James R. Goodwin

A Musical Tribute to Jim Goodwin
Monday, March 15th,
KBOO 90.7 fm
Portland, Oregon
12 – 2 pm PST

Chris Tyle is back in the studio with Retta Christie helping to celebrate the musical life of the late Jim Goodwin on the eve of Jim’s 66th birthday. Tune in and stream the radio show at KBOO.FM

*Update: The playlist from the show ..

Just a Closer Walk With Thee – Muddy River Jazz Band, 1967
Stardust Records lp, out-of-print

Wild Man Blues – Ed Zimbrick’s 10th Avenue Jazz Band, 1968
EJ Records lp, out-of-print

Liza – The Great Excelsior Jazz Band, 1969
ASP Records lp, out-of-print

It Should Be You – New Orleans Jazz Club of Northern California All Stars, 1970
NOJNC Records lp, out-of-print

I’m Wild About That Thing – New Orleans Jazz Club of Northern California All Stars, 1970
NOJNC Records lp, out-of-print

I Never Knew What a Gal Could Do – Dick Oxtot’s Golden Age Jazz Band, 1973
Arhoolie Records lp, out-of-print

Doctor Jazz – Turk Murphy Jazz Band, 1974
Unissued private recording

Doin’ the New Lowdown – Brett Runkle and the Starting from Scratch Jazz Band, 1975
Berkeley Rhythm Records 7″ lp, out-of-print

I’ve Got My Fingers Crossed – Marty Grosz and Berkeley Rhythm, 1976
Jim Goodwin and Friends lp, Berkeley Rhythm Records

A Sailboat in the Moonlight – Mike Duffy’s Second Pacific Film Archives Band, 1978
Jim Goodwin and Friends lp, Berkeley Rhythm Records

You’re a Lucky Guy – Jim Goodwin, piano, 1977
Jim Goodwin and Friends lp, Berkeley Rhythm Records

My Melancholy Baby – Jim Goodwin, cornet; Burt Bales, piano, 1977
Jim Goodwin and Friends lp, Berkeley Rhythm Records

You’ve Changed – Ray Skjelbred’s Yeti Chasers, 1976

Tormented – Berkeley Rhythm, 1978
Unissued private recording at the Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, Ca.

Sheik of Araby – Sunset Music Company, 1979
Blue Swing CD

Angel Eyes – Berkeley Rhythm, 1973
Berkeley Rhythm Vol 1 lp, out-of-print

Dinah – Butch Smith and his Dixieland Band, Palmdale, Ca. Jim Goodwin, Ray Skjelbred, Ham Carson, 1987/1988
Jazz Master lp, out-of-print

There’ Ain’t No Sweet Man – Double Play, Jim Goodwin & Dave Frishberg, 1992
Arbor Records

Photos from September’s International Jim Day Memorial Party in Portland, Oregon are up! Thanks to Barb Hauser and Carol Newman for the wonderful photographs!

by Joan Harvey of the Oregonian

Musicians say Jim Goodwin taught them how to play music — and how to live.

He was a musician’s musician, largely unknown to the public but legendary among jazz cognoscenti and to those who played with him. His authoritative, stunning cornet leads and spontaneous outpouring of original, appropriate ideas awed other musicians and inspired them to play better.

Photograph by Terri Ohlwein, 1980

His music reflected his soul — he was a gentle person with an oddball, oblique wit; he was brilliant, generous and unerringly true to himself. He was charismatic and immediately charmed everyone he met. Friends stayed friends forever; no one knows of an enemy he ever had.

Jim died April 19 of alcoholism at age 65.

Jim enjoyed a 40-year career as a cornetist.

The outpouring of grief after his death is made more bitter by the realization that such a happy, life-absorbing personality could self-destruct. But most of all, it is grief that his music is silent.

Jim’s music echoed that of Louis Armstrong, Wild Bill Davison, Bix Beiderbecke and Henry “Red” Allen. He was a natural musician who learned to play by ear and never wanted to taint his spontaneity by learning to read music. He could pick up any horn and make it sing. He also was a well-known piano player and earned money playing drums and vibraphone.

Jim wasn’t interested in fame or fortune. He turned down an offer to tour with the Freddy Martin Band, among other offers, and refused to promote himself. He cherished his freedom.
(more…)

The Sunset Music Company live in Dusseldorf, 1979

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Jim Goodwin – Cornet, Lueder Ohlwein – Banjo & Vocal, Dan Barrett – Trombone, William Carter – Clarinet, Mike Fay – Bass, Jeff Hamilton – Drums

The Sunset Music Company Live in Dusseldorf ’79 is available from Blue Swing.Com.