Philip Elwood
Philip "Phil" Elwood was born on March 19, 1926 in Berkeley, where his father was a professor of agriculture at the University of California.
As a teenager, Phil was introduced to jazz by photographer Dorothea Lange, prompting a lifelong love of the genre and inspiring him to build a large jazz record collection.
Elwood's love of jazz led to a career in radio and print journalism. From 1952-1996, he hosted a weekly series, Jazz Archives, on Berkeley's KPFA, making him one of the first jazz broadcasters in FM radio.
His work in radio celebrated the resurgence of interest in early jazz and documented what became known as the "San Francisco Style".
1965 while working at KPFA, Elwood joined the San Francisco Examiner as an entertainment critic, where he covered jazz, rock, blues, comedy, and cabaret shows in the Bay Area. After 2000, he continued his newspaper career at the San Francisco Chronicle. Following retirement
Phil died in 2006.
(Photo: Philip broadcasting on KPFA in 1959, playing Miles Davis)
195 articles
List of articles in the library
Judy Garland: Circle Star Theater, San Carlos CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 2 September 1965
Judy's Electric, but Searching Evening ...
John Coltrane, Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner: The John Coltrane Quartet: Jazz Workshop, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 15 September 1965
Coltrane, Jones Explode Together ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 4 October 1965
Rock-and-Roll Party Bedlam ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 19 October 1965
Some Bright New Music ...
Ramsey Lewis Trio: Basin Street West, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 October 1965
'In-Crowd' Leader Arrives ...
Is Trips Festival Really Necessary?
Report by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 24 January 1966
AFTER THREE weekend nights of ear-splitting, head-aching, eye-straining audio-visual bedlam in the Longshoremen's Hall, a collective patronage of 10,000 kicks-seekers should be wondering by now, ...
Roswell Rudd, Archie Shepp: The Archie Shepp-Roswell Rudd Quartet: Both/And Club, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 27 January 1966
Exciting New Wave Jazz From N.Y. Blows Into Town ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 5 February 1966
New Sounds Fill the Night Air ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 19 February 1966
Slick, Simple Tijuana Brass ...
Dizzy Gillespie, James Moody: Dizzy Gillespie: Basin Street West, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 4 March 1966
Dizzy Strikes Mood Change ...
Horace Silver: Jazz Workshop, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 30 March 1966
Silver Keeps His Memorable Style ...
Bill Evans: Both/And, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, May 1966
A Masterful Jazzman ...
Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 7 May 1966
It's Coleman At His Best ...
Big Mama Thornton: Big Mama Thornton In Europe (Arhoolie 1028)
Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 21 May 1966
WILLIE MAE "Big Mama" Thornton, certainly the finest woman blues singer you'll hear these days, finally has a good recording on the market. Big Mama ...
Miles Davis Quintet: Memorial Auditorium, Stanford University, Stanford CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 23 May 1966
The Best, by Miles Davis ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 30 May 1966
Gimmicky 'Explosion' ...
Chet Baker: The Chet Baker Quintet: Smokin' (Prestige 7449)
Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 4 June 1966
Baker Rides High On Flugelhorn ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 18 August 1966
Some Real Flying In the Fillmore ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 25 August 1966
Both/And: New Jazz Fireworks ...
The Beatles: Candlestick Park, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 30 August 1966
Beatles Strike Out at Ball Park ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 24 September 1966
Blues-Rock Spectacular ...
Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 12 November 1966
Mingus, MJQ And Yule Classic ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 21 December 1966
Otis Redding — Rhythm and Blues Tidal Wave ...
The Monkees: Cow Palace, Daly City CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 23 January 1967
A Gleeful Time With the Monkees Spoofing, Chatter Thrill Youngsters ...
The Rolling Stones: Between the Buttons (London)
Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 31 January 1967
Stones' Latest LP Is a Smasher ...
Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams: Miles Davis: Davis Has His Best Jazz Unit
Profile by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 18 April 1967
THE MILES Davis Quintet which enters its last week at the Both/And tonight is an exhilarating and important jazz ensemble. ...
Ornette Coleman: Pauley Ballroom, University of California, Berkeley CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 29 May 1967
Coleman Gets a Poor Hearing ...
The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Capitol SMAS 2653)
Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 3 June 1967
Last Respects to Beatles In an Album That Turns on ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 13 July 1967
The Biggest Show in Town ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 25 August 1967
Blues from City and Country ...
