The Haig
The Haig was a jazz club located at 638 South Kenmore Avenue in Hollywood.
History
Located across from the Ambassador Hotel, which housed the famous supper club,The Cocoanut Grove. The Haig club was originally a bungalow home, which was then converted by owner John Bennett into a club. It has been described as looking more like a doll house than a club. In early 1952 Gerry Mulligan walked into the club and found Erroll Garner, Bobby Short and others jamming without amplification. He joined in on an informal Monday night jam. He would later take over the jam night. Mulligan would audition and work with artist such as Chet Baker, Chico Hamilton and Bob Whitlock and many others.[1] In its time, Erroll Garner, Shorty Rogers, Red Norvo, Laurindo Almeida, Ornette Coleman and Bud Shank all played the club. Gerry Mulligan's first California band was formed at The Haig and maintained an eleven-month engagement there beginning in the spring of 1952. This edition of the Gerry Mulligan quartet would help to bring trumpeter Chet Baker to prominence. In its short life the pianoless quartet released several records for Richard Bock's Pacific label.
Live recordings
- Harry Edison - Sweets at the Haig (Pacific 4)
- Gerry Mulligan - Gerry Mulligan Quartet with Lee Konitz (Pacific 2)
- Gerry Mulligan - Lee Konitz and the Gerry Mulligan Quartet (Pacific 10)
- Chet Baker and Stan Getz - West Coast Live (Pacific Jazz, 1953 [1997])
See also
References
Gioia, Ted. West Coast Jazz: Modern Jazz in California 1945-1960. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992.
Coordinates: 34°03′44″N 118°17′47″W / 34.0621°N 118.2964°W