Home > Bronx County Archives Finding Aids > Maxine Gordon Papers on Bronx Jazz, 1960–2008

Maxine Gordon Papers on Bronx Jazz, 1960–2008

Information, Description, and Finding Aid

Collection Information

Reference: MS-GORDON.1–3

Dates: 1960–2008

Extent: 3 linear ft. across 3 archival boxes

Finding Aid Information

Creator(s): Steven Payne, Ph.D., Librarian and Archivist

Date created/updated: November 11, 2020

Biography

A native New Yorker, Maxine Gordon has been immersed in jazz since she was a teenager, when she would routinely listen to world-class musicians like Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, or John Coltrane at Birdland and the Village Vanguard. Her career in jazz started when she became the road manager for Gil Evans. She later helped manage tours and festivals for jazz groups around Europe and also learned the recording and production side of the industry while working with her close friend and musician Shirley Scott (“Queen of the Organ”).

Maxine first met the famous jazz tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon, whom she would eventually marry, while organizing a tour in Europe. Dexter had been in Europe for 14 years by this point, and Maxine helped him organize and publicize his celebrated musical return to the U.S. In this capacity, she gained a reputation of being adroit at negotiating highly favorable contracts with record labels for Dexter and other jazz musicians. In 1983, she closed her business office and spent time living in Mexico with Dexter and her son Woody Louis Armstrong Shaw III whose father was the legendary trumpet player Woody Shaw. When Dexter died in April 1990, however, Maxine decided to return to college. She earned a BA from CUNY, a Master’s in Africana Studies from NYU, and entered a PhD program in African Diaspora History with a MacCracken Fellowship at NYU. She regularly lectures in the U.S. and abroad on bebop, Dexter Gordon, expatriate jazz musicians, Chano Pozo and the Afro-Cuban religious influence on bebop, and other subjects related to the life and legacy of Dexter Gordon.

Maxine’s first extended archival experience came from working at the Center for Jazz Studies at Columbia University as a graduate student. She became the Senior Interviewer and Jazz Researcher for The Bronx African American History Project at Fordham University in 2005. Many of her interviews and transcripts are housed at Fordham’s digital repository as well as in The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library. In 2010, Maxine became the archivist for the Dexter Gordon Collection, housed at the Library of Congress. Maxine’s path-breaking biography of Dexter, Sophisticated Giant: The Life and Legacy of Dexter Gordon, was published in 2018 by the University of California Press to much acclaim. Her papers that comprise this collection were donated to The Bronx County Historical Society in 2020 and primarily stem from her years as Senior Interviewer and Jazz Researcher for The Bronx African American History Project.

Information for this biography comes from "Bio," Maxinegordon.com, https://www.maxinegordon.com/bio (accessed 11 November 2020).

Description/Scope and Content

The collection consists of 6 series. The first contains administrative and event files from The Bronx African American History Project, for which Maxine Gordon is Senior Interviewer and Jazz Researcher.

The second series includes articles, correspondence, and notes on Bronx jazz and Latin musicians and venues.

The third series is made up of material from various events at which Maxine Gordon presented her research on jazz in The Bronx.

The fourth series is comprised of periodicals and publications related to Bronx jazz.

The fifth series encompasses a variety of recorded media related to Bronx jazz, including interviews, performances, musical recordings, and more on CD, DVD, VHS, and vinyl.

The sixth and final series contains photographs.

Provenance

The Maxine Gordon papers were donated to The Bronx County Historical Society in September 2020 by Maxine Gordon.

Preferred Citation

[Item name or description,] Maxine Gordon papers on Bronx Jazz, box _, folder _, The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.

Points of Access

  • Bronx history projects -- The Bronx African American History Project -- The Bronx County Historical Society -- Place Matters: From Mambo to Hip Hop
  • Bronx historians -- Carp, David M. -- Gordon, Maxine -- Gumbs, Robert -- Lightfoot, Natasha -- Martínez, Elena -- Naison, Mark -- Purnell, Brian
  • Bronx musicians, jazz and Latin -- Altschul, Barry -- Bataan, Joe -- Beener, Oliver -- Brewington, Dean -- Brooks, Tina (Harold Lloyd) -- Byrd, Donald -- Capers, Bobby --Capers, Valerie -- Dickens, Hugo -- Donaldson, Lou -- Fleet, William “Biddy” -- Hope, Elmo -- Jazz Arts Society -- Jenkins, Arthur -- McEwan, Vincent -- Monk, Thelonious -- Newsum, Phil -- Orange, Joe -- Owens, Jimmy -- Santamaría, Mongo --- Sullivan, Maxine
  • Bronx music clubs, venues, and streets -- Blue Morocco -- Club 845 -- Cuban Club Casino -- Hunts Point Palace -- Kenny’s -- Lyman Place -- Tropicana Club
  • Bronx neighborhoods -- Hunts Point -- Longwood -- Melrose -- Morrisania
  • Ethnic groups -- African Americans -- Cubans -- Jews -- Puerto Ricans (Boricuas)
  • Music genres -- afro-cuban -- bebop -- boogaloo -- hip hop -- jazz -- Latin jazz -- mambo -- soul

