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Welcome to Venice West: Audio Recordings from the Lawrence Lipton Papers

185. Hughes, Lipton poetry reading, 1958-04-13; Lipton poetry reading, [s.d.]

Tape 185, side 1) Langston Hughes and Lawrence Lipton read their poetry at Lipton's home, Venice, California, 1958 April 13 (0:02), all with music (Bob Dorough, keyboard; Saul White, percussion): Langston Hughes reading his poetry: "Afro-American fragment" (0:36), "The negro speaks of rivers" (1:59), "Merry-go-round" (4:49), "Could be" (6.25), "Six-bits blues" (8:50); Lawrence Lipton reading his poetry: "What ever became of Sally Ann" (11:38), "The questioner" (21:09) with no music. ❧ Tape 185, side 2) Outdoor public program (0:02) of Lawrence Lipton poetry with music (Jimmy Alonze, percussion; Paul Friedan, flute and alto saxophone). Lawrence Lipton reading his poetry: "The word heard in the throat" (0:31), "The ultimate weapon" (2:36), "African mirage" (6:40), "Not on the velvet cushions" (12:40), introducing (but not reading) "Night song for the sleepless" (23:17). -- TIMES indicate where sections begin.

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1. 185. Hughes, Lipton poetry reading, 1958-04-13; Lipton poetry reading, [s.d.] Tape 185, side 1) Langston Hughes and Lawrence Lipton read their poetry at Lipton's home, Venice, California, 1958 April 13 (0:02), all with music (Bob Dorough, keyboard; Saul White, percussion): Langston Hughes reading his poetry: "Afro-American fragment" (0:36), "The negro speaks of rivers" (1:59), "Merry-go-round" (4:49), "Could be" (6.25), "Six-bits blues" (8:50); Lawrence Lipton reading his poetry: "What ever became of Sally Ann" (11:38), "The questioner" (21:09) with no music. ❧ Tape 185, side 2) Outdoor public program (0:02) of Lawrence Lipton poetry with music (Jimmy Alonze, percussion; Paul Friedan, flute and alto saxophone). Lawrence Lipton reading his poetry: "The word heard in the throat" (0:31), "The ultimate weapon" (2:36), "African mirage" (6:40), "Not on the velvet cushions" (12:40), introducing (but not reading) "Night song for the sleepless" (23:17). -- TIMES indicate where sections begin.
Contents of this annotation:
1. 185. Hughes, Lipton poetry reading, 1958-04-13; Lipton poetry reading, [s.d.] Tape 185, side 1) Langston Hughes and Lawrence Lipton read their poetry at Lipton's home, Venice, California, 1958 April 13 (0:02), all with music (Bob Dorough, keyboard; Saul White, percussion): Langston Hughes reading his poetry: "Afro-American fragment" (0:36), "The negro speaks of rivers" (1:59), "Merry-go-round" (4:49), "Could be" (6.25), "Six-bits blues" (8:50); Lawrence Lipton reading his poetry: "What ever became of Sally Ann" (11:38), "The questioner" (21:09) with no music. ❧ Tape 185, side 2) Outdoor public program (0:02) of Lawrence Lipton poetry with music (Jimmy Alonze, percussion; Paul Friedan, flute and alto saxophone). Lawrence Lipton reading his poetry: "The word heard in the throat" (0:31), "The ultimate weapon" (2:36), "African mirage" (6:40), "Not on the velvet cushions" (12:40), introducing (but not reading) "Night song for the sleepless" (23:17). -- TIMES indicate where sections begin.
Contents of this annotation:
1. 185. Hughes, Lipton poetry reading, 1958-04-13; Lipton poetry reading, [s.d.] Tape 185, side 1) Langston Hughes and Lawrence Lipton read their poetry at Lipton's home, Venice, California, 1958 April 13 (0:02), all with music (Bob Dorough, keyboard; Saul White, percussion): Langston Hughes reading his poetry: "Afro-American fragment" (0:36), "The negro speaks of rivers" (1:59), "Merry-go-round" (4:49), "Could be" (6.25), "Six-bits blues" (8:50); Lawrence Lipton reading his poetry: "What ever became of Sally Ann" (11:38), "The questioner" (21:09) with no music. ❧ Tape 185, side 2) Outdoor public program (0:02) of Lawrence Lipton poetry with music (Jimmy Alonze, percussion; Paul Friedan, flute and alto saxophone). Lawrence Lipton reading his poetry: "The word heard in the throat" (0:31), "The ultimate weapon" (2:36), "African mirage" (6:40), "Not on the velvet cushions" (12:40), introducing (but not reading) "Night song for the sleepless" (23:17). -- TIMES indicate where sections begin.
Contents of this annotation:
1. 185. Hughes, Lipton poetry reading, 1958-04-13; Lipton poetry reading, [s.d.] Tape 185, side 1) Langston Hughes and Lawrence Lipton read their poetry at Lipton's home, Venice, California, 1958 April 13 (0:02), all with music (Bob Dorough, keyboard; Saul White, percussion): Langston Hughes reading his poetry: "Afro-American fragment" (0:36), "The negro speaks of rivers" (1:59), "Merry-go-round" (4:49), "Could be" (6.25), "Six-bits blues" (8:50); Lawrence Lipton reading his poetry: "What ever became of Sally Ann" (11:38), "The questioner" (21:09) with no music. ❧ Tape 185, side 2) Outdoor public program (0:02) of Lawrence Lipton poetry with music (Jimmy Alonze, percussion; Paul Friedan, flute and alto saxophone). Lawrence Lipton reading his poetry: "The word heard in the throat" (0:31), "The ultimate weapon" (2:36), "African mirage" (6:40), "Not on the velvet cushions" (12:40), introducing (but not reading) "Night song for the sleepless" (23:17). -- TIMES indicate where sections begin.
Contents of this annotation:
1. 185. Hughes, Lipton poetry reading, 1958-04-13; Lipton poetry reading, [s.d.] Tape 185, side 1) Langston Hughes and Lawrence Lipton read their poetry at Lipton's home, Venice, California, 1958 April 13 (0:02), all with music (Bob Dorough, keyboard; Saul White, percussion): Langston Hughes reading his poetry: "Afro-American fragment" (0:36), "The negro speaks of rivers" (1:59), "Merry-go-round" (4:49), "Could be" (6.25), "Six-bits blues" (8:50); Lawrence Lipton reading his poetry: "What ever became of Sally Ann" (11:38), "The questioner" (21:09) with no music. ❧ Tape 185, side 2) Outdoor public program (0:02) of Lawrence Lipton poetry with music (Jimmy Alonze, percussion; Paul Friedan, flute and alto saxophone). Lawrence Lipton reading his poetry: "The word heard in the throat" (0:31), "The ultimate weapon" (2:36), "African mirage" (6:40), "Not on the velvet cushions" (12:40), introducing (but not reading) "Night song for the sleepless" (23:17). -- TIMES indicate where sections begin.
Contents of this annotation:
1. 185. Hughes, Lipton poetry reading, 1958-04-13; Lipton poetry reading, [s.d.] Tape 185, side 1) Langston Hughes and Lawrence Lipton read their poetry at Lipton's home, Venice, California, 1958 April 13 (0:02), all with music (Bob Dorough, keyboard; Saul White, percussion): Langston Hughes reading his poetry: "Afro-American fragment" (0:36), "The negro speaks of rivers" (1:59), "Merry-go-round" (4:49), "Could be" (6.25), "Six-bits blues" (8:50); Lawrence Lipton reading his poetry: "What ever became of Sally Ann" (11:38), "The questioner" (21:09) with no music. ❧ Tape 185, side 2) Outdoor public program (0:02) of Lawrence Lipton poetry with music (Jimmy Alonze, percussion; Paul Friedan, flute and alto saxophone). Lawrence Lipton reading his poetry: "The word heard in the throat" (0:31), "The ultimate weapon" (2:36), "African mirage" (6:40), "Not on the velvet cushions" (12:40), introducing (but not reading) "Night song for the sleepless" (23:17). -- TIMES indicate where sections begin.
Contents of this annotation:
1. 185. Hughes, Lipton poetry reading, 1958-04-13; Lipton poetry reading, [s.d.] Tape 185, side 1) Langston Hughes and Lawrence Lipton read their poetry at Lipton's home, Venice, California, 1958 April 13 (0:02), all with music (Bob Dorough, keyboard; Saul White, percussion): Langston Hughes reading his poetry: "Afro-American fragment" (0:36), "The negro speaks of rivers" (1:59), "Merry-go-round" (4:49), "Could be" (6.25), "Six-bits blues" (8:50); Lawrence Lipton reading his poetry: "What ever became of Sally Ann" (11:38), "The questioner" (21:09) with no music. ❧ Tape 185, side 2) Outdoor public program (0:02) of Lawrence Lipton poetry with music (Jimmy Alonze, percussion; Paul Friedan, flute and alto saxophone). Lawrence Lipton reading his poetry: "The word heard in the throat" (0:31), "The ultimate weapon" (2:36), "African mirage" (6:40), "Not on the velvet cushions" (12:40), introducing (but not reading) "Night song for the sleepless" (23:17). -- TIMES indicate where sections begin.
Contents of this annotation:
1. 185. Hughes, Lipton poetry reading, 1958-04-13; Lipton poetry reading, [s.d.] Tape 185, side 1) Langston Hughes and Lawrence Lipton read their poetry at Lipton's home, Venice, California, 1958 April 13 (0:02), all with music (Bob Dorough, keyboard; Saul White, percussion): Langston Hughes reading his poetry: "Afro-American fragment" (0:36), "The negro speaks of rivers" (1:59), "Merry-go-round" (4:49), "Could be" (6.25), "Six-bits blues" (8:50); Lawrence Lipton reading his poetry: "What ever became of Sally Ann" (11:38), "The questioner" (21:09) with no music. ❧ Tape 185, side 2) Outdoor public program (0:02) of Lawrence Lipton poetry with music (Jimmy Alonze, percussion; Paul Friedan, flute and alto saxophone). Lawrence Lipton reading his poetry: "The word heard in the throat" (0:31), "The ultimate weapon" (2:36), "African mirage" (6:40), "Not on the velvet cushions" (12:40), introducing (but not reading) "Night song for the sleepless" (23:17). -- TIMES indicate where sections begin.

