Guide to the Johnny Wittwer Papers, 1959
Processed by UCSC OAC Unit.
The University Library
Special Collections and Archives
University Library
University of California, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California, 95064
Email: specoll@library.ucsc.edu
URL: http://library.ucsc.edu/speccoll/
© 2003
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Note
Arts and Humanities--Music
Geographical (By Place)--California--Bay Area
Guide to the Johnny Wittwer Papers, 1959
Collection number: MS 177
The University Library
Special Collections and Archives
University of California, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California
Contact Information:
- Special Collections and Archives
- University Library
- University of California, Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz, California, 95064
- Email: specoll@library.ucsc.edu
- URL: http://library.ucsc.edu/speccoll/
- Processed by:
- UCSC OAC Unit
- Date Completed:
- June 2003
- Encoded by:
- UCSC OAC Unit
© 2003 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Johnny Wittwer papers,
Date (inclusive): 1959
Collection number: MS 177
Creator:
Wittwer, Johnny
Extent:
1 half document box
Repository:
University of California, Santa Cruz. University Library.
Special Collections and Archives
Santa Cruz, California 95064
Abstract: Contains correspondence, performance guides and a photo documenting a Poetry and Jazz session performed by Kenneth Patchen
and 'New Bed of Roses Chamber Jazz Group' by jazz musician Johnny Wittwer.
Physical location: Stored in Special Collections & Archives: Advance notice is required for access to the papers.
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators
of the records and their heirs. For permission to publish or to reproduce the material, please contact the
Head of Special Collections and Archives.
Preferred Citation
Johnny Wittwer Papers. MS 177. Special Collections and Archives, University Library, University of California, Santa Cruz.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Larry Smith, February 1998.
Biography
Jazz pianist Johnny (John) Wittwer contributed to the music scene in the West Coast during 1940's-1960's. Not only an interpreter
of blues and ragtime tunes, he was an accomplished jazz performer sharing stage along side with such legends as jazz trombonist
Kid Ory and poet Kenneth Patchen. He assembled and recorded during 1940's under Johnny Wittwer Trio, consisting of Joe Darensbourg,
clarinet; Keith Purvis, drums, and Johnny Wittwer, piano.
Some Recordings:
-
Ace in the hole traditional. Two kinds of people : traditional.Hollywood, CA.: Jazz Man, recorded December 1945 (solo piano)
-
Aunt Hagar's blues. Hollywood, CA: Jazz Man. 1946, 1945 (Ragtime music)
-
Bill Bailey. Hollywood, CA: Jazz Man, 1949 (Played with Cannon, James Cannon, Hughie Cannon, Joseph Lamb.)
-
Joe's blues. Seattle, WA: Exner, 1950-1959 (Johnny Wittwer Trio)
-
Piano rags, stomps and blues. New York: Stinson Records, 1955, 1945
-
World famous Kid Ory-Johnny Wittwer Sessions. Hollywood, CA: Jazz Man, 1954, 1944 (Played with Kid Ory's Creole Band; Kid Ory trombone & leader; the Johnny Wittwer Trio:
Johnny Wittwer, piano; Joe Darensbourg, clarinet ; Keith Purvis, drums.) Recorded Sept. 26, 1944 & Feb. 12, 1945
Scope and Content of Collection
Contains correspondence, performance guides and a photo documenting a Poetry and Jazz session performed by Kenneth Patchen
and 'New Bed of Roses Chamber Jazz Group' by jazz musician Johnny Wittwer.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Wittwer, Johnny.
Jazz musicians.
Pianists.
Monologues with music.
Other Index Terms Related to this Collection
Patchen, Kenneth, 1911-1972. Kenneth Patchen archive
box 1
Correspondence
1959
Physical Description:
1 folder
Scope and Content Note
Contains two letters written to Johnny Wittwer written by Nesuhi Ertegun and Kenneth Patchen.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
box-folder 1:1
Kenneth Patchen to Wittwer reporting on session with Charles Mingus in New York, and noting other possible performances
Mar 26, 1959
box-folder 1:1
Nesuhi Ertegun of Atlantic Recording Corp. NY, with advice to Wittwer on performance with Patchen
Feb 24, 1959
box 1
Manuscripts
1959
Physical Description: 3 folders
Scope and Content Note
Contains performance guides and notes to a Poetry and Jazz session, performed by Kenneth Patchen and 'New Bed of Roses Chamber
Jazz Group' in Seattle, February 27-28, 1959.
box-folder 1:2
Performance guide (4 p.); cues, key changes, musical notations by Wittwer
Feb 27-28, 1959
box-folder 1:3
Set of note cards (5"x3", 9 p.); contains hand written notes by both Patchen and Wittwer
Feb 27-28, 1959
box-folder 1:4
Two oversized cardboard sheets
Feb 27-28, 1959
box 1
Photograph
1959
Physical Description: 1 folder
Scope and Content Note
One 5x7 black and white photograph.
box-folder 1:5
[Johnny Wittwer (on the left) with a friend holding a "Poetry & Jazz: Kenneth Patchen" poster with empty pockets in Seattle]
1959
