I started seeing Big Jay when I was a teenager in 1954 in Santa Barbara, California. He would come to the Carrillo Auditorium on a Friday night every other month and play. Other bands like Earl Bostic, Chuck Higgins, Joe Houston and others would come from Los Angeles on other Fridays too. These were more like dances, not concerts..... Big Jay was my favorite. I was lucky and saw him in the Los Angeles area a few years back before he passed away. We talked and he remembered those days in Santa Barbara.
I was Big Jay Manager for France. Such a nice man and a great musician. I miss him so much. I remember' a jam session in Vienne (France) with Solomon Burke. I remember him eating peanuts backstage. He loved them so much. God bless you brother.
Just Learning About This Big, Vivacious Talented Sax Player. May He Have His Wish In The Heavens And Playing For Our LORD And Savior...Amen!!! (He Didn't Get His Worth On Earth...But, One Could NEVER Out Rate, Out Price, Out Earn JESUS!!!) So, Mr. Big Jay McNeely...JOB WELL DONE!!! Glad I Got To Learn Of Your Gifts You Left For The World To Enjoy And Those Who Appreciated Your Talent...No Skin Color Necessary To Jam Out To Great Music -Eh. Rest Easy...Amen!!! What A Treasure!!! TFS!!! ✝️🛐💜
Excellent documentary, RCHC!! I had the privilege of playing with Big Jay a few times in Los Angeles as well as at VLV weekender. He was such an inspiration and his energy on stage was impossible to ignore. RIP Big Jay. Looking forward to seeing RCHC at this next VLV.
For couple of months a picture keeps popping on my facebook of this man laying on is back playing saxophone euphorically and he kinda surrounded by whites kids going crazy !! and i'm like who his this person ??? so i decided to look up !! so here i'am !! so sad to here he passed away a couple years back . but never the less this mini documentary as show me who is the man i was looking for !!! May your Soul rest in peace Mr big Jay McNeely . I will sure look for more of his music and learn more of this giant of Jazz music .
I'm so glad I came across this. Just think, no Big Jay no Arnett Cobb, no late Coltrane. They all walked the bar in their day. I just wished there had been more of Jay's ecstatic playing.
I only know of one piece of footage of Big Jay from the 50s. That is on a tv show where he did deacon´s hop. He also got on his back, but they cut that part our, cause it was too wild, they thought. Mel Thorme was on the same show. What a combination:) We couldn´t clear the rights. Today it is in the archive of UCLA. Come on! Someone dig it out, clear the rights and give it to the world!!!
In very loving memory of Mr. Cecil James McNeely (1927 - 2018 R.I.P. // Gone but NOT forgotten).
"I said, 'There has got to be a better way to live than working eight hour a day.'' "
Hear! Hear! Mr McNeely, my thoughts exactly.
I started seeing Big Jay when I was a teenager in 1954 in Santa Barbara, California. He would come to the Carrillo Auditorium on a Friday night every other month and play. Other bands like Earl Bostic, Chuck Higgins, Joe Houston and others would come from Los Angeles on other Fridays too. These were more like dances, not concerts..... Big Jay was my favorite.
I was lucky and saw him in the Los Angeles area a few years back before he passed away. We talked and he remembered those days in Santa Barbara.
I was Big Jay Manager for France. Such a nice man and a great musician. I miss him so much. I remember' a jam session in Vienne (France) with Solomon Burke. I remember him eating peanuts backstage. He loved them so much. God bless you brother.
Just Learning About This Big, Vivacious Talented Sax Player. May He Have His Wish In The Heavens And Playing For Our LORD And Savior...Amen!!! (He Didn't Get His Worth On Earth...But, One Could NEVER Out Rate, Out Price, Out Earn JESUS!!!) So, Mr. Big Jay McNeely...JOB WELL DONE!!! Glad I Got To Learn Of Your Gifts You Left For The World To Enjoy And Those Who Appreciated Your Talent...No Skin Color Necessary To Jam Out To Great Music -Eh. Rest Easy...Amen!!! What A Treasure!!! TFS!!!
✝️🛐💜
I enjoy all the older JAZZ singers& Musician they had fun just enjoyed themselves everyone loved them
What's wonderful the young European folks are preserving the legacy of African American Blues.
Rest on King. Thank you for your raw rhythm and soul. Thank you for sharing your gift and talent with us. My condolences to the family.
Black music! Loved and shared.🫶🏿
Excellent documentary, RCHC!! I had the privilege of playing with Big Jay a few times in Los Angeles as well as at VLV weekender. He was such an inspiration and his energy on stage was impossible to ignore. RIP Big Jay. Looking forward to seeing RCHC at this next VLV.
I know you must have enjoyed those times.
Thank you. Ray Collins hot club
R.I.P Mr. McNeely.
Glad I came across your talent.
A huge influence on music for decades!
I played baritoe behind Big Jay when he toured in Sydney in 1987.
Well done! This documentary was a joy to watch. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. GiGi
RIP Big Jay. Your honkin lives on!
I interviewed Big Jay for my radio show, CiTR University of British Columbia. Spent the whole day with him at his home in Watts. He was magnficent.
Thank you for your great music and contributions to music history.
For couple of months a picture keeps popping on my facebook of this man laying on is back playing saxophone euphorically and he kinda surrounded by whites kids going crazy !! and i'm like who his this person ??? so i decided to look up !! so here i'am !! so sad to here he passed away a couple years back . but never the less this mini documentary as show me who is the man i was looking for !!! May your Soul rest in peace Mr big Jay McNeely . I will sure look for more of his music and learn more of this giant of Jazz music .
Saw the same picture, and found myself here. What a giant of a performer.
I'm so glad I came across this. Just think, no Big Jay no Arnett Cobb, no late Coltrane. They all walked the bar in their day. I just wished there had been more of Jay's ecstatic playing.
thanks the video! long Boogie for Big Jay!
Nice..👍🎷🎼🎵🎶
Priveleged to have been out in service with this man
Luv it -thnk you . RIP - I met him twce.
Was this recorded in 2018? Jesus I know black folk age better than white ppl, but if it was 2018 he looks amazing for 91. RIP anyway.
I was married to his wife's brother in the 60s
Thanks !
That was great what year was that filmed?
Give mutha fucking credit where credit is due, American music is “ethnic” or “race” music!.......aka black music! Yeah, All of it!
Yeah...Black Everything!!!
✌🏾✊🏾👊🏾
What about the 50s footage of Big Jay , will that be used elsewhere?
I only know of one piece of footage of Big Jay from the 50s.
That is on a tv show where he did deacon´s hop. He also got on his back, but they cut that part our, cause it was too wild, they thought. Mel Thorme was on the same show. What a combination:)
We couldn´t clear the rights. Today it is in the archive of UCLA. Come on! Someone dig it out, clear the rights and give it to the world!!!
Very incomplete documentary, he doesn't talk about his years with Swingin' Records when he had his biggest commercial success.