Word: newton
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When John Harvard marched off to war in 1941, the Savoy Cafe in the 400's of Columbus Avenue was already established as THE jazz spot of Boston. Manager Stevens Edward Connolly did S.R.O. business with Sabby Lewis, Pete Brown, and Frank Newton alternating as bandstand headliners to the accompaniment of a bar policy that hit the ceiling at six bits. In fact, the joint became so congested with characters that in early '43, moving day was declared to larger quarter on Mass. Ave., just across the bridge from Symphony...
...present featured attraction at the Savoy is a brand new eight piece outfit fronted by ex-G.I. tenorman Jackie Fields. Jackie will be remembered by the ancients for his work with Newton's old band, which also featured Vic Dickenson and Arthur Herbert. The group is still rough and the style is more jump than jazz, but nevertheless Fields' musical product is far more pleasing than the senile, sterile harmonics of nearly every other night club band in this bailiwick of the Irish and Beacon Hill Puritans...
This underground bistro has since become the Ken Club, where such bands as those of Red Allen, Bill Davison, Gene Sedric, and Frankie Newton played in the period from Pearl Harbor until early '44, after which a new entertainment policy featuring a juke box was adopted...
...blues have been replaced by a nickle serenade, and jazz no longer reigns at the Ken, nee Theatrical, Club. Next week this column will discuss the Savoy Cafe (before and after), and we're happy to say that there is an after at the Savoy with Frankie Newton opening there this coming Monday. Incidentally, the above mentioned PeeWee Russell will also soon be back in Boston: Sunday afternoon at the Jazz Society's concert in the Copley Terrace, 30 Huntington Avenue...
JOSEPH L. SHOLKIN Dartmouth '35 Newton Highlands, Mass...