Dan Barrett’s excellent article “Thoughts on the South Frisco Jazz Band” (TST, February, 2023) is a vivid description of the South Frisco’s sound and the atmosphere of the band’s home base—the Pizza Palace in Huntington Beach.
As Dan wrote, the South Frisco Jazz Band was a great influence on the musical careers of many young musicians in Southern California—including me. But in addition, the band also introduced me to a new style of music: New Orleans Jazz.
Before describing that initial exposure, a bit of backtracking is in order…In San Diego during the 1960s, there was little live jazz to be heard. Most jazz bands played in bars, and the California Alcoholic Beverage Control Board was anything but lenient regarding the concept of minors being allowed into an establishment where food was not served alongside the booze. There were only a couple of venues in San Diego where live jazz could be heard. Both were bars, where no food was available. On a birthday excursion to family-friendly Disneyland, I heard the Firehouse Five Plus Two live and instantly became a fan. Luckily, my parents thoroughly enjoyed the music and they were willing to make the trek to Anaheim on many more occasions.
South Frisco Jazz Band at the Pizza Palace – Huntington Beach, California circa 1968. Vince Saunders, banjo/leade
