Bay City Jazz Band

Biography

The Bay City Jazz Band is a traditional jazz ensemble formed in San Francisco, California, in March 1955 by trombonist Sanford Newbauer and cornetist Everett Farey. Drawing inspiration from the Yerba Buena Jazz Band and the revivalist movement led by Lu Watters and Turk Murphy, the group quickly established itself as a leading exponent of the West Coast traditional jazz scene. Their early performances, notably at venues such as the Sail ‘N bar and dance hall near The Embarcadero, helped revive the two-beat jazz style that characterized the San Francisco jazz renaissance of the mid-20th century.[1][2]

Throughout the late 1950s, the Bay City Jazz Band became known as the most popular successor to the Watters tradition, inheriting not only the style and repertoire of their predecessors but also their fan base and, on occasion, former members like Bob Helm and Wally Rose. The band’s sound was marked by a prominent tuba and banjo rhythm section, occasional use of a second cornet, and a dedication to authentic arrangements from the classic jazz era. Over the years, the group saw several personnel changes and reconvened in various forms, including as the New Bay City Jazz Band in the 1970s and 1980s, continuing to perform at jazz festivals and clubs.[2][4]

The Bay City Jazz Band’s legacy lies in its faithful preservation and energetic performance of traditional jazz, bridging the gap between the original revivalists and later generations of musicians. Their recordings for the Good Time Jazz label in the 1950s remain influential documents of the West Coast revivalist style, and their collaborative spirit fostered a vibrant community of jazz musicians in the Bay Area.[8]

Fun Facts

• The Bay City Jazz Band was formed after its founders convinced the owners of the Sail ‘N bar in San Francisco to let them play, cleaning and decorating the venue themselves for their debut.[2]
• The band’s rhythm section often featured both tuba and banjo, a hallmark of the authentic two-beat jazz style they championed.[2]
• Bay City Jazz Band occasionally included former members of the legendary Yerba Buena Jazz Band, providing a direct link to the original San Francisco jazz revival.[2]
• They recorded two LPs for the Good Time Jazz label in the 1950s, the same label that issued Lu Watters’ Yerba Buena Jazz Band recordings.[8]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Lu Watters - Pioneering leader of the Yerba Buena Jazz Band, whose style and repertoire directly inspired the formation and musical direction of the Bay City Jazz Band. (Yerba Buena Jazz Band charts and arrangements) [1940s-1950s]
• Turk Murphy - Trombonist and bandleader in the San Francisco revivalist scene; his approach to traditional jazz influenced Bay City’s sound. (Turk Murphy Jazz Band recordings) [1940s-1950s]

Key Collaborators

• Sanford Newbauer - Co-founder and trombonist, central to the band’s early sound and leadership. (Bay City Jazz Band recordings, live performances) [1955-1960s]
• Everett Farey - Co-founder and cornetist, later leader in subsequent iterations of the band. (Bay City Jazz Band, Golden State Jazz Band) [1955-1980s]
• Roy Giomi - Clarinetist in early and later lineups, contributing to the band’s authentic sound. (Bay City Jazz Band recordings) [1950s-1970s]
• Bob Helm - Occasional member, previously with Yerba Buena Jazz Band, brought direct connection to the revivalist tradition. (Bay City Jazz Band, Yerba Buena Jazz Band) [1950s]
• Wally Rose - Occasional pianist, also from Yerba Buena Jazz Band, contributed to select performances. (Bay City Jazz Band, Yerba Buena Jazz Band) [1950s]

Artists Influenced

• Golden State Jazz Band - Band led by Ev Farey after his time with Bay City, continued the revivalist tradition and included several Bay Area musicians. (Golden State Jazz Band performances and recordings) [1970s-1980s]
• El Dorado Jazz Band - Members played with Bay City Jazz Band and adopted elements of its repertoire and style. (El Dorado Jazz Band recordings) [1950s-1960s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. New Orleans Stomp (Golden Days!)
2. Doctor Jazz (The Bay City Jazz Band)
3. Coal Cart Blues (Golden Days!)
4. My Heart (The Bay City Jazz Band)
5. Angry (Golden Days!)
6. Arab Strut (The Bay City Jazz Band)
7. Yerba Buena Strut (Golden Days!)
8. Chimes Blues (Golden Days!)
9. Willie The Weeper (Golden Days!)
10. Skip Da De Dat (Golden Days!)

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz