Before he moved on to soul and R&B, bassist Johnnie Pate was a solid link in the jazz-campus connection.
Exactly which campus is a bit misleading. In the midst of the Ivy heyday, anything collegiate became synonymous with “Ivy League,” hence the above album’s title despite the fact that the photos were taken at the University of Cincinnati.
The liner notes provide interesting insight on the term in the context of the heyday. Check out the Prologue section on the left:
Pate followed up “Jazz Goes Ivy League” with another Ivy-invoking album:
The albums don’t appear to have been uploaded to YouTube, but here’s the trio from roughly the same era with a lovely ballad. — CC
While I attended VU & CU, not the University of Cincinnati, I noticed something strikingly familiar; the top album cover shows McMicken Hall, a relative named Charles McMicken provided an 1852 endowment enabling the City of Cincinnati to establish the educational institution now known as the University of Cincinnati.
Very nice album covers.
While I attended VU & CU, not the University of Cincinnati, I noticed something strikingly familiar; the top album cover shows McMicken Hall, a relative named Charles McMicken provided an 1852 endowment enabling the City of Cincinnati to establish the educational institution now known as the University of Cincinnati.
Possibly he is embarking from Ohio?
Pate was based in Chicago, where I believe this album was recorded. This may have been the nearest place for the photo shoot.
Re: the Johnnie Pate records – the King Record Co. was based in Cincinnati, thus the University of Cincinnati photos.
The Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupé; that’s Ivy Style.
I studied with the drummer from the top record towards the end of his life. They spelled his first name wrong on the back cover!
The second album cover is also from the University of Cincinnati campus! Not far from McMicken!
@Paul Corio:
They did, indeed.
His name was Vernel, not Vernal.
Probably got him mixed up with that other jazz drummer, Vernal Equinox. Sorry. I’ll show myself out.