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{{short description|American jazz musician}}
'''Ed Polcer''' (born February 10, 1937 in [[Paterson, New Jersey]]) is an American classic [[jazz]] [[cornet]]ist, band leader, festival director, club owner/manager 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> Ed started leading jazz bands while attending [[Princeton University]]. While at Princeton studying engineering, Ed was headed toward a promising career as a professional baseball player. During that time, he was asked to play at the Monaco wedding of [[Princess Grace]] and [[Prince Rainier]], as well as a concert in Carnegie Hall, so Ed made the decision to follow the music instead of a baseball career.
 
{{More footnotes needed|date=October 2021}}
When cornetist [[Bobby Hackett]] recommended Ed to [[Benny Goodman]], Ed abandoned his engineering and purchasing day jobs and joined Goodman's small band. Other musicians in that band included [[John Bunch]], [[Bucky Pizzarelli]], [[Slam Stewart]], [[Al Klink]], [[Zoot Sims]], [[George Masso]], and [[Peter Appleyard]].
'''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.
 
When cornetist [[Bobby Hackett]] recommended him to [[Benny Goodman]], he abandoned his engineering and purchasing day jobs and joined Goodman's small band. Other musicians in that band included [[John Bunch]], [[Bucky Pizzarelli]], [[Slam Stewart]], [[Al Klink]], [[Zoot Sims]], [[George Masso]], and [[Peter Appleyard]].
While in his 20's and 30's, Ed played with such jazz luminaries as [[Teddy Wilson]], Bobby Hackett, [[Kenny Davern]], [[Dick Wellstood]], [[Gene Ramey]], [[Sonny Greer]], [[Joe Muranyi]], [[Herbie Nichols]]<ref>Mark Miller, "Herbie Nichols, A Jazzists's Life", The Mercury Press, 2009, pgs. 132-134</ref> and [[Joe Venuti]].
 
While in his 20s and 30s, Polcer played with [[Teddy Wilson]], Bobby Hackett, [[Kenny Davern]], [[Dick Wellstood]], [[Gene Ramey]], [[Sonny Greer]], [[Joe Muranyi]], [[Herbie Nichols]]<ref>Mark Miller, "Herbie Nichols, A Jazzists's Life", The Mercury Press, 2009, pgs. 132-134</ref> and [[Joe Venuti]].
Along with his wife, singer/actress Judy Kurtz, Ed managed and co-owned (with Red Balaban) Eddie Condon's Jazz Club in New York City from 1977 through 1985. Sharing the bandstand with Ed at the club were such musicians as [[Vic Dickenson]], [[Herb Hall]] and [[Connie Kay]]. Ed was instrumental in giving several younger musicians, such as [[Scott Hamilton (musician)|Scott Hamilton]], [[Warren Vache]], [[Dan Barrett (musician)|Dan Barrett]], and Mark Shane a showcase of their talents at Eddie Condon's. After the wrecking ball demolished the club, Ed 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.
 
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)|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.
In the 1980's he served as president of the New York International Art of Jazz organization, which promoted community and corporate involvement in jazz education.<ref>Colin Larkin editor, "The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz", Guiness Publishing, 1992, p. 323</ref> Ed played for five U.S. Presidents, including the 1994 Congressional Ball at the White House for President Clinton, and played in Thailand with the King of Thailand, a jazz clarinetist and enthusiast.
 
In the 1980s, he served as president of the Long Island, New York-based non-profit International Art of Jazz, which promoted community and corporate involvement in jazz, presented jazz programs, produced the Islip Jazz Festival and implemented a state-wide jazz arts-in-education program.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> He played for five U.S. Presidents, including the Congressional Ball at the White House for President Clinton in 1994, and played in Thailand with the King of Thailand, a jazz clarinetist and enthusiast.
'''Personal Life'''
 
==Personal life==
Ed's father and uncle were part-time musicians. His first instrument was the xylophone, which he played in local church shows and talent contests starting at the age of five, along with his younger sister Betty. He was encouraged to learn a second instrument, the trumpet, at the age of nine. His first marriage to Barbara Fimbel ended in divorce. He and Barbara had one daughter, Karen, and they adopted a Vietnamese war orphan, James. In 1976, Ed married Judy Kurtz, and they have two sons - Sam, born 1977, and Ben, born 1978.
Polcer's father and uncle were part-time musicians. His first instrument was the xylophone, which he played in local church shows and talent contests starting at the age of five, with his younger sister Betty. He was encouraged to learn a second instrument, the trumpet, at the age of nine. His first marriage to Barbara Fimbel ended in divorce. He and Barbara had one daughter, Karen, and they adopted a Vietnamese war orphan, James. In 1976, he married Judy Kurtz, and they have two sons, Sam, born 1977, and Ben, born 1978.
 
