Jazz Legend Howard Rumsey Celebrates his 93rd Birthday!
This was a wonderful party honoring West Coast Jazz Legend Howard Rumsey’s 93rd Birthday at Dottie and Ken Reiner’s beautiful home in Long Beach…Howard basically created the famous “Jazz at The Lighthouse” jam sessions at the famous club of that name in Hermosa Beach, California, in the early 1950s…he also was the leader on many great recordings by “The Lighthouse All-Stars”, that featured some of the finest West Coast Jazz musicians like Art Pepper, Bud Shank, Bob Cooper, Gerry Mulligan, Conte Candoli, Shorty Rogers, Chet Baker, Bill Perkins, Jack Sheldon, Frank Rosolino, Shelly Manne, etc…
So many great musicians turned out to help celebrate Howard’s special day…I was invited to sit in for a few tunes by Llew Matthews, who was leading the jam session ( Llew is a busy composer, arranger, and recording artist…he also is Nancy Wilson’s music director, and a fantastic jazz pianist as well)…Luther Hughes on bass, the great Ralph Penland on drums, Bob Weller on sax, and vocalist Gene Cook are seen here (photo page) in some pics snapped by photographer Jennie Quimbita…an unforgettable day… I’m so glad I was able to be there!
