Phil Elwood - R.I.P.

[BFrank]

PHIL ELWOOD: 1926-2006
Beloved Bay Area jazz and blues critic
- Joel Selvin, Chronicle Senior Pop Music Critic
Wednesday, January 11, 2006


Phil Elwood, one of the best friends jazz and blues ever had, died Tuesday of heart failure, only four weeks after the death of his beloved wife, Audrey. He was 79.

As a critic for half a century, Elwood pursued a lifelong love affair with the music that began in the living room of the Berkeley home of Depression-era photographer Dorthea Lange, when he first heard a record by Louis Armstrong as a high school student.

"I wish I could go back and stand in that living room again," he said two years ago. "I'd remember exactly how it felt."

Elwood covered jazz, rock, blues and comedy, the entire panorama of nightlife, for the San Francisco Examiner beginning in 1965. He continued his career at The Chronicle after the two papers merged in 2000 and retired in 2002. He was an endless fount of jazz lore, an unflagging enthusiast of the music and a world-class raconteur blessed with an extraordinary memory.

He was also one of the first people to broadcast jazz on the FM dial. His weekly radio program, "Jazz Archive," began in 1952, when very few people even owned FM radios. His show continued on Berkeley's KPFA until 1996. "Talk about old school," said rock musician Huey Lewis, "he was a music lover. Imagine that. He actually loved the music. They don't make 'em like that anymore."

"Phil was the quintessential jazz critic,'' said jazz great Jon Hendricks, who lived in the Bay Area for many years and rubbed shoulders with Elwood at clubs and festivals around the country and the world. "Most jazz critics love the music, but Phil knew the music as well as loved it. He and Ralph Gleason hung in the clubs, hung with the cats. They were part of the scene just like the musicians. Phil loved it all, from Bunk Johnson to Louis to Bird, up through Coltrane and into the avant-garde. He was the complete critic.''

George Shearing, the great jazz pianist who knew Elwood for half a century, said: "We lost a very capable and musically savvy writer in Phil Elwood. He knew his craft and he knew his music. But beyond that, he was my friend, whose wit, loyalty and kindness knew no bounds.''

"Phil was an awfully good man," said rock musician Boz Scaggs. "It was always nice running into him at shows, mostly jazz and blues for us. I could always count on him for the historical perspective and some funny stories."

Elwood was born March 19, 1926, and raised in Berkeley, where his father was an agriculture professor at the University of California. He first saw Count Basie in 1939 from the balcony of Sweet's Ballroom in Oakland while he was still attending Berkeley High School. He used to ride his bicycle around to Oakland thrift stores and spend his paper route money buying old jazz 78s by King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton and others. Those discs were the beginnings of a legendary jazz record collection, which he stored in a serpentine basement in his North Berkeley home.

He also had an entirely separate career teaching American history to high school and college students throughout the East Bay, rising early to go to class after meeting post-midnight Examiner deadlines covering some nightclub show or rock concert. He also taught a famous history of jazz class at Laney College in Oakland that, over the years, was attended by many aspiring musicians and critics.

"I remember him coming into his Monday night jazz history class at Laney College in the mid-'70s," said Chronicle jazz writer Jesse Hamlin, "with a funky old record player and a old briefcase stuffed with scratchy albums, most without their jackets. He'd just start riffing and reminiscing and playing records, never referring to notes, for 90 minutes at a stretch. That music was in his veins."

"Phil was always there," said jazz vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, "He was the person on the scene. He didn't call somebody to ask what happened; he was right there to watch and hear for himself. Everything he wrote was his own personal experience. Even if he didn't write about it, he'd be there. He liked a lot of different musicians, and he was very proud to be part of the music world and proud of the people around him, and he made you feel proud to be part of it. It didn't matter whether he gave you a good review or a bad review, what mattered was Phil was there."

Over the course of his distinguished career, Elwood covered anything that moved on stage. In his 2002 farewell column for The Chronicle, he noted the breadth of acts he covered in just his first weeks on the job. "I reviewed Stan Kenton one night and Lena Horne the next," Elwood wrote. "I heard Charlie Byrd at El Matador, and Tom Lehrer at the hungry i; also Art Blakey, Chico Hamilton, Denny Zeitlin. Kay Starr, the Mills Brothers, Cannonball Adderley, Joe Bushkin and bassist Vernon Alley, and Duke Ellington at Basin Street West. My first seven weeks (21 reviews or features in print) ended Aug. 31 with a Beatles show at the Cow Palace that afternoon and Judy Garland at the Circle Star Theater in San Carlos that night."

