Stanley Dance
Encyclopedia
Stanley Dance was a jazz
writer and oral historian of the swing era.
He began writing about the jazz scene for the French
magazine Jazz Hot in 1935. In 1937, he visited New York City
's jazz scene for three weeks with Helen Oakley
, whom he married in 1946, and resided in England
until moving to Connecticut
in 1959. He wrote for Jazz Journal from 1948 until his death in 1999. In the 1950s he coined the term mainstream to describe those in between revivalist and modern, or alternatively between Dixieland
and bebop
. He is credited with helping to revive the career of pianist Earl Hines
in 1964.
He also contributed liner notes
for numerous musicians including Duke Ellington
and Count Basie
. In 1964 he was co-winner of the first Grammy Award for Best Album Notes
. He was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1999, the year of his death, and posthumously received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jazz Journalist Association.
His distaste for bebop, and most innovations in jazz after it, made him controversial. That said, he is admired for having been a champion of what he did like, as well as a significant collator of oral history in several books containing the recollections of swing era musicians.
Emerging from the popularity of Dixieland and preceding the post-World War II domination of Bebop, there was the Swing Era, a fertile period that many enthusiasts claim to be the pinnacle of Jazz. Stanley Dance, was a jazz critic and historian that certainly advocated this position. His close kinship with the great musicians of the 20th century led to insightful oral histories, published in Jazz Journal International, JazzTimes, Down Beat, the bilingual Jazz Hot, and many others. Often traveling with the bands, he recorded the musicians’ words, letting them speak for themselves. Although most closely associated with Duke Ellington and his talented orchestra (he delivered the eulogy at Duke Ellington's funeral), Stanley Dance endorsed all jazz music and musicians that swung.
In 1959, the inseparable team of Stanley and Helen Oakley Dance had moved with their four young children from Stanley's home in Braintree, Essex in England to the New York City suburb of Rowayton, CT, leaving his conventional career and beloved natural family behind. For the next 40 years, he followed his heart, dedicating himself to his extended family; the music and musicians he loved. He fulfilled diverse roles such as serving as an Artist & Repertoire (A&R) coordinator at recording sessions; managing Earl Hines’ career from its resurgence in 1964 which he helped orchestrate; writing Grammy award winning album liner notes, compiling Duke Ellington’s autobiography "Music is my Mistress" (sadly out of print at this time), and writing eight books.
Mr. Dance wrote the liner notes for the Decca
release "Early Ella: Great Ballads by Ella Fitzgerald
.
It was in the late 1960s that Stanley Dance was awarded a book contract with Charles Scribner’s Sons. "The World of Duke Ellington" was published in 1970 to critical acclaim. In 1974, the first book in his trilogy of "The World of Swing" was issued under the same name. Columbia Records complemented its release with a double album containing his personal selections. He continued his series with "The World of Earl Hines" in 1977 and "The World of Count Basie" in 1980. Except for "The World of Earl Hines", these hallmark texts, documenting the experiences and insights of these great band leaders and their sidemen in their own words, are still available in paperback editions through Da Capo Press.
On February 23, 1999, at the age of 88, briefly after retiring as book editor at Jazz Times, Stanley Dance passed on to his reward, completing his stalwart dedication to jazz through more than seven decades of his life. His interment was located in Mission San Luis Rey Cemetery, predeceasing his wife, Helen Oakley Dance.
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...
writer and oral historian of the swing era.
He began writing about the jazz scene for the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
magazine Jazz Hot in 1935. In 1937, he visited 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...
's jazz scene for three weeks with Helen Oakley
Helen Oakley Dance
Helen Margaret Oakley Dance, née Oakley was a jazz journalist, producer, historian, and musician. She is perhaps best known for production and for her biography of T-Bone Walker...
, whom he married in 1946, and resided in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
until moving to Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
in 1959. He wrote for Jazz Journal from 1948 until his death in 1999. In the 1950s he coined the term mainstream to describe those in between revivalist and modern, or alternatively between Dixieland
Dixieland
Dixieland music, sometimes referred to as Hot jazz, Early Jazz or New Orleans jazz, is a style of jazz music which developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century, and was spread to Chicago and New York City by New Orleans bands in the 1910s.Well-known jazz standard songs from the...
and bebop
Bebop
Bebop differed drastically from the straightforward compositions of the swing era, and was instead characterized by fast tempos, asymmetrical phrasing, intricate melodies, and rhythm sections that expanded on their role as tempo-keepers...