Betty Carter, Jimmy Smith: Jimmy Smith: the Jazz Workshop; Betty Carter: Both/And, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 25 October 1967
Jimmy Smith Draws Crowd At Workshop ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 13 November 1967
There's Little Dancing At Dance-Concerts ...
The Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour (Capitol)
Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 7 December 1967
Beatles' Astonishing Tour — Old Sound Gone in New Album ...
Roy Ayers, Herbie Mann, Sonny Sharrock, Miroslav Vitous: Herbie Mann: Both/And, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 13 December 1967
Exciting Quintet in Town ...
Cream, Big Black: Winterland, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 1 March 1968
Cream Whips Up a Storm ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 2 March 1968
"Rock and Roll '68" — Good Panorama of the Pop Scene ...
Buck Owens: Carousel Ballroom, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 11 March 1968
Exhilarating Time With Buck Owens ...
Rahsaan Roland Kirk: Roland Kirk: Jazz Workshop, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 3 April 1968
Kirk Brightens New Workshop ...
Report by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 20 May 1968
SIXTEEN HOURS of the same thing gets to be an enervating experience even if one is a super-rock fan and many of the nation's outstanding ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 24 May 1968
A Wide Range of New Sounds at the Fillmore ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 8 June 1968
Ballroom Is No Place for A Concert ...
It's a Beautiful Day: New New Sounds
Interview by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 30 June 1968
BRIGHTEST AND most compelling of the newer local modern music groups, and certainly the one with the most intriguing sounds and name is violinist David ...
Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs: Flatt & Scruggs: hungry i, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 2 July 1968
Fine Flatt-Scruggs Sextet ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 10 July 1968
Lots of Room at Fillmore West ...
James Brown: Oakland Auditorium, Oakland CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 30 July 1968
Music World's Soul Brother: James Brown Deserves Title ...
Freddie Hubbard Jazz Quintet: Both/And, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 4 August 1968
Hubbard Jazz Quintet — The Best Anywhere ...
Ornette Coleman: Hearst Greek Theatre, Berkeley CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 13 August 1968
Like a Scene Out of a Surrealist Film ...
Ike & Tina Turner: Basin Street West, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 15 August 1968
Like Old Days in Harlem: A Roaring Good Show ...
Rahsaan Roland Kirk: Roland Kirk's Expanding World
Profile and Interview by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 12 September 1968
MUCH OF Roland Kirk's life has been a dogmatic and frustrating crusade to make his listeners realize that the reason he plays two or three ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 5 October 1968
Cream's Farewell Had Beautiful Support ...
Our Famed Fillmore Goes East — With a Difference
Report by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 27 October 1968
DURING THE past two and a half years the San Francisco Fillmore has become internationally famous as the principal shrine of rock 'n' roll concerts ...
Santana: Matrix, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 14 November 1968
Santana Band Up Close ...
Ten Years After, Dancing, Food and Entertainment: Fillmore West, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 November 1968
New Group at Fillmore West: Jazz Is Wildly Abandoned ...
The Beatles: The Beatles (Apple)
Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 19 November 1968
Beatles' Latest-in a Plain Wrapper ...
Larry Coryell: The Trident, Sausalito CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 21 November 1968
3 Old Friends Bust Loose At the Trident ...
Sun Ra & the Myth-Science Solar Arkestra: Community Theater, Berkeley CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 12 December 1968
Lift Missing in Space Music ...
George Duke, The Third Wave: The Third Wave, George Duke: Trident, Sausalito CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 12 December 1968
5 Little Girls And Mr. Duke ...
Country Joe & the Fish, Led Zeppelin: Fillmore West, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 11 January 1969
Impressive New Rock Group ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 10 February 1969
Long Shot Tops Jazz Stars ...
Joni Mitchell: Zellerbach Hall, University of California, Berkeley CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 17 February 1969
Joni Mitchell Does It Right ...
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles: Mr. D's, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 6 March 1969
The Soul Shows Through ...
Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jethro Tull, Sanpaku: Fillmore West, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 14 March 1969
Creedence Playing Better Than Ever ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 31 March 1969
Opening Night Crowd Cheers Watts Band ...
