Overview
| Title: | Left Bank Jazz Society Inc. Collection |
| Call Number: | Coll312 |
| Creator: | Welsh, Vernon L., (1919-2002) |
| Dates: | 1953-1992 |
| Size: | 2 boxes (2.5 linear feet)) |
| Abstract: | The Left Bank Jazz Society was a Baltimore, Maryland- based organization formed in 1964, which hosted a series of concerts featuring nationally acclaimed performers such as Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie. This collection contains the Left Bank Jazz Society Constitution, news releases, concert programs and flyers, “The Baltimore Jazz Scene” yearbooks, artists files, and publicity photographs of performers between 1964 and the early 1990s. |
| Citation: | Left Bank Jazz Society Inc. Collection, Collection 312, Special Collections, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Baltimore, MD). |
Administrative/Biographical Note
Left Bank Jazz Society Inc. was founded by Vernon L. Welsh (10 February 1919- 8 August 2002) and Benny Kearse (16 MArch 1930- 29 June 1999) in 1964. Welsh recorded hundreds of jazz performances at the Famous Ballroom during the 1960s and 1970s. Kearse was president of the group, which sponsored 47 concerts per season at its peak. The Left Bank’s first gig was held at the Al- Ho Club, in the 2500 block of Frederick Ave., the year it was founded. The society established a long run at the Famous Ballroom in 1967.
Scope & Content
Arrangement
The Left Bank Jazz Society Inc. Collection is organized depending on the series and subseries. Series I subseries A and B are organized chronologically. Series I is organized alphabetically and Series I subseries C and Series II is alphabetically by last name. Series I: Society Files A: Administrative Files B: Artists’ Files C: Promotional Materials and Publications Series II: Photographs Series III: Scrapbook
Provenance Information
Provenance and Acquisition Information
Accessions MSS2020-07 and MSS2020-09.
Processing Note
The collection was initially in the care of Desiree Collins, who discovered the materials in the former home of Mr. Kearse. The materials were then transferred to Second Story Books Inc. The collection was initially housed in clear sleeves, loose papers, and three ringed binders. An additional accretion was transferred to the archive soon after and was consolidated with the collection. Items were separated by and rehoused into archival grade sleeves and folders.
Descriptive Rules Used
Describing Archives: a Content Standard (DACS)
Archives Processing Manual: Description (2015)
Access & Use
Finding Aids
Finding aid available.
Access Conditions
This collection is open for research. There are no restricted materials.
Conditions Governing Reproductions and Use
Permission is required for all reproduction requests. Copyright maintained by the creator.
Subject Headings
Creators
Welsh, Vernon L., (1919-2002)
Kearse, Benny, 1930-1999
Series Description & Container List
Series I: Society Files
This series contains the administrative records, publicity materials, and various files kept on many musical artists that performed as headliners for the Left Bank Jazz Society members.
Subseries I.A Adminitrative Records
| Folder Title/Description | Date | Box # | Folder # | Additional Info. |
| Articles of Incorporation of Left Bank Jazz Society, Inc. | February 23, 1965 | 1 | 1 | |
| DB Associates Letter to Benny Kearse | July 18, 1966 | 1 | 2 | |
| Left Bank Jazz Society News Release | July 20, 1971 | 1 | 3 | |
| Senate Resolution No. 163 | April 7, 1971 | 1 | 4 | |
| Left Bank Jazz Society Summer Education Program | July-August 1972 | 1 | 5 | |
| Left Bank Concert Accounting Sheets | January-May 1973 | 1 | 6 | |
| Left Bank Concert Planning Documents | 1976-1977 | 1 | 7 | |
| Left Bank Membership Calls and Constitution | undated | 1 | 8 | |
| Proclamation of “Left Bank Jazz Society Week” in Baltimore Draft | undated | 2 | 1 |
Subseries I.B Promotional Materials and Publications
| Folder Title/Description | Date | Box # | Folder # | Additional Info. |
| Left Bank Business Cards | undated | 1 | 9 | |
| Left Bank Concert Programs | 1964-1974 | 1 | 10 | |
| Left Bank Concert Tickets (various) | 1965-1976 | 1 | 11 | |
| Left Bank Jazz Society Presents The Studio Band of the United States Army Field Band Concert Tickets | 1970-1972 | 1 | 12 | |
| Left Bank Presents The Naval Jazz Ensemble Tickets | May 10, 1974 | 1 | 13 | |
| Left Bank Flyers | 1965-1967 | 1 | 14 | |
| Left Bank Flyers | 1970-1979 | 1 | 15 | |