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1. Tape 108: Stuart Z. Perkoff reading "Blues for Billy Holiday" (0:14) [...]
2. Tape 132, Side 2, Part B: Kenneth Rexroth speaking on books, 1955, KPFK radio re: Gary Snyder (poet), Phillip Whalen (poet), Lawrence Ferlinghetti (poet), Michael McClure (poet), American journalism debauching literature and poetry [...] Olivier, Laurence, 1907-1989, actor; Tandy, Jessica, 1909-1994, actress; Cronyn, Hume, 1911-2003, actor; Fulton, Jack, 1903-1993, composer; Steele, Lois, composer; King's Jesters, musical group; Posner, Paul M., 1930?-2007, speaker; Rexroth, Kenneth, 1905-1982, speaker; Snyder, Gary, 1930- , poet; Grass, Günter, 1927-2015, poet; Grass, Gunter, 1927-2015, poet; Enzensberger, Hans Magnus, 1929- , poet; Rothenberg, Jerome, 1931- , translator; Sinatra, Frank, 1915-1998
3. Tape 154, Side 1, Part 1: Collection of 16 television and radio news broadcasts regarding the LA Police Board of Commissioners hearing to determine whether the Gas House would be granted an entertainment license, 1959 August […] Tape 154, side 1, part 1) Collection of 16 television and radio news broadcasts regarding the Los Angeles Police Board of Commissioners hearing to determine whether the Gas House, 1501 Ocean Front, Venice, California, would be granted an entertainment license, 1959 August (0:21, 1:38, 3:44, 5:15, 11:33, 23:55, 28:55, 30:04, 32:07, 32:53, 33:33, 35:07, 35:52, 36:59, 37:42, 42:03). DETAILS: Microphone testing by Lawrence Lipton (0:02). ❧ News program (television or radio) (0:21): on hearing for license to operate the Gas House, Venice, West: mentions Al Matthews (landlord), Board of Police Commissioners, A.S. Roberts (president, Venice Civic Union), Eric Nord (beatnik), Mrs. Robert Swann[?] (witness), noise, immoral actions, A.L. Wirrin (attorney). ❧ News program (television or radio) (1:38) on hearing for entertainment permit to operate the Gas House: mentions beatnik art. ❧ News program, ABC television, 1959, with Clete Roberts, foreign correspondent, and Pat Michaels, local reporter (2:31, 2:52): on China invasion of India (3:01, 4:28), Dwight Eisenhower cold-war talks (3:09), labor reform bill (3:16), permit for the Gas House (3:44), weather (4:23), sports: Dodgers (5:07). Commercial: Mark C. Bloom tire distributor (2:38), Tom Harmon sports authority (2:48), Deborah Kerr on actress May Britt (3:27), John Daly and the news (4:35), ABC's High Road debut (4:49), Pepsi Cola (5:01). ❧ Lew Irwin Reports (television program), KABC Channel 7 Los Angeles, 1959 August 28 (5:15, 6:37): on the beat generation and Venice community distress over Gas House entertainment license (A.L. Wirrin, attorney; Lew Irwin interview of Lawrence Lipton; Michael Kelly, witness; Al Matthews; Eric Nord) (5:15, 11:33), delayed bus strike (Charles Thompson, judge) (7:17), Abraham Lincoln sculptor Dr. Emil Seletz and supervisor Kenneth Hahn (8:47), final rites for William V. O'Connor (attorney) at high mass service, Vibiana's Cathedral, Los Angeles (9:20), 231 U.S. citizens naturalized at Federal Building, Los Angeles (9:31), middleweight boxing match in San Francisco (9:54), baseball at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (10:07). Commercials: Papermate Holiday pens (5:27), Maxwell House instant coffee (6:51), Rex Marshall on Maxwell House instant coffee (7:41), Maxwell House instant coffee (10:27). Public service announcement: radar outposts (19:48). ❧ News program (Ed Fleming, reporter), [CBS KNX-TV?] (television): Russia refrains from testing nuclear weapons (19:55), Richard Dimbleby (BBC) reports on on British royal military event for visiting Dwight Eisenhower (president) mentioning Harold Macmillan (prime minister) and Nikita Khruschev (premier) (20:37), China invasion of India (22:10), transportation strike (23:18), USC coed Linda Martin funeral service (23:27), Chris Albert sued for divorce (23:40), Gas House entertainment license hearing (A.L. Wirrin, attorney; Robert Swann, apartment house manager; Mrs. Gerhart Custo[?], witness; Julie Meredith, folksinger) (23:55), weather (27:17). Commercials: John Harland on Chevrolet dealers (22:33), Tidewater Flying A 100+ gasoline (23:15, 26:15), Arpege perfume (27:39), telephone company (27:45). ❧ Annoucement for upcoming news (television or radio) (28:41). ❧ News (television or radio) (28:55): Gas House entertainment license hearing, Al Matthews (attorney), Thomas Mulherin (hearing examiner), K.A. South (policeman) (28:55); broadcasting officials endicted (29:41). ❧ News (television or radio) (29:50, 31:44): automobiles driving on front lawns. ❧ News (television or radio) (29:56): re Ignacy Paderewski (pianist) (29:56); Gas House entertainment license hearing, Igor Stravinsky (composer), Stan Laurel (actor), Ron Waller (football player), Eric Nord (beatnik), Al Matthews (landlord) (30:04), VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) and American Legion (31:44). Commercial: Maxwell House instant coffee (30:34). ❧ News (television or radio) (32:07): Gas House entertainment permit hearing, Al Matthews (landlord), A.L. Wirrin (attorney) (32:07, 32:53), FBI on crime (32:43), Ransom Calicott (councilman) and Edward Roybal (councilman) (32:48), Walter G. Williams, oldest living Civil War survivor (33:22, 34:46), baseball club (34:57). ❧ News (television or radio) (33:33): Gas House entertainment permit hearing, Al Matthews (attorney) (33:33), Jimmy McHugh (composer) honored, Lemoine Blanchard (councilman) (34:25). ❧ News (television or radio) (35:07): Gas House entertainment permit hearing, Lawrence Lipton (writer), A.L. Wirrin (attorney), Thomas Mulherin (judge) (35:07), shooting during robbery in Beverly Hills (35:41). ❧ News (television or radio) (35:52): Gas House entertainment permit hearing, A.L. Wirrin (attorney), Thomas Mulherin (judge), Lawrence Lipton (poet) (35:52). Commercial: George Barclay on Tidewater Flying A 100+ gasoline (36:49). ❧ News (television or radio) (36:59): beatniks, Lawrence Lipton (poet), A.L. Wirrin (attorney), Thomas Mulherin (judge) (36:59). Commercial: Maxwell House instant coffee (37:34). ❧ News (television or radio) (37:42): beatniks, Gas House hearing, Thomas Mulherin (judge), comments by A.L. Wirrin (attorney) and Willis O. Gooden (resident), Lawrence Lipton (poet) reading a poem "Upbeat, downbeat, offbeat" (poem 39:46) (news 37:42), baseball news (41:45). ❧ News (radio), KNX radio (41:54): monorail for mass transit (41:54), Gas House entertainment permit hearing, comments by Lawrence Lipton (witness) and Thomas Mulherin (judge) (42:03), weather (49:44). ❧ Tape 154, side 1, part 2 (0:02); side 2, part 3 (23:56) Lawrence Lipton and teenage? male (Hugh) and teenage? female (Blanche) discussion, re theft from corporations vs. from individuals, church attendance, Presbyterian, Catholic, upbringing and independence, living in night vs. day, watching television, talking and interacting with individuals vs. groups, marijuana, reading the newspaper, listening to television or radio news, Suez crisis, sporting events, parades, hunting or fishing, camping, having children, atomic anihilation and radiation, education, growing old, love. ❧ Tape 154, side 2, part 1) Unidentified male reading poetry: "Upon no time other than up and down time" (0:02, 0:26). ❧ Tape 154, side 2, part 2A) Lawrence Lipton reads his poetry: "In Africa" (0:43) with music. ❧ Tape 154, side 2, part 2B) Lipton reads his poetry: "Newscast for a disconnected microphone" (14:13). ❧ Tape 154, side 2, part 2C) Lipton reads his poetry: "I was a poet for the FBI" (18:08). -- TIMES indicate where sections begin. Barclay, George, speaker; Custo, Mrs. Gerhart, speaker; Dimbleby, Richard, 1913-1965, reporter; Fleming, Edward J. "Ed", 1918- , reporter; Gooden, Willis O., speaker; Harland, John, speaker; Irwin, Lew, reporter; Kerr, Deborah, 1921-2007, speaker; Lipton, Lawrence, 1898-1975, speaker; Marshall, Rex, 1919-1983, speaker; Meredith, Julie, speaker; Michaels, Pat, 1925-2010, reporter; Mulherin, Thomas, speaker; Roberts, Clete, 1912-1984, reporter; Swann, Robert, speaker; Wirrin, A.L. (Abraham Lincoln), speaker
4. Tape 158, Side 1, Part A: Lawrence Lipton introducing poems read at Venice West: "How to listen to a poem" (1:15) written and read by Lawrence Lipton […]
5. 185. Hughes, Lipton poetry reading, 1958-04-13; Lipton poetry reading, [s.d.] Tape 185, side 1) Langston Hughes and Lawrence Lipton read their poetry at Lipton's home, Venice, California, 1958 April 13 (0:02), all with music (Bob Dorough, keyboard; Saul White, percussion): Langston Hughes reading his poetry: "Afro-American fragment" (0:36), "The negro speaks of rivers" (1:59), "Merry-go-round" (4:49), "Could be" (6.25), "Six-bits blues" (8:50); Lawrence Lipton reading his poetry: "What ever became of Sally Ann" (11:38), "The questioner" (21:09) with no music. ❧ Tape 185, side 2) Outdoor public program (0:02) of Lawrence Lipton poetry with music (Jimmy Alonze, percussion; Paul Friedan, flute and alto saxophone). Lawrence Lipton reading his poetry: "The word heard in the throat" (0:31), "The ultimate weapon" (2:36), "African mirage" (6:40), "Not on the velvet cushions" (12:40), introducing (but not reading) "Night song for the sleepless" (23:17). -- TIMES indicate where sections begin.
6. 188. Buddy Collette; Poetry jazz session, 1957-07-31
7. Tape 396, Side 1, Part A: Kenneth Rexroth in a live performance, January 1957-1958, reading poetry (all with music) [...] Tape 396, side 1, part A1) Kenneth Rexroth in a live performance, 1957 [1958?] January, reading poetry (all with music) (0:14): Li Qingzhao's "Late spring" (Kenneth Rexroth, translator; Ron Croddy, double bass) (2:10), Ju Shu Chun's "Spring has come" (Kenneth Rexroth, translator; Ron Croddy, double bass) (5:46), Rexroth's "Sword in a cloud of light" (1999) (10:24), Rexroth's "This night only" (Erik Satie's Gymnopédie #1"; Claire Willy, piano) (16:55) , Francis Carco's "The shadow" (22:05), Rexroth's "Habeus corpus" (38:03). ❧ Tape 396, side 2, part A2) [playback speed is too fast] Kenneth Rexroth in a live performance, 1957 [1958?] January, reading poetry (all with music): unidentified poem (0:06), Carl Sandburg's "Mag" (1:20), Kenneth Rexroth's "Quiet lady" (7:34), Rafael Alberti's "Homecoming of love amongst illustrious ruins" from "Retornos de lo vivo lejano" (Kenneth