Interview by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 8 April 1969
WHAT'S THE magic ingredient that makes popular hit records? If anyone knew for sure he'd have a billion dollar industry rotating around him, at 45 ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 17 April 1969
Wild Choruses 'Lift' a Rock Group ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 18 April 1969
The Band — Too Little, Too Late ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 25 April 1969
Overblown Zeppelin Takes Off ...
Herbie Hancock: the Both/And, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 1 May 1969
Hancock Probing New Areas ...
Gladys Knight and the Pips: Gladys Knight & the Pips: Mr D's, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 14 May 1969
Gladys Knight Show Solid, Exhilarating ...
John Lee Hooker, Earl Hooker: Mandrake's, Berkeley CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 22 May 1969
Great Blues in the Night ...
Bill Evans: The Bill Evans Trio: the Jazz Workshop, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 27 June 1969
Jazz Pianist Mystery ...
Tony Bennett: Mr. D's, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 19 July 1969
Tony's Lasting Spell ...
Elvin Bishop, The Doors, Lonnie Mack: The Doors, Lonnie Mack, Elvin Bishop: Cow Palace, Daly City SF
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 26 July 1969
Morrison Closes Doors on Fans ...
Ike & Tina Turner Revue: Basin Street West, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 4 September 1969
Turning On With Tina ...
Sonny Rollins: Jazz Workshop, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 5 September 1969
Chance to Hear Great Jazz Sax ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 20 September 1969
Sound Troubles: Monterey Opens Weirdly ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 7 November 1969
Led Zeppelin Has a Rare Magic ...
John Fahey, Jesse Fuller, Peter Grant: Giannini School, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 8 November 1969
Strange and Memorable Triple-Bill Folk Concert ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 10 November 1969
Rolling Stones End With an Uproar ...
Danny Cox, The Velvet Underground: The Velvet Underground, Danny Cox: the Matrix, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 13 November 1969
Underground Competition ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 14 November 1969
In Style and Skill CSN&Y Riding High ...
Jethro Tull, MC5: Fillmore West, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 21 November 1969
Good Music and Giggling Foolishness ...
The Temptations: Mr. D's, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 26 November 1969
The Temptations Get a Soul Transplant ...
Bobby "Blue" Bland, Maxayn: Bobby "Blue" Bland, Paulette Parker: Basin Street West, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 3 December 1969
Bobby 'Blue' Bland Is Right On ...
Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones: Still Hope for the Stones
Report by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 3 December 1969
THE ROLLING Stones are still hoping to perform in a gigantic free show in the San Francisco area on Saturday afternoon. ...
Commander Cody: Cody's Airmen On the Way Up
Profile and Interview by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 15 December 1969
THE NATIONAL pop music compass needle has been pointing toward Nashville for over a year and now it is digging into the past of country-and-western ...
Cold Blood: Cold Blood (San Francisco Records)
Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 24 December 1969
THE FIRST issue of San Francisco records, produced for the Fillmore Corporation by David Rubinson, is a recorded introduction to the soul-rock band, Cold Blood. ...
Terry Riley: A Rainbow in Curved Air (Columbia 7315)
Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 24 December 1969
THE WONDERFUL San Franciscan with the strange sounds, Terry Riley, has a second LP out, A Rainbow in Curved Air (Columbia 7315). ...
Grateful Dead: The Grateful Dead: Live/Dead (Warner Bros. 1830)
Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 24 December 1969
The Dead Show New Life on Latest Album ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 5 January 1970
A Bright Light in Oakland ...
Steel Mill, Jonathan Goodlife: Matrix, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 14 January 1970
A Memorable Wet Night With The Steel Mill ...
Bill Graham Plans Winterland Move
Report by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 20 January 1970
ROCK CONCERT-dance impresario Bill Graham, threatened with eviction from his Fillmore West location at Market and Van Ness sometime this year, has made long-range agreements ...
Laura Nyro: Berkeley Community Theater, Berkeley CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 26 January 1970
Poetess at the Piano Comes Back on Top ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 2 February 1970
A Sold-Out Night for Fine Pop ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 13 February 1970
Strong Debut by Nashville 9 ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 21 February 1970
Rock, Roll Show Not Up to Par ...
Sandy Bull, Victoria: Matrix, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 26 February 1970
Talented Sandy Bull Back In His Old Musical Niche ...
Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 16 March 1970
Compatible Pair of LPs By Sebastian and CSN&Y ...
Boz Scaggs: Matrix, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 19 March 1970
The Heaviest Group in Town ...
