The pages of Strollin’: A Jazz Life Through John Levy’s Personal Lens were printed right on scheule for a September 1st release. Every page in color on beautiful 80lb glossy white stock. Then the printer sent the pages off to the bindery, one of their vendors, and the results were disasterous.


First they called the printer and said they did not recommend the OTA-bind, a method allows the book to lay open. They would do it a different way but the results would be similar. They’d send a sample first. And I was left wondering why the bindery bid on the job knowing the specs from the outset: 270 pages landscape (11 x 8.5) that were supposed to have been OTA-bind.


The bindery did send a sample - I got one and so did the printing company. Both samples simply fell apart as soon as we started flipping through the pages. “Oh, we were in a hurry,” the bindery said. “Probably didn’t use enough glue. We’ll do another sample.” They sent that sample to the printer, not to me, and the printer told me that the second sample was no better than the first.


What to do? The answer is not yet clear and I am waiting to hear from the printer about my options. I have adjusted our target release date to Octber 15th. If we’re lucky, it might be sooner. I’ll keep you posted.

Evolution is at the very core of the creative process, so it is no surprise that a lot of changes were made to our original plans. The first and most fundamental change was the title. The original title, “At the Feet of a Jazz Master” was inspired by John’s NEA Jazz Master status combined with a very cool photo by Leroy Hamilton of John’s feet clad in red Converse All-Star sneakers. The photos were to be selected from Leroy’s pictures taken during the 2004 NEA Jazz Master events and the text would consist of anecdotes, opinions, and reminiscenses.


After reviewing a sample section, John said it didn’t feel right. (He actually said it felt like a cross between a lament for “the good old days” and an obituary.) Then he mused about the possibility of using photos that he shot throughout the years. And so a new concept emerged. The use of the word Strollin’ refers both to the walk down memory lane and to a tune by that title that he recorded in 1949 with the original George Shearing Quintet.


We went through his pictures and, after selecting a few hundred, I set to work scanning the images. The majority of the photos that made the cut were taken by John, some were shot by me, and a few were contributed by others. In addition, we included a special 10-page NEA Jazz Master section with more than 20 of Leroy’s photos. The text includes a mixture of John’s thoughts and general information, and the new cover photo (click here) is one of Leroy’s, shot in John’s home/office in June, 2005.

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:
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