Rexroth, translator) (10:34). ❧ Tape 386, side 2, part B) Tram Combs reading his poetry, 1959 (all with music): "A farewell for Elliott Thomas" (15:29), "On the necessity of new statement of myths and ideas alien to the times" (18:07), "In the mind's silences" (19:50), "Ballad for Americans in mid century, for Elizabeth Malone with five kids" (21:03), "No responsibilities and small thoughts" (22:45), "En la que tu de la noche en San Juan" (24:15), "Lust at night" (26:09), "April carnival, St. Thomas" (27:32), "Down fields of concrete" (30:09), "A going away gift" (31:04), "A pastorale in New Orleans" (32:44), "Middle class" (36:09), "A letter to Gil to remember a hermit" (38:09). -- TIMES indicate where sections begin. Alberti, Rafael, 1902-1999, poet; Carco, Francis, 1886-1958, poet; Combs, Elisha Trammell "Tram", Jr., 1924-2018, poet; Combs, Elisha Trammell "Tram", Jr., 1924-2018, speaker; Croddy, Ron, double bass; 李清照, 1084-ca. 1141, poet; Qingzhiao, Li, 1084-ca. 1141 writer; Rexroth, Kenneth, 1905-1982, poet; Rexroth, Kenneth, 1905-1982, speaker; Rexroth, Kenneth, 1905-1982, translator; Sandburg, Carl, 1878-1967, poet; Satie, Erik, 1866-1925, composer; Willy, Claire, piano
8. 397. Jazz canto, vol. 1, 1958 Tape 397, side 1, part A1) Jazz canto, vol. 1, 1958, transferred from the commercial 33⅓-rpm record (World Pacific Records PJ-1244). CONTENTS: Tape 397, side 1) "Poets to come" / Walt Whitman (John Carradine, reader; Jazz Canto Ensemble) (0:02) -- "Tract" / William Carlos Williams (Hoagy Carmichael, reader; Ralph Peña Quintet) (2:36) -- "In my craft or sullen art" / Dylan Thomas (Ben Wright, reader; Jazz Canto Ensemble; Fred Katz, composer) (7:16) -- "Night song for the sleepless" / Lawrence Lipton (John Carradine, reader; Chico Hamilton Quintet) (8:48) -- "Lament" / Dylan Thomas (Ben Wright, reader; Jazz Canto Ensemble; Jack Montrose, composer) (14:42). ❧ Tape 397, side 1, part A2) -- "Dog" / Lawrence Ferlinghetti (Bob Dorough, reader; Bob Dorough Quintet; Bob Dorough, composer) (0:06) -- "Young sycamore" / William Carlos Williams (Hoagy Carmichael, reader; Bob Hardaway, tenor saxophone; Bob Hardaway, composer) (4:04) -- Three songs ("Daybreak in Alabama" (4:50), "Night and morn" (9:04), "The dream keeper" (12:47)) / Langston Hughes (Bob Dorough, reader; Bob Dorough Quintet; Bob Dorough, composer) -- "Big high song for somebody" / Philip Whalen (Roy Glenn, reader; Gerry Mulligan Quartet; Gerry Mulligan, composer (Piano blues)) (17:19). ❧ PERFORMERS: Jazz Canto Ensemble (Jack Monrose, conductor; Fred Katz, violoncello and piano; Ralph Peña, double bass; Bob Hardaway, tenor saxophone and clarinet; Buddy Collette, tenor and clarinet; Lee Katzman, trumpet; Al Porcino, trumpet; Larry Bunker, drums and vibraphone; Tommy Tedesco, guitar; Paul Horn, alto saxophone and clarinet); Ralph Peña - Bob Dorough Quintet (Bob Dorough, piano; Ralph Peña, double bass; Billy Bean, guitar; Bob Hardaway, tenor saxophone; Larry Bunker, drums and vibraphone); Chico Hamilton Quintet (Chico Hamilton, drums; Buddy Collette, flute; Jim Hall, guitar; Fred Katz, violoncello; Carson Smith, double bass); Bob Hardaway, tenor saxophone; Gerry Mulligan Quartet (Gerry Mulligan, piano; Jon Eardley, trumpet; Red Mitchell, double bass; Chico Hamilton, drums). Bean, Billy, 1933-2012, guitar; Bob Dorough Quintet; Bunker, Larry, 1928-2005, drums; Bunker, Larry, 1928-2005, vibraphone; Carmichael, Hoagy, 1899-1981, speaker; Carradine, John, 1906-1988, speaker; Chico Hamilton Quintet; Collette, Buddy, 1921-2010, clarinet; Collette, Buddy, 1921-2010, flute; Collette, Buddy, 1921-2010, tenor saxophone; Dorough, Robert L., 1923-2018, composer; Dorough, Robert L., 1923-2018, piano; Dorough, Robert L., 1923-2018, speaker; Eardley, Jon, 1928-1991, trumpet; Ferlinghetti, Lawrence, 1919- , poet; Gerry Mulligan Quartet; Glenn, Roy, 1914-1971, speaker; Hall, James Stanley "Jim", 1930-2013, guitar; Hamilton, Chico, 1921-2013, drums; Hardaway, Robert Benson "Bob", 1928- , composer; Hardaway, Robert Benson "Bob", 1928- , clarinet; Hardaway, Robert Benson "Bob", 1928- , tenor saxophone; Horn, Paul, 1930-2014, clarinet; Horn, Paul, 1930-2014, alto saxophone; Hughes, Langston, 1902-1967, poet; Jazz Canto Ensemble; Katz, Fred, 1919-2013, composer; Katz, Fred, 1919-2013, piano; Katz, Fred, 1919-2013, violoncello; Katzman, Lee, 1928-2013, trumpet; Lipton, Lawrence, 1898-1975, poet; Mitchell, Keith Moore "Red", 1927-1992, double bass; Montrose, Jack, 1928-2006, conductor; Montrose, Jack, 1928-2006, composer; Mulligan, Gerry, 1927-1996, composer; Mulligan, Gerry, 1927-1996, piano; Peña, Ralph, 1927-1969, double bass; Pena, Ralph, 1927-1969, double bass; Porcino, Al, 1925-2013, trumpet; Ralph Peña - Bob Dorough Quintet; Ralph Pena - Bob Dorough Quintet; Ralph Peña Quartet; Ralph Pena Quartet; Smith, Carson, 1931-1997, double bass; Tedesco, Tommy, 1930-1997, guitar; Thomas, Dylan, 1914-1953, poet; Whalen, Philip, 1923-2002; Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892, poet; Williams, William Carlos, 1883-1963, poet; Wright, Ben, 1915-1989, speaker
9. Tape 434, Side 1: Venice history interview with Lawrence Lipton and Nellie Loeb, 1962 November 30 […]