Related Collections

Series

Series Title Box Folders
1 Bronx African American History Project Files 1 2–13
2 Bronx Jazz Research 1 14–110
  2 1–14
3 Events 2 15–24
4 Periodicals and Publications 2 25–33
5 Recorded Media 2 34–39
  3 1–29
6 Photographs [PH-GORDON.1–10] 3 30–33

Container List

Series 1: Bronx African American History Project (BAAHP) Files

Box

Folder

Contents

Year

1

1

BAAHP, information

n.d.

1

2

BAAHP, archival survey

2006

1

3

BAAHP, benefit concert

2005

1

4

BAAHP, David M. Carp archival acquisition

2005

1

5

BAAHP, correspondence, general

2005–2008

1

6

BAAHP, fundraising and appeals

n.d.

1

7

BAAHP, interviews

2006–2007

1

8

BAAHP, invoices and receipts

2006–2008

1

9

BAAHP, maps and addresses

n.d.

1

10

BAAHP, release forms

n.d.

1

11

BAAHP, Maxine Sullivan archival acquisition

2006

1

12

BAAHP, walking tours

n.d.

1

13

BAAHP, archival survey

2006

Series 2: Bronx Jazz Research

Box

Folder

Contents

Year

1

14

Aguado, William (Bill), correspondence

2007

1

15

Altschul, Barry, correspondence

2008

1

16

Audubon Ballroom

2006

1

17

Ayala, Aida Chapman, correspondence

2008

1

18

Bang, Billy

2005

1

19

Bataan, Joe

2005

1

20

Beener, Angelika, correspondence

2008

1

21

Beener, Oliver

n.d.

1

22

Benitez-Ridley, Magdalena, correspondence

2007

1

23

Berrios, Steve

2006

1

24

Blair, Paul, correspondence

2005

1

25

Bradley, Jack

2007

1

26

Braith, George

2005

1

27

Brewington, Dean

2008

1

28

Bronen’s Music

2007

1

29

Bronx clubs and venues

2006

1

30

Bronx hip hop

2007

1

31

Bronx neighborhoods

2005

1

32

Bronx Phoenix Cultural Center and Music School

2006

1

33

Bronx in Print

2000

1

34

Brooks, Tina (Harold Lloyd)

2008

1

35

Brown, Antoinette

2007

1

36

Byrd, Donald, and Lou Donaldson

2006

1

37

Capers family, research

1999–2008

1

38

Carp, David M., correspondence

2006

1

39

Carp, David M., information and archival collection

2005

1

40

Carp, David M., Latin music interviews in archival collection

2005

1

41

Carp, David M., “Salsa Symbiosis”

n.d.

1

42

Casa Amadeo/Casa Hernandez (Spanish Harlem)

2006

1

43

The Chantels

2004

1

44

Charlton Garden (The Bronx, New York)

n.d.

1

45

Clark, Eddie, Quintet

2006

1

46

Club 845, research, folder 1

2006

1

47

Club 845, research, folder 2

n.d.

1

48

Colón, Willie

1992

1

49

Cooks, Carlos A.

2005

1

50

Cuba, Joe

2007

1

51

Conzo, Joe

2006

1

52

Cuban Club Casino

n.d.

1

53

Dickenson, Vic

2008

1

54

Dolphy, Eric

n.d.

1

55

Drayton, Bernard

2006

1

56

Euell, Julian

2005

1

57

Fernandez, Manny, “Morrisania Melody”

2006

1

58

Fleet, James

2005

1

59

Fleet, William “Biddy”

2005

1

60

Fox, James Ingram

2005

1

61

Friedman, Andrew, “Field of Drums”

2006

1

62

From Mambo to Hip Hop (Place Matters)

2002

1

63

George Washington High School (Washington Heights, New York, New York)

2006

1

64

Gordon, Maxine, “Jazz and the Bronx”

2008

1

65

Gordon, Maxine, research, general

2007

1

66

Gordon, Maxine, research notebook 1

n.d.

