Skip to content

1954: The Nassau Jazz Band

Introduction

Introduction

Princetoniana Museum use only.

Image: "Triangle, Jazz Will Pace Nov. 5 Prince-Tiger Ball," The Daily Princetonian, October 21, 1954, and "Nassau Jazz Band Plays At Jimmy Ryan's Sunday," The Daily Princetonian, December 15, 1954.

The Nassau Jazz Band was active from 1954-1956. They focused on Dixieland standards and less well known Jelly Roll Morton numbers. The band was organized and led by Dennis Brady '56.


Players

Players

Princetoniana Museum use only.

1954-1955: Dennis Brady '56 - Clarinet & Band Leader, Ed Polcer '58 - Cornet, John D'Arms '56 - Piano, Dale Read '55 - Bass Sax, Hugh Beach '55 - Drums, Tom Artin (Princeton High School) - Trombone.

1955-1956 & Demo LP: Dave Van Tosh - Bass, Bill Beyea - Clarinet, Ed Polcer '58 - Cornet & Band Leader, Walt Lawrence - Drums, John Ruvane '57 - Piano, Tom Artin '60 - Trombone.


Recordings

Princetoniana Museum use only.

The recording featured here is "Ain't Misbehavin'."

The Nassau Jazz Band recorded a demo LP in 1956 at the Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack. Cornetist Ed Polcer has the original and only vinyl copy. A digital CD version was created for family and friends of the band in the mid 2000's.

In regards to the demo LP, "We had just returned from a summer touring Europe with the band. I led the band. I believe that we played as a part of the all-day jazz extravaganza in Carnegie Hall. Jazz bands from at least six colleges played at the event which occurred on the Saturday of Thanksgiving Weekend. We felt so proud of the band that we decided to record it. Rudy Van Gelder had state-of-the-art recording equipment in his Hackensack, NJ studio. He recorded scores of famous jazz artists in this, his original, studio. All the sides were recorded in one take, with no dubbing." - Ed Polcer 09-25-2016

Track List 1 After You've Gone 2 Memphis Blues 3 Royal Garden Blues 4 Oh Lady Be Good 5 Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me 6 Ain't Misbehavin' 7 Apex Blues 8 Jeepers Creepers (Outro)