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1. 185. Hughes, Lipton poetry reading, 1958-04-13; Lipton poetry reading, [s.d.] Tape 185, side 1) Langston Hughes and Lawrence Lipton read their poetry at Lipton's home, Venice, California, 1958 April 13 (0:02), all with music (Bob Dorough, keyboard; Saul White, percussion): Langston Hughes reading his poetry: "Afro-American fragment" (0:36), "The negro speaks of rivers" (1:59), "Merry-go-round" (4:49), "Could be" (6.25), "Six-bits blues" (8:50); Lawrence Lipton reading his poetry: "What ever became of Sally Ann" (11:38), "The questioner" (21:09) with no music. ❧ Tape 185, side 2) Outdoor public program (0:02) of Lawrence Lipton poetry with music (Jimmy Alonze, percussion; Paul Friedan, flute and alto saxophone). Lawrence Lipton reading his poetry: "The word heard in the throat" (0:31), "The ultimate weapon" (2:36), "African mirage" (6:40), "Not on the velvet cushions" (12:40), introducing (but not reading) "Night song for the sleepless" (23:17). -- TIMES indicate where sections begin.
2. Tape 188: Buddy Collette; Poetry jazz session, 1957 July 31
3. Tape 397: Jazz Canto, vol. 1, side 2, 1958
  Tape 397, side 2: \"Dog\" / Lawrence Ferlinghetti (Bob Dorough, reader; Bob Dorough Quintet; Bob Dorough, composer) (0:06) -- \"Young sycamore\" / William Carlos Williams (Hoagy Carmichael, reader; Bob Hardaway, tenor saxophone; Bob Hardaway, composer) (4:04) -- Three songs (\"Daybreak in Alabama\" (4:50), \"Night and morn\" (9:04), \"The dream keeper\" (12:47)) / Langston Hughes (Bob Dorough, reader; Bob Dorough Quintet; Bob Dorough, composer) -- \"Big high song for somebody\" / Philip Whalen (Roy Glenn, reader; Gerry Mulligan Quartet; Gerry Mulligan, composer (Piano blues)) (17:19). ❧ PERFORMERS: Jazz Canto Ensemble (Jack Monrose, conductor; Fred Katz, violoncello and piano; Ralph Peña, double bass; Bob Hardaway, tenor saxophone and clarinet; Buddy Collette, tenor and clarinet; Lee Katzman, trumpet; Al Porcino, trumpet; Larry Bunker, drums and vibraphone; Tommy Tedesco, guitar; Paul Horn, alto saxophone and clarinet); Ralph Peña - Bob Dorough Quintet (Bob Dorough, piano; Ralph Peña, double bass; Billy Bean, guitar; Bob Hardaway, tenor saxophone; Larry Bunker, drums and vibraphone); Chico Hamilton Quintet (Chico Hamilton, drums; Buddy Collette, flute; Jim Hall, guitar; Fred Katz, violoncello; Carson Smith, double bass); Bob Hardaway, tenor saxophone; Gerry Mulligan Quartet (Gerry Mulligan, piano; Jon Eardley, trumpet; Red Mitchell, double bass; Chico Hamilton, drums).
  Tape 397, side 2: "Dog" / Lawrence Ferlinghetti (Bob Dorough, reader; Bob Dorough Quintet; Bob Dorough, composer) (0:06) -- "Young sycamore" / William Carlos Williams (Hoagy Carmichael, reader; Bob…
  more
  Bean, Billy, 1933-2012, guitar; Bob Dorough Quintet; Bunker, Larry, 1928-2005, drums; Bunker, Larry, 1928-2005, vibraphone; Carmichael, Hoagy, 1899-1981, speaker; Carradine, John, 1906-1988, speaker; Chico Hamilton Quintet; Collette, Buddy, 1921-2010, clarinet; Collette, Buddy, 1921-2010, flute; Collette, Buddy, 1921-2010, tenor saxophone; Dorough, Robert L., 1923-2018, composer; Dorough, Robert L., 1923-2018, piano; Dorough, Robert L., 1923-2018, speaker; Eardley, Jon, 1928-1991, trumpet; Ferlinghetti, Lawrence, 1919- , poet; Gerry Mulligan Quartet; Glenn, Roy, 1914-1971, speaker; Hall, James Stanley "Jim", 1930-2013, guitar; Hamilton, Chico, 1921-2013, drums; Hardaway, Robert Benson "Bob", 1928- , composer; Hardaway, Robert Benson "Bob", 1928- , clarinet; Hardaway, Robert Benson "Bob", 1928- , tenor saxophone; Horn, Paul, 1930-2014, clarinet; Horn, Paul, 1930-2014, alto