Diary -- The Minor Key

22 May 2017
Today, I'm engaged in listening to the 1959 Live at The Blackhawk recordings by Shelly Manne, leader and drums, and His Men -- Joe Gordon, trumpet, Richie Kamuca, tenor saxophone, Victor Feldman, piano, Monty Budwig, bass. These outstanding recordings are 4 hours and 40 minutes in duration.
23 May 2017
Sonny Stitt knew more tunes than anybody. Miles Davis and his quintet, featuring Sonny Stitt on alto and tenor saxophones, appeared at the Minor Key in Detroit, Mi. in May and September, 1960. In that same year the John Coltrane quartet and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers appeared at the Minor Key on multiple occasions. I saw Messrs. Coltrane and Blakey perform numerous times at the Minor Key. I remember (?) seeing Miles Davis at least twice there--once with Sonny Stitt (fabulous playing by Stitt) and once with J. J. Johnson.