Night Lights Classic Jazz Radio Program and Jazz Blog with David Brent Johnson

Night Lights is a weekly one-hour radio program of classic jazz hosted by David Brent Johnson and produced by WFIU Public Radio. Night Lights airs on WFIU HD1 Saturday at 11:05 p.m.

Norman Granz’s Jazz Scene

Jazz Scene 1Jazz impresario Norman Granz, who started the popular Jazz at the Philharmonic concert tour series in the 1940s as well as the record label that came to be known as Verve, also produced a lavish package of jazz recordings that was somewhat akin to an early box-set: The Jazz Scene, a folio packet of six 78 records with an accompanying set of photographs of some of the top jazz artists of the day and liner notes for each musical selection.
Jazz Scene 2
In his introductory note Granz wrote, “This is our attempt to present today’s jazz scene in terms of the visual, the written word, and the auditory,” and emphasized that he’d given the set’s musicians complete artistic freedom.

Among those appearing in the collection were Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, pianist and arranger Ralph Burns, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, and Latin jazz bandleader Machito. The set was issued in a limited edition of 5,000 copies and sold for a cool $25 (yes, that’s 1949 dollars)

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2 Responses to “Norman Granz’s Jazz Scene”

  1. gary criss Says:

    i have an original album ” the jazz scene”. autographed by
    Norman Granz himself.
    All 6 records, the cover,the photos , and notes are in very
    good condition. Make that “VERY GOOD” condition.
    Can anyone give me an idea of it,s value?
    Please email if you can help
    thanks
    gcriss13@COMCAST.NET

  2. Chris Hammett Says:

    I too have the set # 3611, though cover is not in the greatest condition, the inside albums, and sleeves are great. i too would like an idea on value

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