saxophone; Hughes, Langston, 1902-1967, poet; Jazz Canto Ensemble; Katz, Fred, 1919-2013, composer; Katz, Fred, 1919-2013, piano; Katz, Fred, 1919-2013, violoncello; Katzman, Lee, 1928-2013, trumpet; Lipton, Lawrence, 1898-1975, poet; Mitchell, Keith Moore "Red", 1927-1992, double bass; Montrose, Jack, 1928-2006, conductor; Montrose, Jack, 1928-2006, composer; Mulligan, Gerry, 1927-1996, composer; Mulligan, Gerry, 1927-1996, piano; Peña, Ralph, 1927-1969, double bass; Pena, Ralph, 1927-1969, double bass; Porcino, Al, 1925-2013, trumpet; Ralph Peña - Bob Dorough Quintet; Ralph Pena - Bob Dorough Quintet; Ralph Peña Quartet; Ralph Pena Quartet; Smith, Carson, 1931-1997, double bass; Tedesco, Tommy, 1930-1997, guitar; Thomas, Dylan, 1914-1953, poet; Whalen, Philip, 1923-2002; Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892, poet; Williams, William Carlos, 1883-1963, poet; Wright, Ben, 1915-1989, speaker
4. Tape 397: Jazz Canto, vol. 1, side 1, 1958
  Tape 397, side 1: Jazz canto, vol. 1, 1958, transferred from the commercial 33⅓-rpm record (World Pacific Records PJ-1244). CONTENTS: Tape 397, side 1) \"Poets to come\" / Walt Whitman (John Carradine, reader; Jazz Canto Ensemble) (0:02) -- \"Tract\" / William Carlos Williams (Hoagy Carmichael, reader; Ralph Peña Quintet) (2:36) -- \"In my craft or sullen art\" / Dylan Thomas (Ben Wright, reader; Jazz Canto Ensemble; Fred Katz, composer) (7:16) -- \"Night song for the sleepless\" / Lawrence Lipton (John Carradine, reader; Chico Hamilton Quintet) (8:48) -- \"Lament\" / Dylan Thomas (Ben Wright, reader; Jazz Canto Ensemble; Jack Montrose, composer) (14:42).
  Tape 397, side 1: Jazz canto, vol. 1, 1958, transferred from the commercial 33⅓-rpm record (World Pacific Records PJ-1244). CONTENTS: Tape 397, side 1) "Poets to come" / Walt Whitman (John Carradine,…
  more
  Bean, Billy, 1933-2012, guitar; Bob Dorough Quintet; Bunker, Larry, 1928-2005, drums; Bunker, Larry, 1928-2005, vibraphone; Carmichael, Hoagy, 1899-1981, speaker; Carradine, John, 1906-1988, speaker; Chico Hamilton Quintet; Collette, Buddy, 1921-2010, clarinet; Collette, Buddy, 1921-2010, flute; Collette, Buddy, 1921-2010, tenor saxophone; Dorough, Robert L., 1923-2018, composer; Dorough, Robert L., 1923-2018, piano; Dorough, Robert L., 1923-2018, speaker; Eardley, Jon, 1928-1991, trumpet; Ferlinghetti, Lawrence, 1919- , poet; Gerry Mulligan Quartet; Glenn, Roy, 1914-1971, speaker; Hall, James Stanley "Jim", 1930-2013, guitar; Hamilton, Chico, 1921-2013, drums; Hardaway, Robert Benson "Bob", 1928- , composer; Hardaway, Robert Benson "Bob", 1928- , clarinet; Hardaway, Robert Benson "Bob", 1928- , tenor saxophone; Horn, Paul, 1930-2014, clarinet; Horn, Paul, 1930-2014, alto saxophone; Hughes, Langston, 1902-1967, poet; Jazz Canto Ensemble; Katz, Fred, 1919-2013, composer; Katz, Fred, 1919-2013, piano; Katz, Fred, 1919-2013, violoncello; Katzman, Lee, 1928-2013, trumpet; Lipton, Lawrence, 1898-1975, poet; Mitchell, Keith Moore "Red", 1927-1992, double bass; Montrose, Jack, 1928-2006, conductor; Montrose, Jack, 1928-2006, composer; Mulligan, Gerry, 1927-1996, composer; Mulligan, Gerry, 1927-1996, piano; Peña, Ralph, 1927-1969, double bass; Pena, Ralph, 1927-1969, double bass; Porcino, Al, 1925-2013, trumpet; Ralph Peña - Bob Dorough Quintet; Ralph Pena - Bob Dorough Quintet; Ralph Peña Quartet; Ralph Pena Quartet; Smith, Carson, 1931-1997, double bass; Tedesco, Tommy, 1930-1997, guitar; Thomas, Dylan, 1914-1953, poet; Whalen, Philip, 1923-2002; Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892, poet; Williams, William Carlos, 1883-1963, poet; Wright, Ben, 1915-1989, speaker

