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 105 - Echoes of Harlem
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, December 12th, 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 Chetham, Joey Cavaseno, Chuck Green, George Kelly, Richard Wyands, Victor Gaskin, Ronnie Cole and Dakota Staton. Special guests: Bross Townsand, John Donally and Clyde Lucas. Milt Hinton was scheduled but was unable to attend the concert.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 106 - We Remember Satchmo
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, January 16th, 1986 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 Marty Napoleon, Panama Francis, Kenny Davern, Johnny Letman, George Masso, Arvell Shaw, Joe Bushkin, Dick Wellstood, Major Holley, Joe Muranyi , Dick Sudhalter and Marty Grosz. Arvell Shaw was unable attend. Special guest: Lawrence Lucie.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 107 - 13th Anniversary Concert
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, February 20th, 1986 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 Don Sebesky and his Orchestra, Jimmy Madison, Alex Foster, Jim Pugh, Roger Rosenberg, Jay Leonhart, Mike Renzi, Mark Morganelli, Warren Chiasson, Ray Drummond, Billy Hart and Niels Lan Doky. Special guest: Vic Juris.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 108 - The Basieites Meet the Ellingtonians
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, March 20th, 1986 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 Newman, Seldon Powell, Benny Powell, Butch Miles, Victor Gaskin, Eddie Barefield, Norris Turney and Britt Woodman. Special guest: Mike LeDonne.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 109 - An Evening of Intimate Jazz
Jack Kleinsinger
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Wednesday, April 16th, 1986 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 Kenny Burrell, Dave Jackson, Kenny Washington, Roger Kellaway, Eddie Daniels, Jack Wilkins and Nancy Harrow. Special guest: Jay Leonhart.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 110 - Salute to Buddy Tate
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, May 15th, 1986 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 Buddy Tate, Ray Bryant, Irv Stokes, David Fathead Newman, Eddie Locke, Phil Woods and Phil Flanagan. Special guests: Dizzy Gillespie, Slide Hampton and Frank Lacy.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 111 - Still Going Strong
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, September 25th, 1986 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 Art Hodes, Milt Hinton, Doc Cheatham, Clarence Hutchenrider, George Kelly and Tommy Benford. Special guest: Richie Cole.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 112 - A Concert for Pepper Adams
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, October 30th, 1986 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, Joey Cavaseno, Cecil Payne, Ray Barretto, Junior Mance, Rufus Reid, Nick Brignola, Ronnie Cuber, and Joe Morello. Special guests: Oliver Jackson, Toots Thielemans, Lodi Carr and Joe Temperley.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 113 - Voices of Jazz
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, December 11th, 1986 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 Roy Eldridge, Marlene VerPlanck, Jay Leonhart, John Pizzarelli Jr., Spanky Davis, Dick Katz, and Loren Schoenberg. Special guest: Jim McNeely.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 114 - Jazz is My Passport
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, January 15th, 1987 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 Astrud Gilberto, Warren Chiasson, Jorge Anders, Claudio Roditi, Valery Ponomarev and Niels Lan Doky. Special guest: Bill Crow and Joris Dudli.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 115 - The 14th Anniversary Gala
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, February 12, 1987 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, Joe Newman, Bucky Pizzarelli, Phil Wilson, Oliver Jackson, Carrie Smith and Major Holley. Special guest: Bross Townsend and the Scott Kreutzer Quintet.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 116 - Salute to Maxine Sullivan
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, March 12, 1987 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 Maxine Sullivan, Milt Hinton, Doc Cheatham, Phil Bodner, Bill Watrous, Butch Miles and Warren Vache . Special guest: Buddy Tate.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 117 - Dynamic Duos
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, April 16th, 1987 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 Gene Bertoncini, Michael Moore, Chuck Green, Ralph Brown, Dave McKenna, and Daryl Sherman. Special guest: Mel Lewis.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 118 - BeBop Spoken Here
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, May 21st, 1987 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 James Moody, Red Rodney, Garry Dial, Jimmy Knepper, Sheila Jordan and Marvin Smith. Special guest: Bob Cranshaw and Bill Saxton.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 119 - Rags, Stomps, and Stride
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, October 1st, 1987 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 Harlem Blues and Jazz Band, Doc Cheatham, Judy Carmichael, Jan Rosemond, Howard Johnson and Terry Waldo. Special guest: Don Coates, Chris Flory, and Michael Hashim.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 120 - Birdland Revisited
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, November 5th, 1987 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 Bobby Taylor, Victor Gaskin, Bobby Thomas, Candido, Jackie Paris, Roy Haynes, Dave Kikoski and Donald Harrison. Special guest: Slide Hampton.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 121 - Jazz Singers/Songwriters
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, December 10th, 1987 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 Oscar Brown Jr., Oscar Brown III, and Dave Frishberg. Special guests: Bob Dorough and Bill Takas.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 122 - Stars of Swing
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, January 14th, 1988 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 Bucky Pizzarelli, Sol Yaged, Marty Napoleon, Panama Francis, Jack Lesberg, Joey Cavaseno and Sammy Benskin. Special guest: Mike Mann.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 123 - 15th Anniversary Concert
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, February 11th, 1988 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 Tito Puente, Phil Woods, Jon Faddis, Tony Monte, Bob Mover, John Pizzarelli Jr., James Williams and Kenny Washington. Special guests: Lew Soloff and Steve Gilmore.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 124 - Salute to Dick Hyman
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, March 10th, 1988 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, Doc Cheatham, Hank Jones, Milt Hinton, Buddy Tate, Mel Lewis, Phil Bodner and Roger Kellaway. Special guest: Urbie Green.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 125 - Satch and Fats Revisited
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, April 14th, 1988 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 Arvell Shaw, Jackie Williams, Johnny Letman, Benny Powell, Heywood Henry, Marty Grosz, Dick Meldonian, Ed Polcer, Joe Muranyi and Dan Barrett. Special guest: Chuck Folds.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 126 - Big Band Bash
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, May 12th, 1988 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 The McDonald’s Tri-State High School Jazz Ensemble, Steve Turre, and Buck Clayton’s Swing Band with Marty Napoleon, Murray Wall, Wes Landers, Howard Alden, Randy Sandke, Paul Cohen, Spanky Davis, and Loren Schoenberg. Special guest: Red Rodney.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 127 - A Concert for Al Cohn
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, September 22nd, 1988 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 Jon Faddis, Al Grey, Milt Hinton, Bobby Rosengarden, Lew Tabackin, Derek Smith and Joe Cohn. Special guests: Duffy Jackson, Phil Woods and RossTomkins.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 128 - Piano Playin’ Women
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, October 20th, 1988 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 Dorothy Donegan, Dave Jackson, Ray Mosca, Judy Carmichael, Mike Hashim and Chris Flory. Special guests: Mark Minkler and Earl Warren.
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Highlights in Jazz Concert 129 - Dynamic Duos
Jack Kleinsinger and Danny Gottlieb
Jack Kleinsinger presents Highlights in Jazz. The concert was held at NYU Loeb Student Center, Thursday, November 17th, 1988 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 Art Hodes, Doc Cheatham, Bucky Pizzarelli and John Pizzarelli. Special guests: Freddie Moore and Cathy Chamberlain.