George Hoffman hadn’t been to the Village Vanguard since Lyndon Johnson was president. He was there to see Thelonious Monk and wound up sitting at a table right next to then local celebrity Lew Alcindor.
As has been the case every Monday night since the mid-60s, it was the house band tonight. This was at one time known as the Mel Lewis and Thad Jones Big Band, but since their demises it is now just known as the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Either way, they are outstanding.
It truly is amazing how many bald white men were listening to this music Monday night.
This ain’t make-it-up-as-you-go free jazz. Dig these charts.
Hoffmans senior and junior were shocked and amazed at the great music they heard.