This page is referenced by:

Audio Collection Below is a collection of all audio clips included in this exhibit.

To view and access timestamps for each clip, click on "Annotations" below each audio player. To collapse the annotations for a clip, click on "Description."

To see where, in this exhibit, a given audio clip appears, click on "Citations."
Introduction
Lawrence Lipton, the Beat Generation in Venice West, and the Lawrence Lipton papers at USC.
Lipton and the Beat Generation Poets
Lipton’s interviews with or about Beat poets, featuring Stuart Perkoff, Kenneth Rexroth, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and others.

Lipton and Venice
The Venice West Picture Essay, the Gas House, and the history of Venice.

Lipton and Jazz
Jazz Canto, Langston Hughes, and Lipton’s recordings of poetry jazz sessions.
Lipton and Jazz
Poetry and jazz—or Jazz Canto, as I prefer to call it—will not be a viable art form until it solves its problems and becomes a part of the standard repertoire of public performance. Nor should it be limited to jazz music. In Jazz Canto several types of music are employed besides jazz. Whatever music is suitable to the poem is the right music. When poets learn more about music and musicians learn more about poetry it will be easier to make progress with this new idiom. To this end I have been laying the foundations for a Jazz Canto Workshop where poets will be required to learn how to read music, play at least one instrument, and take voice lessons in order to learn how to use the voice box for the public rendition of their poetry.[1]
The poets and musicians of Venice West dedicated considerable efforts toward combining poetry and jazz. In The Holy Barbarians, Lipton grouped these efforts as "part of the growing revival of the oral tradition and, in poetry, a part of the bardic tradition."[2] In 1958, a year before The Holy Barbarians was published, Lipton and jazz photographer William Claxton co-produced an LP record: Jazz Canto: Vol. I, An Anthology of Poetry and Jazz, published by World Pacific Records.

Each track on Jazz Canto is jointly authored by (i) the poet who wrote the poem, (ii) the "interpreter" who reads the poem aloud, and (iii) the musicians who compose and perform the accompanying jazz melodies using various instruments. The source material featured on the record comes from poets Walt Whitman, Dylan Thomas, William Carlos Williams, Langston Hughes, Lawrence Lipton, Philip Whalen, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. The interpreters reading the poems are John Carradine, Hoagy Carmichael, Ben Wright, Roy Glenn, and Bob Dorough. Finally, the composers of Jazz Canto include Gerry Mulligan, Chico Hamilton, Fred Katz, and Jack Montrose.

Listen to the full Jazz Canto album, transferred from the commercial 33⅓-rpm record, at the USC Digital Library (also below with the track lists as they appear on Lipton's tapes).

The Beats of Venice West did not invent jazz poetry. Langston Hughes was writing, performing, and publishing jazz poetry in the 1920s during the Harlem Renaissance. Moreover, Hughes was working from preceding influences of "dialect poetry" by earlier poets, such as Paul Laurence Dunbar's late 19th century works built on Black speech rhythms of the rural South.[3]

Tape 185 of Lipton's collection records Langston Hughes and Lawrence Lipton reading their poetry with "pure jazz improvisation" in Lipton's Venice home in 1958. Tape 185 also features Bob Dorough and Saul White playing keyboard and percussion to the spoken words of Lipton and Hughes.

A few of Lipton’s tapes are labeled "Poetry jazz session" with further details listing musicians, places, and dates. Tape 188 includes a 1957 session with Buddy Collette. Other jazz musicians featured on Lipton's tapes include Dave Brubeck, Jimmy Alonze, Shelly Manne, Ralph Peña, Lee Katzman, Larry Bunker, and Tommy Tedesco.