Greetings

[Steve Alcott]

The time for most of this is the past, although I'll be in Lubbock next week. Weston's, Condon's, and most of the places I worked regularly are long gone.

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Steve Alcott

The time for most of this is the past, although I'll be in Lubbock next week. Weston's, Condon's, and most of the places I worked regularly are long gone.

There's a place called Condon? No wonder they changed it!

[Steve Alcott]

Eddie Condon's (named after the guitarist and raconteur) and Jimmy Ryan's were the last two remaining clubs from the 52nd St. era of jazz in NYC. They both featured "Chicago Style" bands; trumpet, clarinet, trombone, piano, bass, drums playing standards and Dixieland tunes. Roy Eldridge led the band at Ryan's until he was forced by health problems to stop playing; Spanky Davis took over and led the band til the club closed. The band at Condon's was led by Ed Polcer; both bands drew from the same group of compatible players, although the Ryan's band was more set, personnelwise. My time at Condon's and occasionally Ryan's was like a post graduate course taught by players who originated the style.