January 2002

Philly Jazz
Archive <& /articles/phil_archive.tmp &>

By Donald True Van Deusen

Jimmy Oliver, a tenor sax man who is something of an unsung Philadelphia jazz legend, was blowing up a storm and breaking hearts with breathtaking ballads December 21st at Ortlieb's Jazz Haus, 847 N. 3rd St., Philadelphia (215-922-1035) . Sets run from 8:45 P. M. to 1:30 A. M. for just a $10 cover. He was joined in this all-star Christmas offering by two other Philadelphia jazz icons--Sam Dockery on piano and Mickey Roker on drums. Mike Boone, a master jazz bassist, clearly destined himself to becoming a jazz legend, will round out the group. Both Dockery and Roker, like Oliver, have jazz histories that would fill a book to be properly told.

Oliver goes back to the early 1940s in Philadelphia jazz history playing at such clubs as Little's Cafe, Irene's, the Downbeat and the Gem. Born in Columbia, S. C., Oliver came here when he was just a year old and remembers working at local clubs when he was just seventeen. He has played with such all stars as Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Lester Young, whom he admires greatly as most sax men do. When the Gem became the Zanzibar in 1946 (according to Oliver) he was in the house band that included Butch Ballard on drums and later, the renowned Philly Joe Jones.

Like his idol, Lester Young, Oliver can play beautiful ballads or jumping jazz and bop numbers. Among his favorites, some of which he may play tonight are such gems as Autumn in New York, Willow Weep for Me, Just Friends and Lester Leaps In.

The next night's sets had another all star contingent with Frank Tiberi on tenor sax, Sid Simmons on piano, Bim Strassberg on bass and Mickey Roker on drums. The jazz parade at Orlieb's just keeps marching along.