1

67

Gordon, Maxine, research notebook 2

n.d.

1

68

Gordon, Maxine, research notebook 3

n.d.

1

69

Gordon, Maxine, research notes, general

n.d.

1

70

Grant, Rodgers

n.d.

1

71

Gumbs, Robert

2005

1

72

Gwaltney, John L., tribute and articles

1999

1

73

Hope, Elmo

2008

1

74

Hunts Point Palace

n.d.

1

75

Jazz Arts Society

2008

1

76

Jazz oral history, articles and resources

1960–2008

1

77

Jazz in The Bronx

n.d.

1

78

Jenkins, Arthur, notes

2005

1

79

Jimmy’s Luncheonette (Clay Avenue and 169th Street)

2007

1

80

Kenny’s (Prospect Avenue)

2006

1

81

Latin soul

2007

1

82

Latin vibraphone

2007

1

83

Loco, Joe

2006

1

84

Lyman Place (The Bronx, New York)

2005

1

85

Martínez, Elena, “A South Bronx Music Tale”

2004

1

85

Martinez, Sabu

2006

1

86

Mills, Kenneth M.

2006

1

87

Morgenstern, Dan

2005

1

88

Naison, Mark, “Don’t Push Me, Cause I’m Close to the Edge”

n.d.

1

89

Naison, Mark, “Migration and Musical Creativity in Bronx Neighborhoods”

2007

1

90

Naison, Mark, “South Bronx Cultural Crucible”

2006

1

91

Newsum, Phil, correspondence

2006

1

92

Newsum, Phil, photograph copies and captions

2006

1

93

Opie, Frederick Douglass, “African American and Latino Youth-Coalition Building”

n.d.

1

94

Orange, Joe, “Bronx History Through Music”

n.d.

1

95

Orange, Joe, correspondence

2006

1

96

Owens, Jimmy, BAAHP oral history

February 18, 2005

1

97

Owens, Jimmy, correspondence

2005–2008

1

98

Paris, Arthur (“Art”)

2008

1

99

Powell, Gordon “Specs”

2006

1

100

Pucho

1996–2006

1

101

Puerto Rican Musical History

2005

1

102

Ramey, Gene

2008

1

103

Rollins, Sonny

2005

1

104

Savoy Ballroom

2006

1

105

Sheller, Marty

2005

1

106

Schlitten, Don

2006

1

107

Simmons, Oliver and Cheryl, correspondence

2007

1

108

Sims, Pete “La Roca”, correspondence

2006

1

109

Square Lake

2006

1

110

Sullivan, Maxine

1980–2006

2

1

Sullivan, Maxine, oral history, Rutgers, fold. 1

1980

2

2

Sullivan, Maxine, oral history, Rutgers, fold. 2

1980

2

3

Sullivan, Maxine, oral history, Rutgers, fold. 3

1980

2

4

Sullivan, Maxine, oral history, Rutgers, fold. 4

1980

2

5

Sullivan, Maxine, oral history, Rutgers, fold. 5

1980

2

6

Sullivan, Maxine, oral history, Rutgers, fold. 6

1980

2

7

Sullivan, Maxine, oral history, Rutgers, fold. 7

1980

2

8

Sullivan, Maxine, oral history, Rutgers, fold. 8

1980

2

9

Sullivan, Maxine, oral history, Rutgers, fold. 9

1980

2

10

Tolliver, Charles, correspondence

2007

2

11

Tropicana Club

n.d.

