Phil Schaap
Encyclopedia
Phil Schaap is an American
jazz
disc jockey
, historian, archivist and producer. He hosts a daily morning radio program on 89.9 FM New York, WKCR
, the radio station of Columbia University
, his alma mater, in New York City
. The show, called Bird Flight, is broadcast from 8:20 am–9:30 am on weekdays and devoted to the music of Charlie Parker
. Bird Flight has been running since 1981. Schaap also hosts the weekly Traditions In Swing, on Saturday evenings from 6-9 pm, which likewise has been on the air for thirty-two years. He is a cousin of sports journalist Dick Schaap
.
Orchestra. His father was Walter Schaap, one of the first jazz historians and discographers. Phil's early career found him managing the Basie alumni band, The Countsmen (featuring alto saxophonist Earle Warren
and trombonist Dicky Wells
) and doing sound for various Jazz events including George Wein
's Newport Jazz Festival
. For 17 years Phil ran the Jazz at The West End jazz room on Broadway at 116th St in New York City, booking on a nightly basis such prominent swing-band alumni as Russell Procope
's Ellingtonia, The Countsmen, Franc Williams, George Kelly, Eddie Barefield, Sonny Greer
, Benny Waters, "Papa" Jo Jones
, Buddy Tate, Vic Dickenson
, Harold Ashby, Big Nick Nicholas, Ronnie Cole, Eddie Durham and "Doc" Cheatham, more modern jazzers such as Lee Konitz
and Joe Albany, and blues artists such as Percy France and Big Joe Turner
. Since February 2, 1970 Phil has broadcast Jazz on the radio (primarily on WKCR
). He's known for his marathon festivals on one artist, birthday broadcasts, and memorials.
label. Schaap has been involved with the re-release of many archival recordings on CD, releases of artists including Charlie Parker
, Miles Davis
, Billie Holiday
, Benny Goodman
, Louis Armstrong
, Machito
and the Afro-Cubans and Duke Ellington
. For his efforts in engineering, production, and liner notes, Schaap has won at least six Grammy awards, including three for producing, three for historical writing, and two for audio engineering.
Grammy Awards
. Schaap continues his academic teaching career at Princeton University
and The Juilliard School, while running an adult Jazz education program for Jazz at Lincoln Center
. Upon becoming Curator at Jazz at Lincoln Center he left a successful career producing, remastering, and writing for record companies such as Universal, Sony, and PolyGram.
, "Jazz ABZ: An A to Z Collection of Jazz Portraits." Schaap appears prominently in Ken Burns' PBS 2001 documentary "Jazz". He is the inspiration for Woody Allen's on-screen character in Allen's 1999 film "Sweet & Low Down."
The May 19, 2008 issue of The New Yorker
includes a nine-page article about Schaap written by David Remnick
. The article is a tribute to Schaap's unique, vast knowledge of jazz history and the unusual story of his life-long friendships with many of jazz's greatest players, beginning when he was six years old and Jo Jones
became his sometimes babysitter.
Phil Schaap is a distinguished member of the Board of Directors Advisory committee of The Jazz Foundation of America
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
, historian, archivist and producer. He hosts a daily morning radio program on 89.9 FM New York, WKCR
WKCR
WKCR-FM is a radio station. Licensed to New York, New York, USA, it serves the New York area. The station is currently owned by Trustees of Columbia University in New York.-History:...
, the radio station of Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, his alma mater, in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The show, called Bird Flight, is broadcast from 8:20 am–9:30 am on weekdays and devoted to the music of Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
Charles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
. Bird Flight has been running since 1981. Schaap also hosts the weekly Traditions In Swing, on Saturday evenings from 6-9 pm, which likewise has been on the air for thirty-two years. He is a cousin of sports journalist Dick Schaap
Dick Schaap
Richard Jay Schaap was an American sportswriter, broadcaster, and author.-Early life and education:...
.
Early years
Phil was raised by jazz-loving parents and the music's originators, particularly the members of the original Count BasieCount Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
Orchestra. His father was Walter Schaap, one of the first jazz historians and discographers. Phil's early career found him managing the Basie alumni band, The Countsmen (featuring alto saxophonist Earle Warren
Earle Warren
Earle Warren was an alto saxophonist and occasional singer with Count Basie.He was born in Springfield, Ohio....
and trombonist Dicky Wells
Dicky Wells
William Wells, , more famous under the name of Dicky Wells , was an American jazz trombonist....
) and doing sound for various Jazz events including George Wein
George Wein
George Wein is an American jazz promoter and producer who has been called "the most famous jazz impresario" and "the most important non-player... in jazz history"...
's Newport Jazz Festival
Newport Jazz Festival
The Newport Jazz Festival is a music festival held every summer in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. It was established in 1954 by socialite Elaine Lorillard, who, together with husband Louis Lorillard, financed the festival for many years. The couple hired jazz impresario George Wein to organize the...
. For 17 years Phil ran the Jazz at The West End jazz room on Broadway at 116th St in New York City, booking on a nightly basis such prominent swing-band alumni as Russell Procope
Russell Procope
Russell Procope , an American clarinettist and alto saxophonist, was known best for his long tenure in the reed section of Duke Ellington's orchestra, where he was one of its two signature clarinet soloists....
's Ellingtonia, The Countsmen, Franc Williams, George Kelly, Eddie Barefield, Sonny Greer
Sonny Greer
Sonny Greer was an American jazz drummer, best known for his work with Duke Ellington.Greer was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, and played with Elmer Snowden's band and the Howard Theatre's orchestra in Washington, D.C. before joining Duke Ellington, who he met in 1919...
