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Finding Aid for the Bill Green Jazz Collection, 1950-1996
196
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Title: Bill Green Jazz Collection,
Date (inclusive): 1950-1996
Collection number: 196
Creator: Bill Green
Extent: 130 boxes (65 linear ft.)
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Performing Arts Special Collections
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Abstract: This collection documents the musical legacy of the saxophone player Bill Green.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF.
Advance notice is required for access to the collection.
Please contact the UCLA Performing Arts Special Collections for paging information.
Language:
English.
Copyright has not been assigned to the Performing Arts Special Collections. All requests
for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in
writing to Performing Arts Special Collections Librarian. Permission for
publication is given on behalf of Performing Arts Special Collections as the owner of the
physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the
copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained.
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Advance notice required for access.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Virginia Green; gift; 1997.
[Identification of item],
Bill Green Jazz Collection, 196, Performing Arts Special Collections, University of California, Los Angeles.
William Green (b. February 28, 1925; d. July 29,
1996), was a musician who was an integral part of
the
Los Angeles Central Avenue jazz scene, playing
local clubs (Marty's; House of Rhythm; benefits at
Lincoln Theater) working as an active studio
musician (commercial recordings, television shows)
and
private and class teacher of woodwinds and
ensembles. He performed on saxophone, clarinet,
flute, oboe and taught other woodwinds as well.
William Green was born in Kansas City, Kansas. He
began to play alto saxophone in the 1930s, using
his father's
instrument. He performed with the local WPA Big
Band until he was 15, where he met Louis Witworth,
who was
his musical mentor. The members chipped in to buy
him his first clarinet. After serving in the army,
he moved to
Los Angeles in 1945-46 on the G.I Bill, and there
joined other jazz musicians in the then-vital
Central Avenue jazz
scene, where he met and worked with local jazz
artists such as Buddy Colette. He also attended
the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music and Arts as
a student (1947-1952) and then as a teacher
(1952-1962). He studied and
then subbed for Mitchell Lurie, recorded with
artists such as Gerald Wilson, Louie Bellson,
Benny Carter. He
accompanied popular artists such as Tony Bennett,
Nat "King" Cole, Frank Sinatra, Dionne Warwick,
Nancy
Wilson. Other artists that he accompanied include
Gil Fuller, Ella Fitzgerald, Gene Ammons, Sonny
Rollins, Lionel
Hampton, Woody Herman. He taught at institutions
such as the Los Angeles Conservatory, California
State
University, and University of Southern California.
In addition, he taught solfege, music theory, and
jazz
musicianship to Los Angeles youth at the
Candelabra Hall prior to his performances at the
adjacent Marty's jazz
club at 58th and Broadway.
Jazz, classical and popular recordings,
videotapes, method books, fake books,
transcriptions, scores and
parts, photographs, correspondence, written and
printed ephemera. The materials in this collection
provide
insight into jazz pedagogy and tools for
professional as well as student training for
studio, jazz, and overall
musicianship.
Arranged in the following series:
- General music: theory, harmony, composition, arranging
- Jazz theory, harmony, composition, arranging, improvisational aids
- Materials for classical flute
- Materials for jazz flute
- Materials for classical clarinet
- Materials for jazz
- Materials for classical saxophone
- Materials for jazz saxophone
- Pedagogical material for other instruments
- Concert materials for programs
- Transcriptions of solos
- Lead sheets
- Unpublished and published fake books
- Books of Chord Charts
- Scores and parts for ensembles
- Printed ephemera
- Sound recordings
- Video recordings
- Photographs
Musical materials in collection originally
organized by Green in 2 series: "G" for General
(Western European
classical) and "J" for Jazz music materials.
Original series organization was as follows: G
"General Instruction"
G-1 Theory; G-2 Harmony; G-3 Composition; G-4
Arranging; for G-5 Flute instrumental methods,
studies, etudes
G-6 Clarinet; G-7 Saxophone; G-8 Other; G-9 Flute
solos, duets, trios; G-10 Clarinet; G-11
Saxophone; G-12
Other instruments; G-13 Misc. Useful Information.
J "Jazz instruction" J-1 Theory; J-1 Theory; J-2
Harmony;
J-3 Composition; J-4 Arranging (Arrangements); J-5
Flute instrumental instruction; J-6 Clarinet; J-7
Saxophone;
J-8 Other instruments; Lead Sheets - Fake Books
[no letter designation]; J-9 Concert (C
instruments); J-10 Bb
Instruments; J-11 Eb Instruments; J-12 Bass Clef;
Transcribed Jazz Solos and other improvisational
aids [no
letter designation]; J-13 All Instruments.
The series order devised for this collection
followed the basic logic of this former
organizational system, and
the original location of each item and its
designation is included in the details field.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Green, William Ernest,
1925-1996--Archives.
Composers California Los
Angeles Archival resources
Jazz
musicians California Los Angeles Archival
Resources
Music
Instruction and study
Jazz
Instruction and study
Flute
Studies and exercises
Flute
Studies and exercises (Jazz)
Clarinet Studies and
exercises
Clarinet Studies and
exercises (Jazz)
Saxophone Studies and
exercises
Saxophone Studies and
exercises (Jazz)