The UNF Jack Kleinsinger Highlights in Jazz Archive, by Danny Gottlieb, Professor of Jazz Studies
Dr. Jack Kleinsinger is a former assistant attorney general of the State of New York.
He had a passion for jazz, and in 1973 decided to try producing jazz concerts. One successful concert led to another, and Jack Kleinsinger’s Highlights in Jazz has become the longest running continuous jazz series in the history of New York. He has produced more than 316 jazz concerts to date, featuring the most popular and greatest names in jazz. Artists featured in his series include Doc Cheatham, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Roy Haynes, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, Gary Burton, Maxine Sullivan, Louie Bellson, Buddy Rich, Dave Brubeck, Roy Eldridge, Billy Taylor, Billy Higgins, Dick Hyman, Bucky Pizzarelli Jay Leonhart, Bobby Hackett, Cab Calloway, Art Farmer, Woody Herman, and hundreds more.
Jack has been a family friend for years, and I actually performed in concert 29, Tubby the Tuba in 1976. A few years ago, during a visit with Jack in his New York apartment, I noticed stacks of cassette tapes gathering dust. He explained that he had been allowed to record the concerts for archival purposes, and that he had just about every Highlights in Jazz concert recorded. Many of the more recent concerts were recorded to CD, but most of the concerts only existed on cassette. Some were quality board tapes, but others were primitive recordings made by Jack’s father holding a cassette deck in the front row!
Realizing that these were priceless, one-of-a-kind recordings, and that if anything should happen to them the recorded performances would be lost forever, I asked Jack if he would allow me to archive his material at UNF. He lovingly agreed, happy that someone who was a friend and who actually performed in his concerts would take such an interest.
With the help of Dean Shirley Hallblade, Courtenay McLeland, and the staff of the UNF Thomas G. Carpenter Library, we were able to secure a foundation grant and the UNF Digital Commons Jack Kleinsinger Library was born.
Jack has also been an avid collector of reviews, photos, and anything else associated with his concerts. In addition to the UNF music collection, he has also permitted us archive his more than 2000 pieces of printed memorabilia. Jack also has an uncanny memory for special events and personal anecdotes, and we have also been able to video tape Jack discussing special moments and memories associated with each concert.
It is the goal of this archival project to preserve and perpetuate the special musical moments that occurred within this collection of more than 500 hours of live music by honoring Jack’s original intent in making these recordings: that the music be archived, preserved and presented for educational purposes. We hope that every student, music researcher, and jazz lover will find an endless supply of creativity and a wealth of jazz knowledge in this collection, and that all will understand and celebrate the scope of the life’s work of one of jazz’s greatest producers and heroes: Jack Kleinsinger.
In 2016, Jack Kleinsinger donated his valuable archive of original tape recordings to the Carpenter Library, and UNF awarded Jack an Honorary Doctorate of Letters. We are so grateful for his lifetime of contribution to the arts, and his generous donation to this University.
We are using the video from his “Tribute The Charlie Parker” concert in all Evolution of Jazz classes to call student attention to Dr. Kleinsinger’s concert production and the archive that is housed at UNF.
In May of 2019, I appeared as a special guest at “Highlights” concert 339. In light of this archive, and Jack’s donation to our University, it was a honor that I will never forget. Thank you, Jack, for conceiving and designing each and every concert, and for providing us with this incredible music.
Special thanks to:
Brian Radock for his creative input and assistance with tape, CD, video production and document copy.
Joe Martin for his assistance with all financial and logistical planning for this grant.
Shirley Hallblade for her insight and assistance in all aspects of this project.
Courtenay, Faith, Ryan, Tracey, and all involved with UNF Digital Commons.
A message of thanks and appreciation to Local 802, American Federation of Musicians, by Professor Danny Gottlieb, Lifetime member of local 802, New York, and currently, local 257, Nashville.
This concert audio collection is made available through the generosity of The American Federation of Musicians, Local 802, New York City, of which Dr. Kleinsinger was an avid supporter. All of the musicians performing on these concerts have been paid through Union Contract, and are protected and will reap the benefits provided by this contract and Union membership.
We encourage ALL musicians to join their local Musician's Union in order to receive all of the benefits that they have earned and so greatly deserve. These concerts are made available for educational and study purposes only. They are not available for copying, sampling or any use without written consent of local 802.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 080 - Saxophone Splendor
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, November 4th, 1982 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Al Cohn, Lew Tabackin, David Fathead Newman, Albert Dailey, Rufus Reid, Walter Bolden, New York Saxophone Quartet, Ray Beckinstein, Al Regni, Billy Kerr and Walter Kane. Special guest: Big Nick Nicholas.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 081 - Salute to Doc Cheatham
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Wednesday, December 8th, 1982 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Doc Cheatham, Vic Dickenson, Budd Johnson, Chuck Folds, Arvell Shaw, Jackie Williams, Dick Wellstood, Kenny Davern, and Bobby Rosengarden. Special guest: Richard Sudhalter.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 082 - Gala 10th Anniversary
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Saturday, February 19th, 1983 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Zoot Sims, Joe Newman, Gene Bertoncini, Phil Bodner, Dr. Lyn Christie and Maxine Sullivan. Special guests: Buddy DeFranco and Roy Haynes.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 083 - Masters of Modern Jazz
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, March 17th, 1983 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Billy Taylor, Red Rodney, Jimmy Heath, Pepper Adams, Howard Johnson, Victor Gaskin and Ray Barretto. Special guest: Keith Copeland.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 084 - Jazz Guitar Glory
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Wednesday, April 20th, 1983 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, and the Tiny Grimes Trio (Tiny Grimes, Bob Emry and Earl Wormack. Special guest: Earl Swanson (saxophone).
