Ed Polcer: Difference between revisions

{{More footnotes needed|date=October 2021}}

'''Ed Polcer''' (born February 10, 1937, in [[Paterson, New Jersey]], United States)<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=1973/4}}</ref> is an American [[jazz]] cornetist, bandleader, festival director, club owner, and mentor of young musicians. He has been described as a "melodic mellow-toned cornetist with an unforced delivery".<ref>"Leonard Feather and Ira Gitler, "The Encyclopedia of Jazz in the Seventies", Horizon Press, NY, 1971, p.275</ref> Polcer started leading jazz bands while attending [[Princeton University]]. While at Princeton studying engineering, he was headed toward a promising career as a professional baseball player. During that time, he was asked to play at the wedding of [[Princess Grace]] and [[Prince Rainier]] in Monaco, as well as a concert in [[Carnegie Hall]]. He chose music over baseball.

With his wife, singer and actress Judy Kurtz, Polcer managed and co-owned (with Red Balaban) Eddie Condon's Jazz Club in New York City from 1977–1985. Sharing the bandstand with him at the club were such musicians as [[Vic Dickenson]], [[Herb Hall]], and [[Connie Kay]]. He was instrumental in giving several younger musicians, such as [[Scott Hamilton (musician)|Scott Hamilton]], [[Warren Vaché Jr.|Warren Vache]], [[Dan Barrett (jazz musician, born 1955)|Dan Barrett]], and Mark Shane a showcase of their talents at Eddie Condon's. After the wrecking ball demolished the club, he toured the country with his shows A Night at Eddie Condon's, The Magic of Swing Street, and When Broadway Meets Swing Street. He served as musical director of several jazz festivals, including the North Carolina Jazz Festival, Colorado Springs Jazz Party, and San Diego Jazz Party.

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