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Transcription :
The Playboy All-Stars
© Photo's
Stan Kenton: photo by Herman Leonard
Gerry Mulligan: photo by Bob Willoughby
Frank Sinatra: photo by Phil Stern
Ella Fitzgerald: photo by Hugh Bell
Since PLAYBOY first published its jazz poll ballot, in the
October 1956 issue, the poll has grown in popularity and influence.
Today, it’s the most important jazz poll in the world, with more
reader voters than any other jazz poll.
PLAYBOY readers not only dig jazz; they understand and
appreciate it. The poll results for the first three Playboy Jazz
Polls (the October 1959 issue of PLAYBOY will contain the ballot
for the 1960 poll) indicate that PLAYBOY readers know their jazz.
Stan Kenton, for example, has been the reader’s consistent
choice for bandleader. J. J. Johnson has conquered all
trombonists in that category for three years. Paul Desmond, Stan
Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Benny Godman, Barney Kessel,
Ray Brown, Shelly Manne, Lionel
Hampton, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald,
and Dave Brubeck and the Four Freshmen are among
the three-time winners.
In 1959, PLAYBOY initiated its first annual All-Stars’ All-Star
poll, as a special supplement to the readers’ poll. This feature
enables the winning musicians (readers name these winners,
including the leader, four trumpeters, four trombonists, two alto
saxophonists, two tenor saxophonists, baritone saxophonist,
clarinetist, pianist, guitarist,
bassist, drummer, miscellaneous instrumentalist, male and female
vocalists, instrumental combo and vocal group) to vote for their
own favorites.
The 1959 All-Stars’ All-Star poll resulted in recognition - by
musicians - of some of the outstanding figures in jazz. In many
cases, the musicians choices matched the readers selections - an
endorsement of the taste of the PLAYBOY jazz followers.
An integral part of the Playboy Jazz Polls is the annual
Playboy Jazz All-Stars album. The readers, in choosing their
favorite jazz artists, dictate the composition of the album, as
PLAYBOY - with the cooperation of the major record companies -
produces the unique, two LP set for distribution here and abroad.
It’s PLAYBOY’s way of honoring the winners of its annual jazz poll.
The third album in the series will be released later this year and
will include performances by the 1959 poll winners.
For three years, the PLAYBOY sterling silver medallion award
has been one of the most prized possessions of jazz poll winners.
Thanks to PLAYBOY’s continued support of jazz, including the
presentation of its first jazz festival, the award promises to be
revered by those musicians who now posses one and those musicians
who are striving to win one.
On the opposite page is a listing of those musicians who have
been winners in the Playboy Jazz Polls.
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