Phyllis Litoff
Encyclopedia
Phyllis Weisbart Litoff was a singer, jazz
impresario, and artistic director. For many years she was the co-owner of Sweet Basil Jazz Club
in Greenwich Village
and was one of the founders of the Greenwich Village Jazz Festival. During the last nine years of her life, she was also the Artistic Director of the Belleayre Music Festival
, where the main performing pavilion now bears her name.
in 1938, Litoff graduated from The High School of Music & Art
. Although a classically trained vocalist, she initially worked as a nightclub singer and in musical theatre
as well as teaching voice. In 1981, she and her husband, Mel Litoff bought the well known Sweet Basil Jazz Club, where she was influential in the appearances of many prominent jazz musicians, including Sharon Freeman
, Lester Bowie
, Pharoah Sanders
and Hamiett Bluiett. For a time in the early 1980s, she and her husband also owned the Lush Life Jazz Club on Bleecker Street
. Her singing appearances became increasingly rare once she began working as a jazz impressario, although she did occasionally perform at Lush Life.
After the Litoffs sold the Sweet Basil Jazz Club in 1992, they volunteered to be the artistic directors of the fledgling Belleayre Music Festival
and to expand the initially modest single concerts into an annual summer series. The festival became a prominent event with performances by some of the best-known names in music, ranging from jazz and pop to Broadway and classical.
Phyllis Litoff died of brain cancer
at her home in Highmount, New York
on 7 July 2002, aged 63.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
impresario, and artistic director. For many years she was the co-owner of Sweet Basil Jazz Club
Sweet Basil Jazz Club
The Sweet Basil Jazz Club was a jazz club in New York City's Greenwich Village. It was considered among the prominent jazz clubs in New York . Many jazz albums were recorded live at the Sweet Basil, including Cecil Taylor's Iwontunwonsi, McCoy Tyner's Live at Sweet Basil and Solar: Live at Sweet...
in Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
and was one of the founders of the Greenwich Village Jazz Festival. During the last nine years of her life, she was also the Artistic Director of the Belleayre Music Festival
Belleayre Music Festival
The Belleayre Music Festival is an annual festival in the Catskill Mountains of Upstate New York. Founded in Highmount, NY, Phyllis and Mel Litoff, raised the prominence of the festival after becoming co-artistic directors in 1993...
, where the main performing pavilion now bears her name.
Biography
Born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1938, Litoff graduated from The High School of Music & Art
The High School of Music & Art
The High School of Music & Art, informally known as "Music & Art", was a public alternative high school at 443-465 West 135th Street, New York, New York, USA that existed from 1936 through 1984, and then merged into the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing...
. Although a classically trained vocalist, she initially worked as a nightclub singer and in musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
as well as teaching voice. In 1981, she and her husband, Mel Litoff bought the well known Sweet Basil Jazz Club, where she was influential in the appearances of many prominent jazz musicians, including Sharon Freeman
Sharon Freeman
Sharon Freeman is a jazz pianist and French hornist. She also writes musical arrangements.Freeman played French horn for the jazz opera Escalator over the Hill, Gil Evans's 1973 album Svengali, and in 1983 she worked on a piece of jazz Christmas music. Since 1982 she is a member of Charlie Haden's...
, Lester Bowie
Lester Bowie
Lester Bowie was an American jazz trumpet player and composer. He was a member of the AACM, and cofounded the Art Ensemble of Chicago.-Biography:...
, Pharoah Sanders
Pharoah Sanders
Pharoah Sanders is a Grammy Award–winning American jazz saxophonist.Saxophonist Ornette Coleman once described him as "probably the best tenor player in the world." Emerging from John Coltrane's groups of the mid-60s Sanders is known for his overblowing, harmonic, and multiphonic techniques on...
and Hamiett Bluiett. For a time in the early 1980s, she and her husband also owned the Lush Life Jazz Club on Bleecker Street
Bleecker Street
Bleecker Street is a street in New York City's Manhattan borough. It is perhaps most famous today as a Greenwich Village nightclub district. The street is a spine that connects a neighborhood today popular for music venues and comedy, but which was once a major center for American bohemia.Bleecker...
. Her singing appearances became increasingly rare once she began working as a jazz impressario, although she did occasionally perform at Lush Life.
After the Litoffs sold the Sweet Basil Jazz Club in 1992, they volunteered to be the artistic directors of the fledgling Belleayre Music Festival
Belleayre Music Festival
The Belleayre Music Festival is an annual festival in the Catskill Mountains of Upstate New York. Founded in Highmount, NY, Phyllis and Mel Litoff, raised the prominence of the festival after becoming co-artistic directors in 1993...
and to expand the initially modest single concerts into an annual summer series. The festival became a prominent event with performances by some of the best-known names in music, ranging from jazz and pop to Broadway and classical.
Phyllis Litoff died of brain cancer
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
at her home in Highmount, New York
Shandaken, New York
Shandaken is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 3,235. The name is from a native phrase for "land of rapid waters."...
on 7 July 2002, aged 63.