Perfect World Network Radio

Blues Alley is the oldest continuously-running jazz club in the country.  And it's celebrating its 50th birthday this weekend!  (Go to the web site to see who's goign to be appearing for the birthday party.)  There have only been four owners since 1965, and Harry Schnipper, the current owner, talks with us about the club's illustrious history.    Blues Alley's fame has spread way all over the world. Every jazz great has played there. Harry talks about Dizzy (Gillespie), Wynton (Marsalis),  Sara (Vaughan), etc. as though he's on a first-name-basis with them, because he was. Harry is also passionate about music education and raising the next generation of jazz artists and audiences. So, when Dizzy approached him in 1985 about starting a youth jazz orchestra, he jumped on it. Besides the club, the kids have played Wolf Trap,  the Smithsonian, the White House, and more. It has graduated kids into every major music academy in the country. He recently added a summer camp to the non-profit program.  1069 Wisconsin