One of his most famous reviews came when he caught an unknown opening act at a long defunct San Francisco nightclub called the Matrix and gave the young Bruce Springsteen -- appearing with his rock group Steel Mill -- his first major review.

After his retirement from The Chronicle, Elwood continued to write a column for the Web site Jazz West. In 2002, he received the Beacon Award from the San Francisco Jazz Festival and was the subject of a tribute concert, underwritten by See's Candies.

He is survived by his sons, Peter and Josh, both of Berkeley, and Benjamin of St. Paul, Minn.; his daughter Lis of Sierra City; and six grandchildren. No services are planned.

Chronicle staff writer Jesse Hamlin contributed to this report.

[Paul B]

I remember reading Elwood's reveiws all the time when I lived in the Bay Area. One of the best, along with--as the reviewer notes--Ralph Gleason. These guys were old school, and that school isn't much in session any more. RIP Phil.

Bye-ya

[Peterdubya]

Phil was a great guy with a vast knowledge of the history of the music.
He still came to shows a lot at Yoshi's, he was at both Charlie Hunter and Charlie HAden in December, which gives you and idea of his broad musical tastes.

Phil's articles were always well written and informative.

He was one of the last of a rare breed of jazz writer.

[Mike Schwartz]

RIP...glad that I caught part of his Bay Area work on a regular basis since moving out here.

[BFrank]

I sat next to him at a Sam Rivers Trio show at Bruno's in the Mission district a few years ago. Very friendly and talkative.

[kedoane]

I was honored to have read his work.

RIP to a great writer.

[GoodSpeak]

I only read his stuff a few times after the Chron/Examiner merger, but enjoyed what I saw.


Sorry to see him go.

[BFrank]

Nice obit on the JazzWest site:
http://www.jazzwest.com/


Probably his last column:
http://www.jazzwest.com/articles/elw...od_102805.html

[Lois Gilbert]

A nicer guy couldn't be found. I emailed my condolences to him less than 2 weeks when I heard his wife passed. He emailed me back thanking me. I then heard from the family last night. I can't tell you how sad I am to know this. I never read his writing or heard his radio show, but just adored him as a person I saw once a year at the Jazz Journalists Awards

God Bless You Phil - one of the great guys

[Lois Gilbert]

Jazz and blues critic Phil Elwood dies at 79


Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO - Phil Elwood, a revered blues and jazz critic who introduced many Californians to the blues in the early days of FM radio and wrote about musicians including Charlie Byrd and Duke Ellington, has died. He was 79.

Elwood died from heart failure Tuesday, said his daughter, Lis Scott of Sierra City. Elwood retired in 2002 after a nearly four-decade career at the San Francisco Examiner and the San Francisco Chronicle.

"Phil was the quintessential jazz critic," said performer Jon Hendricks, who met Elwood at clubs and festivals. "Most jazz critics love the music, but Phil knew the music as well as loved it."

Elwood also wrote about rock, blues and comedy for the Examiner, where he began his career in 1965. He continued his career at the Chronicle when the papers merged in 2000.

Elwood's weekly radio program, "Jazz Archive," began in 1952, when few owned FM radios. His show continued on Berkeley's KPFA until 1996.

"Talk about old school," musician Huey Lewis said. "He was a music lover. Imagine that. He actually loved the music. They don't make 'em like that anymore."

Elwood was born March 19, 1926, and raised in Berkeley. He first saw Count Basie in 1939 from a ballroom balcony in Oakland, which sparked his lifelong interest in jazz.

"It (music) was everything to him," Scott said. "He would go to all the jazz clubs. He just loved the music."

Elwood also taught American history to high school and college students.

[Scott Yanow]

He was definitely a hero of mine.

[Ron Thorne]

Sadly, mostly due to geography, I wasn't hip to Phil until reading this thread.

What a loss to those of us who truly care about this art form, as he (obviously) did.

