Governor's State University Jazz Band

A really wonderful album of obscure jazz recordings from the Chicago scene of the 70s – way more than just the usual school band record, as the tracks here are mostly originals, and performed by a very inventive group of musicians!

Governor's State University was a very hip place at the time – a public college at the end of the main train line running through the south side of Chicago – which made the school a place of great opportunity and expression for the city's African-American community. Rather than a junior college, GSU had higher levels of learning – and had an especially strong jazz program, as you'll hear in this set – which features both sextet performances and work by a larger ensemble – both imbued with some of the best creative legacy of the Chicago scene.

Things never go far outside, but there's definitely a deeper understanding of musical reaches taking place here – and the core quartet features Walter Henderson on cornet, John Pate on piano, Eugene Vineyard on tenor, Ronald Askew on guitar, Jeff Simon on bass, and Curtis Prince on drums. These players are in the larger group – which also features William Howell and Gerald Myrow on trombones, Vincent Carter and Steele Seales on saxes, and Kenneth Brass and Melvin Williams on trumpets.

PERSONNEL:

• Ronald Askew - (guitar)
• Walter Henderson - (cornet)
• John Pate - (piano)
• Curtis Prince - (drums)
• Eugene Vineyard - (sax)
• Jeff Simon - (bass)

• Saxes:
• Eugene Vineyard
• Henry Lollar
• Kenneth Plikuhn
• Steele Seales
• Vincent Carter

• Trumpets:
• Kenneth Brass
• Melvin Williams
• Paul Howard
• Walter Henderson

• French Horn:
• June Jacobs
• Susan Van Antwerp

• Tuba:
• Joseph Schulte

• Trombones:
• Gary Van Antwerp
• Gerald Myrow
• William Howell

TRACKS:

• SIDE A
• A1. Keishaz
• A2. Song For Suzanne
• A3. Spanish Samba

• SIDE B
• B1. Spain
• B2. Crabmeat
• B3. Give It One
• B4. Listen Here