==Awards and honors==
'''Lifetime Achievement Awards'''
*2002 New Jersey Jazz Society lifetime achievement award
 
*20022009 -San NewDiego JerseyJazz Party, Jazz SocietyLegend
*2012 Atlanta Jazz Preservation Society, "For unyielding commitment to the preservation of our beloved American art form of jazz"
*2009 - San Diego Jazz Party, "Jazz Legend"
*2012 - Atlanta Jazz Preservation Society - "For unyielding commitment to the preservation of our beloved American art form of jazz".
 
Ed and Judy Polcer live in [[Brooklyn]], NY and [[New Orleans]]<ref>Lew Shaw, "Jazz Beat - Notes on Classic Jazz", AZ told Publishing Co., Scottsdale AZ, 2013, pgs. 5, 6, 129-132.</ref>
 
==Discography==
===As leader===
<!--may need cleanup; not sure about some dates -->
* 1982 ''In the Condon Tradition'' ([[Jazzology Records|Jazzology]], 1982)
* 1993 ''The Magic of Swing Street'' (Blewz Manor)
*"A Night At Eddie Condon's, Ed Polcer All-Stars" (Jazzology, 1992)
* 1993 ''TheA MagicSalute ofto SwingEddie StreetCondon'' (BlewzNagel Manor, 1993Heyer)
* 1994 ''A SaluteCoast to EddieCoast CondonSwingin' Jazz'' (Nagel-Heyer, 1993Jazzology)
* 1994 ''CoastSome toSunny Coast Swingin' JazzDay'' (Jazzology, 1994)
* 1995 ''SomeJammin' Sunnya Dayla Condon'' (Jazzology, 1994)
* 2000 ''The Magic of Swing''
*''Jammin' à la Condon'' (Jazzology, 1995)
* 2003 ''Let's Do It'' (Blewz Manor)
*"Live At New Orleans Jazz Ascona - Ed Polcer All-Stars, (Lino Patruno Jazz, 2000)
* 2005 ''At the Ball'' (Jazzology)
*''Let's Hit It'' , Ed Polcer and his Jazz All-Stars (Blewz Manor, 2003)
* 2008 ''Lionel, Red & Bunny'' (Blewz Manor)<ref name="AM discog">{{cite web|title=Ed Polcer {{!}} Album Discography|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ed-polcer-mn0000792155/discography|website=AllMusic|accessdate=30 December 2016}}</ref>
*"Let's Hit It Again", Ed Polcer and his Jazz All-Stars, (Blewz Manor, 2004)
*"Everything We've Got", Ed Polcer and Judy Kurtz, (Blewz Manor, 2004)
*''At the Ball'' (Jazzology, 2005)
*"Lionel, Red and Bunny", Ed Polcer and His Swingtet, (Blewz Manor, 2006)
*"When Broadway Meets Swing Street", Judy Kurtz and Ed Polcer, (Blewz Manor, 2007)
 
===As sideman===
Also:
* 1975 ''Fats Waller Revisited'', [[Dick Wellstood]]
*"A Night at the New Eddie Condon's " (Classic Jazz, 1975)
* 1977 ''Double Time'', [[Leon Redbone]]
*"Russell 'Big Chief' Moore's PowWow Jazz Band" (Jazz Art Workshop)
* 1981 ''From Branch to Branch'', Leon Redbone
*"Leon Redbone - Double Time" (Warner Bros. Records Inc., 1977)
* 1988 ''At the Grand Opera House, Vol. 1'', Doctor Billy Dodd
*"Banu Gibson on Tour" (Jazzology, 1988)
* 1988 ''At the Grand Opera House, Vol. 2'', Doctor Billy Dodd
*"Leon Redbone, From Branch to Branch" (Emerald City Records, 1981)
* 1994 ''At the Atlanta Jazz Party'', [[Barbara Lea]]
*"Whose Honey Are You?", Terry Blaine (Juke Box Jazz, 1992)
* 1995 ''Whose Honey Are You?'', [[Terry Blaine]]
*"Barbara Lea and the Ed Polcer All-Stars" (Jazzology, 1993)
* 2002 ''Born to Swing'', [[Daryl Sherman]]
*"Terry Blaine in Concert", Mark Shane Quintet (Juke Box Jazz, 1994)
* 2002 ''Jammin' for Condon'', [[Lino Patruno]]
*"On Treasure Island", Mark Shane (Juke Box Jazz, 1996)
* 2004 ''A Multitude of Stars'', Statesmen of Jazz
*"With Thee I Swing", Terry Blaine with Mark Shane (Nagel-Heyer, 1997)
* 2004 ''Ballads, Burners and Blues'', [[Allan Vache]]
*"Too Hot For Words", Terry Blaine (Juke Box Jazz, 1999)
* 2004 ''With Thee I Swing'', Terry Blaine/[[Mark Shane]]
*"Ballads, Burners and Blues", Allan Vache and Friends (Arbors 2004)
* 2007 ''Puttin' on the Ritz'', [[Jonathan "Jazz" Russell|Jonathan Russell]]
*"A Multitude of Stars", Statesmen of Jazz (Arbors 2004)
* 2007 ''When Broadway Meets Swing Street'', [[Judy Kurtz]]<ref name="AM credits">{{cite web|title=Ed Polcer {{!}} Credits|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ed-polcer-mn0000792155/credits|website=AllMusic|accessdate=30 December 2016}}</ref>
*"The Sheik of Araby", Jonathan Russell (Balding Lion Productions 2006)
*"Puttin' On The Ritz", Jonathan Russell (Balding Lion Productions 2007)
*"Atlanta Jazz Party Favorites" (Jazzology, 2009)
*"Quintessential Jazz, Live in the Desert", Ed Polcer's All-Stars, (Arizona Classic Jazz Society, 2008)
*"Baby Soda Live at Radegast" (Baby Soda Records 2011)
 
