April 2007

Having not yet selected a format for this photos-with-essays book, the first step was simply to catalog Leroy’s photos, and while doing so to note any that we especially liked along with any thoughts or ideas a picture might evoke. The result so far is the master list, sequentially numbered within specific events. The events, in chronological sequence, are:

• Nancy Wilson’s recording session in Los Angeles
• John Levy Does Tavis Smiley Radio Show December 15, 2005
• John Levy interviewed on Thursday by Kati Grey for article in Newsday During IAJE in
• NEA Jazz Masters Group Photos (Friday)
• NEA Jazz Masters Luncheon
• John Levy interviewed By Jaron Eames for local cable v show
• NEA Jazz Masters Cocktail Reception
• NEA Jazz Masters Concert & Awards Show – Backstage Pre-Show
• NEA Jazz Masters Concert & Awards Show
• Vocal Legacy rehearsal Saturday morning
• NEA Jazz Masters Panel on Saturday afternoon
• Book Signing at MCG Jazz booth on Saturday Afternoon
• Vocal Legacy Showcase on Saturday evening
• Nancy Wilson’s recording session in NYC Sunday/Monday

Of course, chronological sequencing will not make much sense for the book, so for a first outline, we’ll group the pictures into five sections:

1. all the NEA Jazz Masters activities
2. all the Nancy Wilson recording shots
3. all the Vocal Legacy rehearsal and showcase shots
4. John Levy doing interviews
5. And “other” – which for the moment holds pictures of the book signing

I suspect that this means of grouping shots will not hold up for long. So far, we are envisioning the book as a series of photos, many of which evoke memories, stories, and even opinions about the music and the business. When John and I first started looking through Leroy’s pictures, we jotted down some thoughts to test out the idea. For example:

To test this fully, we will need a complete list of everyone who is Leroy’s pictures, so I took the first master shot list and reorganized it alphabetically by person within the five sections/events listed above.

NEA Jazz Masters Activities

NEA Group Photos (these outtakes remind me of the ones John and I have on our wall shot by Milt Hinton during the Great Day in Harlem shoot) — David Baker, Ray Baretto, Tony Bennett , Bob Brookmeyer, Ron Carter, Chick Corea, Buddy DeFranco, Paquito D’Rivera, Frank Foster, Dana Gioia , Jim Hall, Chico Hamilton, Slide Hampton, Nat Hentoff, Barry Harris, Roy Haynes, Freddie Hubbard, John Levy, James Moody, Billy Taylor, Clark Terry, McCoy Tyner , Nancy Wilson.

NEA Jazz Masters Luncheon
David Baker, Ray Baretto, Tony Bennett , Alan Bergman, Bob Brookmeyer, Wayne Brown, Ron Carter, Chick Corea, Buddy DeFranco, Paquito D’Rivera, Frank Foster, Dana Gioia , Jim Hall, Chico Hamilton, Slide Hampton, Jimmy Heath, Nat Hentoff, Barry Harris, Roy Haynes, Freddie Hubbard, Devra Hall Levy, John Levy, James Moody, A.B.Spellman, Billy Taylor, Clark Terry, McCoy Tyner, George Wein, Nancy Wilson.

NEA Jazz Masters Cocktail Reception
Marty Ashby, Tony Bennett , Darlene Chan, Clairdee, Paquito D’Rivera, Ken French, Dana Gioia, Renee Govannucci, Jim & Jane Hall, Slide Hampton, Jimmy Heath, Freddie & Briggie Hubbard, Willard Jenkins, Mr & Mrs Marty Klein, Devra Hall Levy, John Levy, Michael & Cheryl Levy, James Moody, Bill Strickland, Billy Taylor, Bobby Tucker, George Wein, Nancy Wilson.

NEA Jazz Masters Concert & Awards Show – Backstage Pre-Show
David Baker, Ray Baretto, Scotty Barnhart, Tony Bennett , Shawn C Edmonds, Mr & Mrs Buddy DeFranco, Paquito D’Rivera, Jon Faddis, Frank Foster, Nnenna Freelon, Dana Gioia, Jim & Jane Hall, Jimmy & Mona Heath, Barry Harris, Roy Haynes, Freddie & Briggie Hubbard, Devra Hall Levy, John Levy, Ramsey Lewis, Marshall McDonald, Billy Taylor, Clark Terry, McCoy Tyner, George Wein, Nancy Wilson.

Marty Ashby, Nnenna Freelon, John Levy, Nancy Wilson [side stage during intermission]

NEA Jazz Masters Concert & Awards Show – Concert
Ray Baretto, Tony Bennett , Bob & Jan Brookmeyer, Chick Corea, Mr & Mrs Buddy DeFranco, Paquito D’Rivera, Jon Faddis, Nnenna Freelon, Jane Hall, Slide Hampton, Jimmy Heath, Barry Harris, Freddie & Briggie Hubbard, Bill Hughes, James Leary, Devra Hall Levy, John Levy, James Moody, Tyler Perry, A.B.Spellman, Dennis Wilson, Nancy Wilson…Plus band shots.

Jazz Masters Panel on Saturday Afternoon
AB Spellman, Freddie Hubbard, Ray Barretto, John Levy, Bob Brookmeyer, Buddy Defranco. Plus David Baker, Kacy Dennis, Dana Gioia, Willard Jenkins, Richard Seidel, Nancy Wilson.

Nancy Wilson recording shots

Nancy Wilson’s Recording Session In Los Angeles
Nancy Wilson, John And I. Producers Marty And Jay Ashby, Pianist Llew Matthews, Bassist John Clayton, Drummer Roy McCurdy, Plus An Engineer And Studio Staff — Have To Find Out Their Names)

Studio NYC Sunday/Monday
Jay Ashby, Marty Ashby, Clayton Cameron, Regina Carter, John Clayton, Kacy Dennis, Renee Govannucci, Jimmy Heath, John & Devra Levy, Bob Mintzer, Rufus Reid, Billy Taylor, Nancy Wilson.
Also Brazilian musicians? Percussionist? Engineering staff at board? Bassist? Braz pianist?

Vocal Legacy rehearsal and showcase shots

Rehearsal Saturday morning
Ken French, Henry Johnson, Clairdee, Maryann McSweeney, Dennis Mackrel, John and Devra Levy.

Vocal Legacy Showcase Saturday Evening
Clairdee, Ken French, Henry Johnson, Dennis Mackrel, Maryann McSweeney; plus Nancy Wilson, Marty Ashby, John Levy, and various audience members and friends including Michael Levy, Linda Goshay…

John Levy doing interviews

Tavis Smiley Radio Show December 15, 2005
Tavis Smiley, John and Devra Levy, and publicist Regina Davis.

Newsday In NYC
John and Kati Gray

Television
John Levy, Jaron Eames, Dakota Staton’s brother, NY1 interviewer

Other

Book Signing Saturday Afternoon
Monty Alexander, Marty Ashby, Kacy Dennis, Frank Foster, Leonard Herring, John Levy, Michael & Cheryl Levy, Bob Mintzer, Tom Scott, Nancy Wilson, Leslie and MCG Staff and customers


And finally, we created one more composite table, alphabetical by person, with a column listing the events where Leroy shot their picture and a column (not yet filled in) for story notes and topic ideas.