[Jazz][California] Photo Album and Scrapbook of the Kern County Hot Jazz Society

Bakersfield, California, 1961. 12¾" x 12¼". Embossed imitation leather over boards, disbound scrapbook. 36 pages with 70 mostly black and white photographs and around 40 items of ephemera either pasted or laid in. Photos measure from to 3½" x 3½" to 3¼" x 4¼" and about half are captioned; some of the ephemera captioned with context as well. Album good: disbound with toned leaves; photographs generally near fine or better, ephemera very good or better; lacking two photos. The Kern County Hot Jazz Society was founded in Bakersfield, California in July 1961. The group's purpose was for"Families [to] meet and enjoy modern Jazz music and playing music together" and their motto was "A Non-Profit Organization for the Prevention of Rock-And-Roll and Progressive Jazz. " This scrapbook documents the formation and progression of the KCHJS throughout 1961. It includes at least 30 performance photos, many noted with date and location. Other images show them participating in a parade and engaging in social gatherings. The ephemera includes eight mimeographed handbills on card stock promoting the organization and its meetings. Letters include correspondence between founding members and Jazz Report. One small typescript shows what transpired at their first meeting, and numerous news clippings trace their meetings, performances and advertisements. We're not sure how long the organization lasted. Archived internet news reports regarding them disappear after 1962. According to the Austin Traditional Jazz Society's website, there are at least 27 extant jazz societies in California as of 2015. A unique visual record of one of their forebears. Live performances of the KCHJS may be found online. This item is offered by Langdon Manor Books, LLC, antiquarian booksellers. Please do not hesitate to contact us for additional information and/or photos and we will respond promptly. We package our items carefully, ship daily, and have a no hassle returns policy--your satisfaction is guaranteed. We are members of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA) , the International League of Antiquarian Booksllers (ILAB) and the Independent Online Booksellers Association (IOBA) and adhere to their rules of ethics.