2

12

Turner, Nat, documentary

2006

2

13

Wang, Oliver, “We Like it Like That: The Black and Brown Sound of Boogaloo”

2007

2

14

White, Nat

2006

Series 3: Events

Box

Folder

Contents

Year

2

15

Events, general

2007–2008

2

16

Idaho conference

2006

2

17

BAAHP Jazz and The Bronx Roundtable Discussion, general

2008

2

18

BAAHP Jazz and The Bronx Roundtable Discussion, Maxine Gordon presentation

2008

2

19

Organization of American Historians (OAH) Conference, 2008: Evening with Valerie Capers

2008

2

20

OAH Conference, 2008: Bronx panel and events

2008

2

21

OAH Conference, 2008: Maxine Gordon, “The Capers Family”

2008

2

22

OAH Conference, 2008: Brian Purnell, “The Bronx is a Bomb and Ready to Explode” (on the White Castle Protests, 1963)

2008

2

23

OAH Conference, 2008: Schedule

2008

2

24

Oral History and Performance Conference

2008

Series 4: Periodicals and Publications

Box

Folder

Contents

Year

2

25

Bronx County Historical Society Journal, vol. 41, no. 1

2004

2

26

Bronx County Historical Society Journal, vol. 42, no. 1

2005

2

27

Bronx County Historical Society Journal, vol. 44

2007

2

28

Centro, vol. 16, no. 1

2004

2

29

Centro, vol. 16, no. 2

2004

2

30

down beat, vol. 38, no. 14

July 22, 1971

2

31

Fordham (Winter 2008)

2008

2

32

Jazz Times, vol. 31, no. 7

2001

2

33

Kirkeby, Ed, Ain’t Misbehavin: The Story of Fats Waller

1966

Series 5: Recorded Media

Box

Folder

Contents

Year

2

34

CD: Dr. N’s Rhythm Revue (BAAHP)

n.d.

2

35

CD: Various (BAAHP)

n.d.

2

36

CD: Bataan, Joe, Under the Streetlamps (Fania)

2008

2

37

CD: Bauzá, Mario, JOHP interview

n.d.

2

38

CD: Brooks, Tina, Back to the Tracks (BlueNote)

1998

2

39

CD: Brooks, Tina, Minor Move (BlueNote)

2000

3

1

CD: Brooks, Tina, True Blue (BlueNote)

2005

3

2

CD: Brooks, Tina, The Waiting Game (BlueNote)

2002

3

3

CD: Capers, Valerie, BAAHP oral history

February 15, 2007

3

4

CD: Capers family, various

2008

3

5

CD: Capers, Valerie, About Music

2003

3

6

CD: Capers, Valerie, Come on Home (Columbia)

1995

3

7

CD: Capers, Valerie, Limited Edition (VALCAP)

2001

3

8

CD: Capers, Valerie, Wagner Takes the A Train (Elysium)

1993

3

9

CD: Drayton sampler

n.d.

3

10

CD: Gordon, Maxine, A Bronx Jazz Story: The Capers Family

2008

3

11

CD: Gordon, Maxine, Idaho conference

2006

3

12

CD: Hope, Elmo, Self-Titled (BlueNote)

2005

3

13

CD: Panama, Joe

n.d.

3

14

CD: Patiri, Barbara, and Tito Puente

n.d.

3

15

CD: Santamaría, Mongo, Mongo at the Village Gate (Riverside)

1990

3

16

CD: Santamaría, Mongo, Watermelon Man (Milestone)

1998

3

17

CD: Shots of Bronx

n.d.

3

18

CD: STRIDE, Watermelon Man

n.d.

3

19

DVD: Al son Del Mambo

n.d.

3

20

DVD: Capers, Valerie, various

2008

3

21

DVD: Charles, Ray, Live in Brazil

1963

3

22

DVD: Cuban Roots/Bronx Stories

2000

3

23

DVD: International Sweethearts in Rhythm

2007

3

24

DVD: Mambo in Da Bronx

n.d.

3

25

DVD: Santamaría, Mongo, En Vivo

2007

3

26

VHS: Black Soundies #1 with Maxine Sullivan

n.d.

3

27

VHS: Himmelstein, Paul

November 11, 2005

3

28

Vinyl: Capers, Valerie and Bobby, “West 4th Street”/“Wildcattin’” (Atlantic)

n.d.

3

29

Vinyl: Hancock, Herbie, “Watermelon Man”/“Three Bags Full” (BlueNote)

n.d.

Series 6: Photographs [PH-GORDON.1–10]

Box

Folder

Contents

Year

3

30

PH-GORDON.1: Capers, Valerie, publicity shot

n.d.

3

31

PH-GORDON.2–6: Photographs of Bronx Panel, OAH Conference, 2008, Columbia University

2008

3

32

PH-GORDON.7–9: Photographs of BAAHP oral history with Maxine Gordon, Vincent McEwan, Arthur Jenkins, and Jimmy Owens

2007

3

33

PH-GORDON.10: Photograph of Dizzy’s Club

2008