The Connection (play)

The Connection is a 1959 play by Jack Gelber. It was first produced by the Living Theatre, directed by Living Theatre co-founder Judith Malina, and designed by co-founder Julian Beck. The play has a play-within-a-play format, with characters Jim Dunn as the "producer" and Jaybird as the "writer". They are attempting to stage a production about the underbelly of society using "real" addicts. Some of the addicts are jazz musicians. They all (except for the "producer", "writer", and two "photographers") have one thing in common: they are waiting around for their drug dealer, their "connection". The dialogue of the characters is interspersed with performances of jazz. The music was composed by jazz pianist Freddie Redd.

Production credits

Written by Jack Gelber
Directed by Judith Malina
Designed by Julian Beck
Original Cast:
Jim Dunn - Leonard Hicks
Jaybird - Ira Lewis
Leach - Warren Finnerty
Solly - Jerome Raphel
Sam - John McCurry
Ernie - Garry Goodrow
1st Musician - Freddie Redd (composer, piano)
4th Musician - Michael Mattos (bass)
First Photographer - Louis McKenzie
Second Photographer - Jamil Zakkai
2nd Musician - Jackie McLean (alto saxophone)
3rd Musician - Larry Ritchie (drums)
Harry - Henry Proach
Sister Salvation - Barbara Winchester
Cowboy - Carl Lee
Man in audience - Martin Sheen (uncredited)

The Connection

The Connection may refer to:

  • The Connection (band), a rock n roll band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire
  • The Connection (play), a stage play by Jack Gelber, performed by the Living Theater
  • The Connection (soundtrack), a jazz album of music for Jack Gelber's 1959 play composed by Freddie Redd and released by Blue Note Records
  • The Music from the Connection, a jazz album by Howard McGhee, also featuring Redd's music, released by Felsted Records
  • The Connection (1961 film), a Shirley Clarke film adapted from the 1959 play by Jack Gelber
  • The Connection (DeLon album), 2005
  • The Connection (Papa Roach album), 2012
  • The Connection (radio program), a National Public Radio program broadcast in the United States from 1994 to 2005
  • The Music From The Connection (Freddie Redd Quartet)

    The Music From The Connection is an album of music composed for Jack Gelber's 1959 play of the same name by jazz pianist Freddie Redd which was released on the Blue Note label in 1960. It features performances by Redd, Jackie McLean, Michael Mattos, and Larry Ritchie.

    Jack Gelber originally planned for the play to feature improvised music performed by jazz musicians who would also play small roles in the production. Freddie Redd however persuaded Gelber to include his original score.

    Track listing

  • "Who Killed Cock Robin" - 5:21
  • "Wigglin'" - 5:58
  • "Music Forever" - 5:52
  • "Time To Smile" - 6:24
  • "(Theme for) Sister Salvation" - 4:43
  • "Jim Dunn's Dilemma" - 5:37
  • "O.D. (Overdose)" - 4:41
  • Personnel

  • Freddie Redd - piano
  • Jackie McLean - alto saxophone
  • Michael Mattos - bass
  • Larry Ritchie - drums
  • Other performances that accompanied The Connection

    Revised Cast, 1961

    Original score, new cast

  • Freddie Redd, composer/piano
  • Howard McGhee, trumpet
  • Tina Brooks (originally Jackie McLean's understudy), tenor saxophone
  • The Connection (band)

    The Connection is an American rock and roll and power pop band, formed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 2011 by singer-songwriters Brad Marino and Geoff Palmer. Other current members include Bobby Davis on bass, Rick Orcutt on drums, and Kris "Fingers" Rodgers on keyboards.

    Goldmine Magazine placed the band's first full-length LP, 2013's Let It Rock!, on its "Top 20 Albums of 2013" list, stating, “A helping of punk energy, plenty of pop songwriting smarts and a whole lotta rock and roll attitude sums up these New Hampshire boys.” A number of their tracks have been chosen by Steven Van Zandt and his Underground Garage radio station as "The Coolest Song in the World."

    History

    Founding

    The Connection was formed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 2011 by Geoff Palmer, 34 (as of early 2014), and Brad Marino, 27, both American singer-songwriter and guitarists, who had discovered a mutual passion for the sounds of the British Invasion, Power Pop and pure Rock N Roll. The two began writing songs together in Palmer's Portsmouth living room. They took the band’s name from the 1966 Rolling Stones song “Connection," just as the Stones had taken their name from "Rollin' Stone" by Muddy Waters.

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