R.I.P. Phil Elwood~

[Peterdubya]

Hello Friends,

We've all been hurt by the loss of our dear friend Phil Elwood. Please join us at Yoshi's for a special memorial and tribute on March 18, 2006, Phil's 80th birthday would have been the 19th. Please also forward this message to anyone who would like to pay their respects.
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PHIL ELWOOD: REMEMBERING A LIFE IN MUSIC
SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 1:00-3:30pm
Doors Open at 12:00 Noon
Free & Open to All

Masters of Ceremonies: Greg Bridges, Bud Spangler & Chuy Varela

Mike Lipskin, Solo Piano
Richard Hadlock & Friends Trad Jazz
Mel Martin & the Phil Elwood Tribute Band featuring vocalist Kim Nalley, trumpeter Allen Smith, pianist Dave Mathews, bassist Robb Fischer, percussionist John Santos, and drummer Eddie Marshall
Others To Be Announced

Phil Elwood, the leading jazz critic in the San Francisco Bay Area for nearly half a century, died Tuesday, January 10, 2006 of heart failure at age 79. Yoshi's presents an afternoon of music to pay tribute and honor this life-long friend of jazz and irreplaceable treasure for the Bay Area music community.
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[BFrank]

SF Chronicle
- LEAH GARCHIK
Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Because Phil Elwood, jazz critic for the Examiner and then The Chronicle, would have been 80 on Sunday, it will be Elwood weekend around here. At 1 p.m. Saturday, Yoshi's in Jack London Square is hosting a free tribute show of jazz artists, including Mike Lipskin, Kim Nalley, John Santos and Richard Hadlock.

KPFA, where Elwood began doing a jazz show in 1952, has proclaimed Sunday all his. The Yoshi's show will be broadcast, as well as classic Elwood shows and interviews, and (live) a Sunday night free musical celebration at the Great American Music Hall.

This 8 p.m. show will include jazz, rock, blues, folk and more, "the full breadth of Elwood's catholic taste,'' says Joel Selvin, who with Jesse Hamlin has organized it. An altar made by Rebecca Nichols Bivona will include some of Elwood's personal effects, including a letter from (pre-kidnap) Patty Hearst thanking him for getting her tickets to a Monkees concert.

[Peterdubya]

Phil Elwood Memorial @ Yoshi's - Sat. March 18 - 1:00-3:30pm

Schedule:

1:00 - Welcome by Chuy Varela & Josh Elwood

1:10 - Denise Perrier (duo w/ pianist)

1:20 - Speakers reflecting on Phil

1:30 - Michele Rosewoman (solo piano)

1:40 - More reflections on Phil.

1:55 - Richard Hadlock & Friends*
Richard Hadlock (clarinet), Mike Greensill (piano), Leon Oakley (cornet), Bob Mielke (trombone), Hal Stein (sax), Dean Reilly (bass), Benny Barth (drums) Kim Nalley (voc).

2:20 - Final reflections: Orrin Keepnews - Chris Strachowitz - Herb Wong

2:35 - Mike Lipskin (solo piano)

2:45 - Dedication of Yoshi's table 47 to Phil

2:50 - Mel Martin & The Phil Elwood Tribute Band
Mel Martin (tenor sax), Allen Smith (trpt), Harvey Wainapel (alto sax), Kim Nalley (voc), Dave Mathews (pno), Robb Fisher (bass), John Santos (perc) and Eddie Marshall (drums).

[Lois Gilbert]

I want to salute Yoshi's for hosting a special memorial concert to honor the life and work of Phil Elwood. It's a great show of respect for a man who helped the club in so many ways over the years.

Elwood, best known for his time with the San Francisco Examiner, was the leading jazz critic in the Bay Area for more years than I've been on the planet. He died Jan. 10 of heart failure at the age of 79. He would have celebrated his 80th birthday on Sunday.

I will always think of Elwood as the Dean of Jazz Critics, the distinguished looking man who always sat at table 47 at Yoshi's. In my early days as a jazz scribe, he would sometimes — not always — help me with a song title or two. I appreciated when he helped me out. In retrospect, I now appreciate
the times when he didn't, for it forced me to learn more about jazz and basic reporting skills.

These days, I find it hard to sit at table 47 — now the designated critics' spot — and not think about Elwood. I sometimes wonder what he would think about the show I'm reviewing. Then, as Elwood would've done, I get back to trying to figure out what song is being played.


The concert, at 1 p.m. Saturday, features a cast of great players, including vocalist Kim Nalley and percussionist John Santos.

Admission is free — which is exactly how a music critic would have wanted it. Call (510) 238-9200 or visit http://www.yoshis.com.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/bayarealiving/ci_3612009