Keystone Korner

Keystone Korner

Odean Pope in front of Keystone Korner, 1982
Location 750 Vallejo Street
San Francisco, California
United States
Coordinates 37°47′55″N 122°24′34″W / 37.798586°N 122.409374°W / 37.798586; -122.409374Coordinates: 37°47′55″N 122°24′34″W / 37.798586°N 122.409374°W / 37.798586; -122.409374
Owner Todd Barkan
Type Nightclub
Genre(s) Jazz
Capacity 200
Opened 1972
Closed 1983

Keystone Korner was an important jazz music club in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, which opened in 1972 and continued operation until 1983. Many live recordings were made at the club.[1] Jessica Williams was the house pianist for a number of years.

History

In 1969, Freddie Herrera bought Dino and Carlo's Bar in the North Beach section of San Francisco. He changed the name of the bar to Keystone Korner, a reference to Keystone Cops, because of its proximity to the Central Police Station on the opposite corner of Emery Lane.[2]

Keystone Korner started out as a topless bar, but quickly changed direction when songwriter Nick Gravenites convinced Herrera that live music would bring in more customers. The strength of the music scene in San Francisco allowed Herrera to book young musicians who would go on to stellar careers. Patrons filled the club to hear such new talents as Elvin Bishop, Neal Schon, Boz Scaggs, and The Pointer Sisters. Herrera's success made it possible to move across the San Francisco Bay and open a larger room called Keystone Berkeley. He then sold the Keystone Korner to Todd Barkan who changed the nightclub from a popular rock venue into an internationally famous jazz club.[3]

Barkan paid $12,500 (equivalent to $70,833 in 2015) for the Keystone Korner in 1972, and brought in some of the biggest names in jazz to play in his new nightspot. Early gigs by men like Sonny Rollins and Art Blakey established the Keystone as one of the best jazz clubs in the nation—a reputation that continued to build as jazz legends like Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Bill Evans, and Stan Getz appeared on its stage.[4]

Over the course of eleven years, the Keystone Korner showcased many of the world's best musicians. Live recordings made during the period have become important contributions to the jazz canon. However, economic challenges took their toll, and Barkan was forced to close the Keystone Korner in 1983.[5]

Live recordings

Todd Barkan, left, proprietor of Keystone Korner jazz club, San Francisco, and drummer and leader of the Jazz Messengers, Art Blakey, at Keystone Korner. December 27, 1979.

References

  1. ↑ Whiting, Sam (10 October 2011). "'Keystone Korner' documents jazz club". San Francisco Chronicle.
  2. ↑ McNally, Dennis (2003). A Long Strange Trip: The Inside History of the Grateful Dead. Three Rivers Press. p. 399. ISBN 978-0767911863.
  3. ↑ Selvin, Joel (1996). San Francisco: The Musical History Tour. Chronicle Books. pp. 38–40. ISBN 978-0811810074.
  4. ↑ Sloane, Kathy (2011). Keystone Korner: Portrait of a Jazz Club. Indiana University Press. pp. 2–7. ISBN 978-0253356918.
  5. ↑ Chinen, Nate (28 February 2013). "Summoning a West Coast Spirit". The New York Times. p. C1.
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