Jazz Collections
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Artist Recording Collective (ARC label)
The entire Artists Recording Collective (ARC RECORD LABEL) catalog has been accepted by the Kansas Historical Society and will be a permanent part of the State Archives. The ARC Collection will include: (1) updated Label Catalog; (2) updated Artist Roster; (3) physical album products; (4) digital audio files; and, (5) related collateral documentation, press materials, and news items. Currently the Artist Recording Collective collection includes two posters from the Blue Room, a sixteen page ARC summary, and artists recordings on cd and in digital format.
See the ARC website.
Earnest "Ernie" Douglas Collection
This collection contains photographs of Topeka musician Ernie (Ernest) Douglas, his band, and his restaurant and jazz club, Ernie's Catfish Hollow. Douglas was born November 30, 1932, in Topeka. During the 1950s, Douglas worked as a radio DJ and musician, playing the piano and vibraphone. After a time in Denver, Douglas returned to Topeka where he opened Ernie's Catfish Hollow in 1978 at 1201 E. 6th Street. The restaurant and jazz club closed in 1983. Later Douglas worked for the Postal Service in St. Louis, Missouri, and as a performer on the Dandy Dinner Boat in Alexandria, Virginia. Douglas died in Ellicott City, Maryland on February 15, 2016.
Mel Kime was a percussionist and band leader in Topeka, Kansas. In 1959, Kime, an original founder of the Topeka Jazz Workshop, organized the TJW band which performed for the first time in 1960. The Kime materials are a subseries of the Topeka Jazz Workshop collection and include materials related to drums, drummers, performances and audio recordings.
Martinez Jazz Orchestra (Topeka, Kansas)
The Martinez Jazz Orchestra in Topeka, Kansas in the 1930s. From left to right: unknown musician, Vargas, Lupe Cabrerra, and two unknown musicians, Rodrick Padilla, and Antonio Gutierrez. The musician standing apart is John Martinez.
Topeka Jazz Workshop, Inc. Records
Two published histories, 1985 and 2000, and 13 scrapbooks containing information on the history and development of the organization from 1953 to 2006. The scrapbooks contain information on local band members and directors, guest artists, concert programs & schedules, local newspaper ads, articles, music reviews, photos, community programs, and information about the annual Brad Stroud Memorial Scholarship Fund. Included are newsletters & memos, Board of Director minutes, lists of officers, sustaining & patron members, financial reports, and information about membership dues. Also included are some of the organization's files, including correspondence, scholarship records, programs, newspaper clippings, materials related to various concerts. Also included are a photo album, concert program, and compact disc of the 2006 Jim Monroe Memorial Concert in honor of the Workshop's long time president. There are 281 audiocassettes, 1964-2001, and 34 compact discs, 2002-2005, of various Topeka Jazz Workshop concerts. These recordings illustrate the diverse scope of jazz music in America, and the wide variety of people who perform and enjoy it.
Strait grew up in northeast Shawnee County, Kansas, and attended Seaman High School where he started playing the drums and became interested in jazz music. He entered the Slingerland-Bellson National Drum Contest at age 17 and completed the final round in Las Vegas, Nevada, in second place. After graduating from Seaman High School, he moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he studied at the University of Bridgeport with Ed Soph as part of a scholarship awarded through the contest. Todd joined Marian McPartland's Trio from 1982-1989, also was a member of Tal Farlow's trio and Barney Kessel's trio throughout the '80s as well as free lancing throughout New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. Todd enjoyed a short 3 month stint with Woody Herman's Thundering Herd in 1986. Returning to Kansas City in late 1989, he spent the 90's performing, recording, and traveling nationally and internationally with Kevin Mahogany (1995-2000), Eldar (1999-2010), and Karrin Allyson (1991-2014). He frequently returns to KC to play and record with Bob Bowman, Danny Embrey, Rod Fleeman, Paul Smith, etc.