==References==
{{reflist}}
*[[Scott Yanow]], [{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p214271/biography|pure_url=yes}} Ed Polcer] at [[Allmusic]]
*[[Leonard Feather]] and [[Ira Gitler]], ''Encyclopedia of Jazz in the '70s'', Horizon Press NY, pg. 275
*Colin Larkin editor, ''Guinness Who's Who of Jazz'', Guinness Publishing, 1992, pg. 323
*Lew Shaw, ''Jazz Beat - Notes on Classic Jazz'', AZ told Publishing Co., Scottsdale AZ, 2013, pgs. 5, 6, 129-132
*Barry Kernfeld editor, ''The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz'', St. Martin's Press NY, 1995, p. 990
*K. Abe', "Jazz Giants", p. 273
*[[Leonard Feather]] and [[Ira Gitler]], ''The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz'', Oxford University Press, 1999, pg. 533
*[[Ian Carr]], [[Digby Fairweather]], [[Brian Priestley]], ''Jazz, The Essential Companion'', Grafton Books, London, 1987, pg. 395
*[[Ian Carr]], [[Digby Fairweather]], [[Brian Priestley]], ''Jazz, The Rough Guide'', Penguin Books, London, pg. 511
*Mark Miller, ''Herbie Nichols, A Jazzist's Life'', The Mercury Press, 2009, pgs. 132-134
*Chip Deffaa, ''Traditionalists and Revivalists In Jazz'', Scarecrow Press, Newark NJ, 1993
*[[Scott Yanow]], ''The Trumpet Kings - The Players Who Shaped The Sound of Jazz Trumpet'', 2001, pg. 298
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==Other sources==
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
* [[Scott Yanow]], [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p214271/biography|pure_url=yes}} Ed Polcer] at [[Allmusic]]
| NAME = Polcer, Ed
* Lew Shaw, ''Jazz Beat – Notes on Classic Jazz'', AZ told Publishing Co., Scottsdale AZ, 2013, p. 5, 6, 129–132
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
* Barry Kernfeld editor, ''The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz'', St. Martin's Press NY, 1995, p. 990
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American musician
* K. Abe', "Jazz Giants", p. 273
| DATE OF BIRTH = February 10, 1937
* Leonard Feather and Ira Gitler, ''The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz'', Oxford University Press, 1999, p. 533
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Paterson, New Jersey
* [[Ian Carr]], [[Digby Fairweather]], [[Brian Priestley]], ''Jazz, The Essential Companion'', Grafton Books, London, 1987, p. 395
| DATE OF DEATH =
* Ian Carr, Digby Fairweather, Brian Priestley, ''Jazz, The Rough Guide'', Penguin Books, London, p. 511
| PLACE OF DEATH =
* Chip Deffaa, ''Traditionalists and Revivalists in Jazz'', Scarecrow Press, Newark NJ, 1993
}}
* Scott Yanow, ''The Trumpet Kings – The Players Who Shaped The Sound of Jazz Trumpet'', 2001, p. 298
 
==External links==
*[https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/ed-polcer Ed Polcer Interview] NAMM Oral History Library (2021)
 
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Polcer, Ed}}
[[Category:1937 births]]
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[[Category:American jazz cornetists]]
[[Category:Musicians from New Jersey]]
[[Category:Statesmen of Jazz members]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Polcer"