| Left Bank Flyers | 1980-1988 | 1 | 16 | |
| Left Bank Flyers | 1990-1992 | 1 | 17 | |
| Left Bank Flyers | undated | 1 | 18 | |
| Left Bank Folded Flyer | January 1967 | 1 | 19 | |
| Left Bank Folded Flyer | March-July 1967 | 1 | 20 | |
| Left Bank Folded Flyer: Duke Ellington | February 21, 1971 | 1 | 21 | |
| The Baltimore Jazz Scene | 1968 | 1 | 22 | |
| The Baltimore Jazz Scene | 1970 | 1 | 23 | |
| The Baltimore Jazz Scene | 1971 | 1 | 24 | |
| The Baltimore Jazz Scene | 1972-1973 | 1 | 25 | |
| Oversized Posters and Bumper Stickers | 2 | 2 |
Subseries I.C Artists Files
| Folder Title/Description | Date | Box # | Folder # | Additional Info. |
| The Airmen of Note | 1971-1973 | 1 | 26 | |
| Toshiko Akiyoshi/ Lew Tabakin Big Band | 1976-1977 | 1 | 27 | |
| Joe Albany | 1980 | 1 | 28 | |
| Gato Barbieri | 1970-1972 | 1 | 29 | |
| Warren Chaisson | 1976-1982 | 1 | 30 | |
| Chris Connor | May 1905 | 1 | 31 | |
| Count Basie and His Orchestra with Jimmy Ricks | undated | 1 | 32 | |
| The Duke Ellington Orchestra | 1974, undated | 1 | 33 | |
| Don Ellis | 1961-1977 | 1 | 34 | |
| Marynard Ferguson | undated | 1 | 35 | |
| Woody Herman | 1968-1978 | 1 | 36 | |
| Bobby Hutcherson | 1975 | 1 | 37 | |
| The Creative World of Stan Kenton | undated | 1 | 38 | |
| Rahsaan Roland Kirk | 1968-1977 | 1 | 39 | |
| Azar Lawrence | 1975 | 1 | 40 | |
| Dave Liebman | 1973-1974 | 1 | 41 | |
| Barry Miles | 1969-1971 | 1 | 42 | |
| James Moody | 1979 | 1 | 43 | |
| Gerry Mulligan | undated | 1 | 44 | |
| New Orleans Heritage Hall Jazz Band | 1975 | 1 | 45 | |
| Oregon | 1973-1975 | 1 | 46 | |
| Buddy Rich | 1976 | 1 | 47 | |
| William Schmidt | 1953-1954 | 1 | 48 | |
| The United States Navy Band | undated | 1 | 49 | |
| Phil Woods | December 14, 1976 | 1 | 50 |
Series II: Photographs
This series contains various photographs of Left Bank Jazz Society performers.
| Folder Title/Description | Date | Box # | Folder # | Additional Info. |
| Julian “Cannonball” Adderley and Nat Adderley | undated | 1 | 51 | |
| The Dave Akins Trio | undated | 1 | 52 | |
| Lin Biviano | undated | 1 | 53 | |
| Beryl Booker Trio | undated | 1 | 54 | |
| The Brecker Brothers | undated | 1 | 55 | |
| Bob Brookmeyer | undated | 1 | 56 | |
| Lenny Bruce | undated | 1 | 57 | |
| Charles Byrd | undated | 1 | 58 | |
| Norman Connors | undated | 1 | 59 | |
| Willis Conover with Duke Ellington | undated | 1 | 60 | |
| The Crusaders | undated | 1 | 61 | |
| The World of Ted Curson | undated | 1 | 62 | |
| Raul Desouza | undated | 1 | 63 | |
| Charles Eckstein | undated | 1 | 64 | |
| Gil Evans and Tadd Dameron | undated | 1 | 65 | |
| Sonny Fortune | undated | 1 | 66 | |
| Funk Inc. | undated | 1 | 67 | |
| Erroll Garner | undated | 1 | 68 | |
| Luis Gasca | undated | 1 | 69 | |
| Dizzy Gillespie | undated | 1 | 70 | |
| Art Gore | undated | 1 | 71 | |
| Dick Griffin | undated | 1 | 72 | |
| Chico Hamilton | undated | 1 | 73 | |
| Johnny Hammond | undated | 1 | 74 | |
| Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra | undated | 1 | 75 | |
| Sir Roland Hanna | undated | 1 | 76 | |
| Al Henderson | undated | 1 | 77 | |
| Eddie Henderson | undated | 1 | 78 | |
| Freddie Hubbard | undated | 1 | 79 | |
| Stafford James | undated | 1 | 80 | |
| The Thad Jones- Mel Lewis Orchestra | undated | 1 | 81 | |
| Lee Konitz | undated | 1 | 82 | |
| Yusef Lateef | undated | 1 | 83 | |
| Ronnie Mathews | undated | 1 | 84 | |
| Mary Ann McCall | undated | 1 | 85 | |
| Jimmy McGriff | undated | 1 | 86 | |
| Carmen McRae | undated | 1 | 87 | |
| The Modern Jazz Quartet | undated | 1 | 88 | |
| Pleasure | undated | 1 | 89 | |
| Sonny Red | undated | 1 | 90 | |
| Max Roach | undated | 1 | 91 | |
| Charles Rous | undated | 1 | 92 | |
| Don Shirley | undated | 1 | 93 | |
| Jimmy Smith | undated | 1 | 94 | |
| Warren Smith | undated | 1 | 95 | |
| Sonny Stitt | undated | 1 | 96 | |
| Supersax | undated | 1 | 97 | |
| Buddy Terry | undated | 1 | 98 | |
| Clark Terry | undated | 1 | 99 | |
| McCoy Tyner | undated | 1 | 100 | |
| Dinah Washington, Jimmy Cobb, and Keter Bettes | undated | 1 | 101 | |
| The Cecil Youn Quartet | undated | 1 | 102 | |
| Art Blakey and Benny Kearse in the Famous Ballroom Office | undated | 2 | 3 |
Series III: Scrapbook
This series contains the Gingham Club Scrapbook, featuring the Les Colvin Band, which was a dedicated space for jazz performers.
| Folder Title/Description | Date | Box # | Folder # | Additional Info. |
| Gingham Club Scrapbook: Les Colvin Band | 1934 | 1 | 103 |