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 085 - A Jazz Portrait of Irving Berlin
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Saturday, May 14th, 1983 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Dick Hyman, Milt Hinton, Mel Lewis, Phil Bodner, Joe Wilder and Carrie Smith. Special guest: Alfredo Gustar, tap dancer.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 086 - The Jazz Mainstream
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Friday June 10th, 1983 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Big Joe Turner, Dave McKenna, Bob Wilber, Doc Cheatham, Major Holley and Oliver Jackson. Warren Vache was original scheduled but was unable to attend. Special guests: Vic Dickenson and Antti Sarpila.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 087 - An Evening of Intimate Jazz
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Wednesday, September 21st, 1983 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Joe Bushkin, Howard Alden, Milt Hinton, Bobby Rosengarden, Norris Turney, Bucky Pizzarelli, and John Pizzarelli, Jr. Special guest: Glenn Zottola.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 088 - Saxophone Supreme
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, November 10th, 1983 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Zoot Sims, Pepper Adams, Jimmy Heath, Walter Norris, Tony Purrone, George Mraz and Walter Bolden. Special guest: Jerry Dodgion.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 089 - Harlem Memories
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Wednesday, December 14th, 1983 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Panama Francis and his Savoy Sultans, George Kelly, Eddie Durham, Al Casey, Charlie Bateman, Bobby Williams, John Williams, and Ronnie Cole. Special guest: Dill Jones (piano).
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 090 - Salute to Hank Jones
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Friday, January 6th, 1984 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Clark Terry, Al Cohn, Billy Taylor, George Duvivier, Bobby Durham and Hank Jones. Special guest: Carmen McRae.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 091 - 11th Anniversary Concert
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center,Saturday, February 25th, 1984 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Ray Barretto, Alan Dawson, Frank Wess, Big Nick Nicholas, Lew Soloff, Britt Woodman, Benny Powell, Joe Beck, and Derek Smith. Special guests: Bob Cunningham and Freddie Waits.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 092 - Voices of Jazz
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Wednesday, March 28th, 1984 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Jackie and Roy, Jon Hendricks and Company, Daryl Sherman and Jay Leonhart. Special guests: Mike Renzi and Ronnie Bedford.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 093 - Jazz is My Passport
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Wednesday, May 2nd, 1984 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Toots Thielemans, Astrud Gilberto, Adam Makowicz, George Mraz, Carlos Franzetti, and Ignacio Berroa. Special guest: Harold Singer (saxophone).
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 094 - Jazz Festival Preview
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Friday, June 8th, 1984 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include George Wein, Scott Hamilton, Norris Turney, Slam Stewart, Oliver Jackson, Warren Vache, Doc Cheatham and Barbara Lea. Special guests: Mike Abene, Steve LaSpina and Tommy Benford.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 095 - Return of the Jazz Session
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, October 11th, 1984 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Billy Taylor, Herb Ellis, George Duvivier, Joe Morello, Al Grey, and Buddy Tate. Special guests: Joe Bushkin, Glenn Zottola and Jimmy Owens.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 096 - A Jazz Portrait of Johnny Mercer
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Wednesday, November 14th, 1984 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Sylvia Syms, Al Cohn, Joe Newman, Russ Kassoff, Jay Leonhart and Ronnie Bedford. Special guest: Gene Bertoncini.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 097 - Saxophone Spectacular
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, December 13th, 1984 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Jimmy Heath, Paquito D’Rivera, Harold Ashby, Norris Turney, Joe Temperley, Tony Purrone, Stafford James, and Akira Tana. Special guest: Dick Katz.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 098 - Women of Jazz
Danny Gottlieb and Jack Kleinsinger
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Friday, January 4th, 1985 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Odetta, Chris Connor, Emily Remler, Steve LaSpina and Tony Tedesco. Special guest: Richard Rodney Bennett.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 099 - 12th Anniversary Gala Celebration
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Wednesday, February 13th, 1985 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Doc Cheatham, Phil Bodner, Glenn Zotolla, Loren Schoenburg, Ray Mosca, Carrie Smith, Marty Napoleon and Major Holley. Special guest: Butch Miles.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 100 - An Evening of Jazz Guitar
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, March 21, 1985 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Barney Kessel, Tiny Grimes, Bucky Pizzarelli and John Pizzarelli, Jr. Special guests: Steve LaSpina and Marvin Smith.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 101 - Hamp’s Jazz Party
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, April 18th, 1985 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Lionel Hampton, Harold Singer, The McDonald’s Tri-State High School Jazz Ensemble with Kenny Washington on drums. Special guests: Carol Britto and Sol Yaged.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 102 - Salute to Mel Lewis
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Friday, May 17th, 1985 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Mel Lewis, Bob Cunningham, Jon Faddis, Lew Soloff, Frank Foster, Benny Powell, Pepper Adams, John Mosca, Dick Oatts, and Kenny Washington. Special guests: Toots Thielemans, Roland Hanna, Ray Barretto, and Paquito D’Rivera.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 103 - A Concert for Zoot
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, October 3rd, 1985 at 8:00pm in association with NYU program board. Jack served as producer and master of ceremonies for the series of concerts. Artists for the concert include Al Cohn, Clark Terry, James Moody, Carol Britto, Joe Cohn and Ronnie Bedford. Benny Carter was scheduled but he was unable to attend. Special guest: Major Holley.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 104 - Jazz Legends on Film Part V
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
On Thursday, November 7, 1985 at NYU Loeb Student Center in association with NYU program board, Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz featured a collection titled “Jazz Legends on Film Part V” from film historian David Chertok. The film utilized film shorts, clips from longer films and excerpts from early television to make a presentation of rare jazz performances. Artists include Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Erroll Garner, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, Lionel Hampton, John Coltrane, Count Basie, Sidney Bechet and more.