, Benny Waters, "Papa" Jo Jones
Jo Jones
Jo Jones was an American jazz drummer.Known as Papa Jo Jones in his later years, he was sometimes confused with another influential jazz drummer, Philly Joe Jones...
, Buddy Tate, Vic Dickenson
Vic Dickenson
Vic Dickenson was an African-American jazz trombonist. Dickenson's career started out in the 1920s and led him through musical partnerships with such legends as Count Basie , Sidney Bechet and Earl Hines...
, Harold Ashby, Big Nick Nicholas, Ronnie Cole, Eddie Durham and "Doc" Cheatham, more modern jazzers such as Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz is an American jazz composer and alto saxophonist born in Chicago, Illinois.Generally considered one of the driving forces of Cool Jazz, Konitz has also performed successfully in bebop and avant-garde settings...
and Joe Albany, and blues artists such as Percy France and Big Joe Turner
Big Joe Turner
Big Joe Turner was an American blues shouter from Kansas City, Missouri. According to the songwriter Doc Pomus, "Rock and roll would have never happened without him." Although he came to his greatest fame in the 1950s with his pioneering rock and roll recordings, particularly "Shake, Rattle and...
. Since February 2, 1970 Phil has broadcast Jazz on the radio (primarily on WKCR
WKCR
WKCR-FM is a radio station. Licensed to New York, New York, USA, it serves the New York area. The station is currently owned by Trustees of Columbia University in New York.-History:...
). He's known for his marathon festivals on one artist, birthday broadcasts, and memorials.
Jazz Archivist and Record Producer
From 1984 to 1991, Schaap was the archivist for the Savoy JazzSavoy Records
Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part in popularizing bebop.Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part...
label. Schaap has been involved with the re-release of many archival recordings on CD, releases of artists including Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
Charles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
, Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
, Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
, Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
, Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
, Machito
Machito
Machito , born as Francisco Raúl Gutiérrez Grillo, was an influential Latin jazz musician who helped refine Afro-Cuban jazz and create both Cubop and salsa music...
and the Afro-Cubans and Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
. For his efforts in engineering, production, and liner notes, Schaap has won at least six Grammy awards, including three for producing, three for historical writing, and two for audio engineering.
Grammy Awards
- Best Historical Recording 2000 (producer & engineer) for Louis Armstrong: The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings
- Best Historical Recording 1996 (producer & engineer) for The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings performed by Miles Davis & Gil Evans
- Best Album Notes 1996 (album notes writer) for The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings performed by Miles Davis & Gil Evans
- Best Audio Engineering 1996 (engineer) for The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings performed by Miles Davis & Gil Evans
- Best Historical Recording 1993 (producer) for The Complete Billie Holiday on Verve 1945-1959
- Best Album Notes 1993 (album notes writer) for The Complete Billie Holiday on Verve 1945-1959
- Best Album Notes 1989 (album notes writer) for Bird - The Complete Charlie Parker On Verve
Educator
As an educator Phil has taught Jazz at the graduate level at Columbia University and Rutgers UniversityRutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
. Schaap continues his academic teaching career at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and The Juilliard School, while running an adult Jazz education program for Jazz at Lincoln Center
Jazz at Lincoln Center
Jazz at Lincoln Center is part of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. JALC's performing arts complex, Frederick P. Rose Hall, is located at West 60th Street and Broadway in New York City, slightly south of the main Lincoln Center campus and directly adjacent to Columbus Circle. Frederick P....
. Upon becoming Curator at Jazz at Lincoln Center he left a successful career producing, remastering, and writing for record companies such as Universal, Sony, and PolyGram.
Criticism
Schaap is often criticized, not least among musicians, as being pedantic, long-winded and didactic in his on-air style. Particularly in regard to the music of Charlie Parker, he is characterized as spending more time giving his personal analysis of music rather than playing music.Miscellaneous
In 1997 he married schoolteacher Ellen LaFurn. Schaap also contributed to a book by Wynton MarsalisWynton Marsalis
Wynton Learson Marsalis is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader, music educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences...
, "Jazz ABZ: An A to Z Collection of Jazz Portraits." Schaap appears prominently in Ken Burns' PBS 2001 documentary "Jazz". He is the inspiration for Woody Allen's on-screen character in Allen's 1999 film "Sweet & Low Down."
The May 19, 2008 issue of The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
includes a nine-page article about Schaap written by David Remnick
David Remnick
David Remnick is an American journalist, writer, and magazine editor. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1994 for his book Lenin's Tomb: The Last Days of the Soviet Empire. Remnick has been editor of The New Yorker magazine since 1998. He was named "Editor of the Year" by Advertising Age in 2000...
. The article is a tribute to Schaap's unique, vast knowledge of jazz history and the unusual story of his life-long friendships with many of jazz's greatest players, beginning when he was six years old and Jo Jones
Jo Jones
Jo Jones was an American jazz drummer.Known as Papa Jo Jones in his later years, he was sometimes confused with another influential jazz drummer, Philly Joe Jones...
became his sometimes babysitter.
Phil Schaap is a distinguished member of the Board of Directors Advisory committee of The Jazz Foundation of America
Jazz Foundation of America
The Jazz Foundation of America is a non-profit organization based in Manhattan, New York founded in 1989. The JFA’s programs help jazz and blues musicians in need of emergency funds and connect them with performance opportunities in schools and the community...
.
External links
- WKCR
- Interview with Phil Schaap, on the history of jazz programming on WKCR
- Count Basie Centennial page on Phil Schaap
- Phil Schaap Jazz The new home of Schaap Shop jazz memorabilia and Schaap radio archives
- "In A Life of Jazz - a Jarring Note" New York Times