New York Conservatory of Modern Music

The New York Conservatory of Modern Music was a music school in New York City, founded soon after World War II[a] by principal Alfred Francis Sculco,[b] a professional trumpeter from Westerly, Rhode Island who attended the Juilliard School, and played with the big bands of Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, and Harry James.[5][8]

Located at 552 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn,[1] it is notable for the alumni who went on to become working jazz musicians,[c] including Jimmy Cheatham,[10] Wally Cirillo,[11] Seldon Powell,[12] and George Tucker.[13] Jazz record producer Don Schlitten is also a former student.[14][15]

In addition to Sculco (affectionately known as "Squeak" by the students)[16] and others, Tony Aless,[2][12] Billy Bauer,[2][17] Jim Chapin,[18][19] and Don Lamond[2] were all instructors at the college.

Notes

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  1. ^ Adverts for the conservatory may be found in the music press from 1947,[1] 1948,[2] 1949,[3] and 1950.[4]
  2. ^ Sculco's full middle name can be verified through a combination of his newspaper obituary,[5] army draft card,[6] and social security details.[7]
  3. ^ In the immediate postwar period, the school was possibly the only institution in the United States teaching big band jazz.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b "New York Conservatory of Modern Music [Advert]". International Musician. Vol. 46, no. 3. Newark, NJ: American Federation of Musicians. September 1947. p. 19. ISSN 0020-8051. Retrieved January 15, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ a b c d "New York Conservatory of Modern Music: For the Serious Minded Musician [Advert]". Down Beat. Vol. 15, no. 12. Chicago: Down Beat, Inc. June 16, 1948. p. 13. ISSN 0012-5768. Retrieved January 15, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ "Achievement in Music Education [Advert]". Down Beat. Vol. 16, no. 14. Chicago: Down Beat, Inc. July 29, 1949. p. 18. ISSN 0012-5768. Retrieved January 15, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  4. ^ "New York Conservatory of Modern Music: Thorough Professional Training in All Phases of Music [Advert]". Down Beat. Vol. 17, no. 16. Chicago: Down Beat, Inc. August 11, 1950. p. 13. ISSN 0012-5768. Retrieved January 15, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ^ a b "Obituaries (Westerly)". The Providence Journal. Providence, RI. August 23, 2001. p. C7. ISSN 2574-3406.
  6. ^ "Alfred Francis Sculco in Records of the Selective Service System 147, Box 146, WWII Draft Registration Cards for Rhode Island, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947". Ancestry. St. Louis, MO: National Archives at St. Louis. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  7. ^ "Alfred F Sculco, 20 Aug 2001 U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File". FamilySearch. Alexandria, VA: National Technical Information Service. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  8. ^ Burns-Fusaro, Nancy (October 2, 2021). "Giving the Gift of Music: Class of 1970 Creates Westerly High Music Hall of Fame". The Westerly Sun. Westerly, RI: The Sun Media Group. Archived from the original on October 3, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  9. ^ Gonzalez, Linda (September 25, 1988). "He Leads the Bands that Crowds Follow". Press & Sun-Bulletin. Vol. 3, no. 360. Binghamton, NY: Gannett Satellite Information Network Inc. pp. C1, C5. ISSN 0886-8816. Retrieved January 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
    Article continued to p. C5 under title "Ricco Zizzi".
  10. ^ Rye, Howard (2002). "Cheatham, Jimmy (James Rudolph)". Grove Music Online. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J733900. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  11. ^ Bohländer, Carlo; Holler, Karl Heinz & Pfarr, Christian (2000). "Cirillo, Wally (Wallace Joseph)". Reclams Jazzführer [Reclam's Jazz Guide] (in German) (Fifth ed.). Stuttgart: Phillipp Reclam. p. 80. ISBN 0313296278. Retrieved January 15, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  12. ^ a b Ulanov, Barry (1986). Tony Aless and his Long Island Suite (Media notes). Tony Aless. New York: Roost Records. RLP 2202. Retrieved January 15, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  13. ^ Feather, Leonard G. (1960). "Tucker, George Andrew". The Encyclopedia of Jazz (Revised ed.). New York: Horizon Press. p. 466. Retrieved January 15, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  14. ^ Four Decades of Jazz: A Musical History of Xanadu (Media notes). Various artists. Hollywood, CA: Xanadu Records. 1978. Xanadu 5001. Retrieved January 15, 2023 – via Internet Archive.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Gans, Charles J. (1978). "Don Schlitten: Generating Xanadu's Treasures". Jazz Forum. No. 52 (International ed.). Vienna: International Jazz Federation. pp. 29–32. Retrieved January 15, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  16. ^ Cheatham, Jeannie (April 2021). "Trail of Two Trombones". San Diego Troubadour. San Diego, CA. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  17. ^ Ind, Peter (June 22, 2005). "Billy Bauer: Innovate jazz guitarist". The Independent. No. 5828. London. p. 36. ISSN 0951-9467. Retrieved January 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Drummer Delights: Jazz Band Music Minus One Drummer (Media notes). The Sonny Truitt Quintet/Octet. New York: Music Minus One. 1961. MMO 4004. Retrieved January 15, 2023 – via Internet Archive.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ Barnhart, Stephen L. (2000). "Chapin, James 'Jim'". Percussionists: A Biographical Dictionary (Revised ed.). Westport, CN: Greenwood Press. p. 63. ISBN 0313296278. Retrieved January 15, 2023 – via Internet Archive.