. He is credited with helping to revive the career of pianist Earl Hines
Earl Hines
Earl Kenneth Hines, universally known as Earl "Fatha" Hines, was an American jazz pianist. Hines was one of the most influential figures in the development of modern jazz piano and, according to one source, is "one of a small number of pianists whose playing shaped the history of jazz".-Early...
in 1964.
He also contributed liner notes
Liner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
for numerous musicians including Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
and Count Basie
Count Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
. In 1964 he was co-winner of the first Grammy Award for Best Album Notes
Grammy Award for Best Album Notes
The Grammy Award for Best Album Notes has been presented since 1964. From 1973 to 1976, a separate award was presented for Best Album Notes - Classical. Those awards are listed under those years below. The award recognizes albums with excellent liner notes...
. He was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1999, the year of his death, and posthumously received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jazz Journalist Association.
His distaste for bebop, and most innovations in jazz after it, made him controversial. That said, he is admired for having been a champion of what he did like, as well as a significant collator of oral history in several books containing the recollections of swing era musicians.
Emerging from the popularity of Dixieland and preceding the post-World War II domination of Bebop, there was the Swing Era, a fertile period that many enthusiasts claim to be the pinnacle of Jazz. Stanley Dance, was a jazz critic and historian that certainly advocated this position. His close kinship with the great musicians of the 20th century led to insightful oral histories, published in Jazz Journal International, JazzTimes, Down Beat, the bilingual Jazz Hot, and many others. Often traveling with the bands, he recorded the musicians’ words, letting them speak for themselves. Although most closely associated with Duke Ellington and his talented orchestra (he delivered the eulogy at Duke Ellington's funeral), Stanley Dance endorsed all jazz music and musicians that swung.
In 1959, the inseparable team of Stanley and Helen Oakley Dance had moved with their four young children from Stanley's home in Braintree, Essex in England to the New York City suburb of Rowayton, CT, leaving his conventional career and beloved natural family behind. For the next 40 years, he followed his heart, dedicating himself to his extended family; the music and musicians he loved. He fulfilled diverse roles such as serving as an Artist & Repertoire (A&R) coordinator at recording sessions; managing Earl Hines’ career from its resurgence in 1964 which he helped orchestrate; writing Grammy award winning album liner notes, compiling Duke Ellington’s autobiography "Music is my Mistress" (sadly out of print at this time), and writing eight books.
Mr. Dance wrote the liner notes for the Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
release "Early Ella: Great Ballads by Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
.
It was in the late 1960s that Stanley Dance was awarded a book contract with Charles Scribner’s Sons. "The World of Duke Ellington" was published in 1970 to critical acclaim. In 1974, the first book in his trilogy of "The World of Swing" was issued under the same name. Columbia Records complemented its release with a double album containing his personal selections. He continued his series with "The World of Earl Hines" in 1977 and "The World of Count Basie" in 1980. Except for "The World of Earl Hines", these hallmark texts, documenting the experiences and insights of these great band leaders and their sidemen in their own words, are still available in paperback editions through Da Capo Press.
On February 23, 1999, at the age of 88, briefly after retiring as book editor at Jazz Times, Stanley Dance passed on to his reward, completing his stalwart dedication to jazz through more than seven decades of his life. His interment was located in Mission San Luis Rey Cemetery, predeceasing his wife, Helen Oakley Dance.
Partial bibliography
- Jazz Era the Forties (The Roots of jazz) (Da Capo Press, 1961) ISBN 0-306-76191-2
- The World of Count Basie (Da Capo Press, 1985) ISBN 0-306-80245-7
- The World of Duke Ellington (Da Capo Press) ISBN 0-306-81015-8
- The World of Earl Hines with Earl Hines (Da Capo Paperback, March 1983) ISBN 0-306-80182-5
- The World of Swing: An Oral History of Big Band Jazz with introduction by Dan Morgenstern (Da Capo Press; Diane Publishing Company re-edition 2003) ISBN 0-7567-6672-9
External links
- Scott Yanow, Allmusic
- Jazz House article
- The Dance Archives at Yale University Music Library papers and documents from Stanley Dance and Helen Oakley Dance