Zardi's Jazzland Explained

Zardi's (also Zardi's Jazzland) was a venue for jazz music in Los Angeles, from the beginning of the 1950s to 1957.

Zardi's was located on Hollywood Boulevard in the Hollywood and Vine district.^[1] Well-known musicians such as Bob Brookmeyer,^[2] Stan Getz,^[3] Jimmy Giuffre,^[2] Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum,^[1] and Cal Tjader, whose concert at Zardi's was discussed in the 1956 Down Beat, played there at the beginning of the 1950s.^[4] Regular guests included, among others, the young composer La Monte Young.^[5] In the course of its existence concerts at Zardi's were recorded by Oscar Peterson, Sarah Vaughan, Earl Bostic, and Buddy DeFranco.^[6] Herb Geller dedicated his composition Tardi for Zardi's, based on the chord progressions of All God's Children Got Rhythm, to the club.^[7] In early 1956, there was a live weekly television series entitled Tonight at Zardi's, which began with a concert by the Stan Kenton Orchestra.^[8] In the mid-1950s several jazz clubs in Los Angeles, including The Haig^[9] and the Tiffany Club,^[10] opened near Zardi's.

Discography

• Oscar Peterson: At Zardi's, Pablo Records 1955 (1986 ed.)
• Ella at Zardi's, Universal Music, Verve Records, December 1, 2017

Literature

• Ted Gioia: West Coast Jazz: Modern Jazz in California, 1945–1960. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992.

Notes and References

1. Book: Bryant. Clora. Central Avenue sounds : jazz in Los Angeles. 1999. Univ. of California Press. Berkeley, Calif. [u.a.]. 9780520220980. 243.
2. Book: Williams. Martin. Jazz changes. 1992. Oxford University Press. New York. 978-0195058475. 85. [Online-Ausg.].. registration.
3. Book: Jack. Gordon. Fifties jazz talk : an oral retrospective. 2004. Scarecrow Press. Lanham, Md. [u.a.]. 9780810849976. 42.
4. Book: Ramsey. S. Duncan Reid ; foreword by Doug. Cal Tjader : the life and recordings of the man who revolutionized Latin jazz. 2013. McFarland. Jefferson, NC [u.a.]. 978-0786435357. 64.
5. Book: Grimshaw. Jeremy. Draw a straight line and follow it : the music and mysticism of La Monte Young. 2011. Oxford University Press. New York. 978-0199740208. 23.
6. Tom Lord: The Jazz Discography (accessed online, October 8, 2014.
7. Book: Harrison. Max. Nicholson. Stuart. Thacker. Eric. Essential jazz records.. 1999. Mansell. London. 9780720118223. 91. 1. publ..
8. Billboard, February 11, 1956.
9. Billboard, in its issue dated 19 August 1957, noted the closing of the club.
10. Book: Gavin. James. Deep in a Dream: The Long Night of Chet Baker. July 2011. Chicago Review Press. 9781569769034. 130. en.