 - 1991) was made by Ed Dwight in Denver, Colorado in 1990. Made of cast bronze, the sculpture depicts Davis’ torso, playing a trumpet, wearing a jacket and sunglasses, on a wood base.
Ed Dwight began his career as a graduate engineer, was a former United States Air Force test pilot who became the first African American to be trained as an astronaut in 1962. Following a career in real estate, computer systems engineering, and consulting, Dwight pursued art and received a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Denver in 1977. Dwight’s works include fine art sculpture, large-scale memorials and public art projects.
This bust of American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, and singer John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (1917–1993) was made by Ed Dwight in Denver, Colorado in 1990. Made of cast bronze, the sculpture depicts Gillespie’s head, neck and hands, playing a trumpet, on a base made of dark stone.
Ed Dwight began his career as a graduate engineer, was a former United States Air Force test pilot who became the first African American to be trained as an astronaut in 1962. Following a career in real estate, computer systems engineering, and consulting, Dwight pursued art and received a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Denver in 1977. Dwight’s works include fine art sculpture, large-scale memorials and public art projects.
This bust of American jazz trumpeter and vocalist Louis Armstrong (1901 - 1971) was made by Ed Dwight in Denver, Colorado in 1990. Made of cast bronze, the sculpture depicts Armstrong’s torso and hands, playing a trumpet with handkerchief in left hand, on a stone base.
Ed Dwight began his career as a graduate engineer, was a former United States Air Force test pilot who became the first African American to be trained as an astronaut in 1962. Following a career in real estate, computer systems engineering, and consulting, Dwight pursued art and received a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Denver in 1977. Dwight’s works include fine art sculpture, large-scale memorials and public art projects.
This button is from the San Diego Thanksgiving Dixieland Jazz Festival in San Diego, in 1992. It is a made of yellow 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 1994 [stylized image of clarinet and trumpet 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 plaque containing a commemorative cachet was given to jazz musician Adolphus "Doc" Cheatham by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation in association with the United States Postal Service, in 1996. It is a rectangular shaped wood plaque with a metal branch on the left side, plastic covered metal plate with a paper envelope, and a black metal label with gold text. The stamp depicts jazz musician Louis Armstrong. The metal plate is inscribed:
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation In Association with the United States Postal Service Is Proud to Present ADOLPHUS "DOC" CHETHAM OFFICIAL COMMEMORATIVE CACHET HONORING ADOLPHUS "DOC" CHEATHAM
(printed on envelope):
JAZZ FEST STATION APRIL 26-MAY 5, 1996 NEW ORLEANS, LA 70119
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 1995. It is a made of blue paper with blue, red, and white 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 1995 [stylized image of clarinet and trumpets 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 custom jacket was made by Versace in Italy, circa 1991, for American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer Miles Davis (1926 - 1991).
Davis wore this jacket during his performance with Quincy Jones for the Montreaux Jazz Festival, Switzerland, in 1991. Davis’ collaboration with Jones was one of his last performances and was a return to performing songs arranged by Gil Evans, that were featured on his albums from the 1950s, Miles Ahead, Porgy and Bess, and Sketches of Spain.
This certificate was presented to Benny Carter by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, in 1996. It is a printed paper certificate in a gold-tone metal frame. The certificate is printed:
THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND LETTERS In recognition of creative achievement in the arts Bennett L. Carter was elected to Academy Membership New York – 1996 [signature of AAAL President] [signature of AAAL Secretary]
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 button is from The Scottsdale Dixieland Jazz festival in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 1994. It has a green paper background with white printing, covered with a clear film, on a round two-piece metal button with a pin back. The button is printed:
SCOTTSDALE DIXIELAND JAZZ [image of trumpet player] 1994
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 Marvellous Melbourne Jazz Festival in Melbourne, Australia, in 1997. It is a round button with an orange background with black and white printing, covered with a clear film, on a two-piece metal button with a pin back. The button is printed:
MARVELLOUS Melbourne Jazz Festival [stylized image of trumpet and two hands] JANUARY 19-26, 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.
Benny Carter’s guest of honor badge to the Ninth Jazz Times Convention held in Park Central Hotel, New York City, October 6-9, 1993. The badge is a white laminated card with black and blue ink, attached to a pink chord with a metal hook. An illustration of the New York City skyline is shown.
The Jazz Times convention, created by owners of the Jazz Times magazine, held its first meeting in 1984 as space for musicians, radio programmers, record company executives, agents, club owners, music critics, and other industry professionals. Aside from performances by top jazz artists, the convention also features panels to gauge and discuss current topics in jazz; and one theme often discussed is how jazz music can reach a wider audience.
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 badge is from Jan Scobey’s Hot Dixieland Jazzbash in Santa Rosa, California, in 1991. It is a rectangular card with white background and blue and red ink, encapsulated in plastic, with a pin back. The badge is printed:
Saturday Dec. 7 Sunday Dec. 8 JAN SCOBEY'S HOT DIXIELAND JAZZBASH THE GREAT BRASS TRIAD TURK MURPHY DEC. 1915 LU WATTERS DEC. 19, 1911 BOB SCOBEY DEC. 1916.
Jan Scobey was the wife of American jazz trumpeter Robert Scobey Jr. (1916-1963). Jan Scobey penned a biography, He Rambled!, about the career of her husband, which was published in 1976. This badge is from a weekend event she produced featuring the music of bandmates and colleagues Bob Scobey, Turk Murphy, and Lu Watters.
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.