Bill Evans, Bobby Hutcherson: Both/And, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 25 March 1970
Sailing Along With Jazzman ...
Miles Davis, Grateful Dead: Grateful Dead, Miles Davis: Fillmore West, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 10 April 1970
Miles' Marvelous Montage ...
Pharoah Sanders: Pharaoh Sanders: Both/And Club, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 17 April 1970
Pharaoh Sanders Projects Freedom ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 24 April 1970
Cocker's Classy Collection of Rock Freaks ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 25 April 1970
Miles Davis Stirs Up New Sounds ...
Miles Davis: Both/And, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 6 May 1970
Miles Undeniably Great ...
Pentangle, James Taylor: James Taylor, Pentangle: Community Theater, Berkeley CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 30 May 1970
Pentangle holds up its half of show ...
Jimi Hendrix Experience: Berkeley Community Theater, Berkeley CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 1 June 1970
Musical Trips With Hendrix ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 15 August 1970
An Old-Timer Hangs Loose ...
Arlo Guthrie, Linda Ronstadt: Civic Auditorium, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 17 August 1970
Singers Survive Frightful Sound ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 19 August 1970
Jerry Garcia Keeps Family Together ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 17 September 1970
Cool Times On Broadway ...
Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service: Winterland, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 6 October 1970
Rock Triumvirate Thrills 6000 Fans ...
Big Brother & The Holding Company, Janis Joplin: The Frustrations of Janis Joplin
Obituary by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 6 October 1970
FIDGETING NERVOUSLY, singer Janis Joplin edged toward the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival mike, squinted up at a slim break in the fog overhead, reared back ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 12 December 1970
Sly — Master of Rock-Theater ...
Jerry Garcia, Merl Saunders: Dead Leader Who Is Very Much Alive
Report and Interview by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 11 January 1971
JERRY GARCIA is the principal power plant and instrumental, as well as inspirational, leader of San Francisco's oldest continuing rock band, the Grateful Dead. ...
Thelonious Monk: Mandrake's, Berkeley CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 21 January 1971
Thelonious Monk Plays A Cozy Club ...
John Hammond, Neil Young: Neil Young, John Hammond Jr.: Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 1 February 1971
Neil Young Great As A Solo ...
Curtis Mayfield: Harding Theater, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 22 February 1971
Curtis Mayfield Warms The Harding Theater ...
Aretha Franklin, King Curtis & the Kingpins: Fillmore West, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 6 March 1971
Aretha Commands RESPECT ...
The Fourth Way, Santana: Santana, the Fourth Way: Winterland, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 27 March 1971
'Black Sheep' Band Simple, Funky, Loose ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 27 April 1971
Big Talents on Small Club Circuit ...
Jackie DeShannon, Randy Edelman: Jackie DeShannon: Venetian Room, Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 7 May 1971
Jackie Jolts Walls ...
Roberta Flack: Community Theater, Berkeley CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 7 June 1971
Roberta Knocks Them Out ...
Fillmore West Going — Police Blamed
Report and Interview by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 11 June 1971
THE FILLMORE West rock-dance operation at Market and Van Ness will close down permanently at the end of June, an exhausted and bitter Bill Graham ...
Book Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 22 July 1971
A Fine Text on the Rise of Rock ...
Burt Bacharach, Orange Colored Sky: Cow Palace, Daly City CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 24 July 1971
An Evening With Bacharach Pop Format-Artistry Gets to Be Repetitious ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 23 August 1971
An Exciting Show by the Jackson 5 ...
Led Zeppelin: Community Theater, Berkeley CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 15 September 1971
Musical Joke — But Fans Love Led Zeppelin ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 9 October 1971
Driving Blues Into Your Soul ...
Lynn Anderson, Charley Pride: Charley Pride, Lynn Anderson: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 30 October 1971
Perplexing Popularity Of Pride ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 6 November 1971
Down Home Boogie Band ...
Larry Coryell: Keystone Korner, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 1 December 1971
Larry Coryell Zips By ...
Comment by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 19 December 1971
AUDIENCE BEHAVIOR at rock concerts has deteriorated in recent months. Near anarchy exists in many portions of the concert halls. ...
Herbie Hancock: Both/And Club, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 19 February 1972
Hancock Carves Out New Sounds ...
Labelle, Laura Nyro: Laura Nyro, Labelle: Community Theatre, Berkeley CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 28 February 1972
Laura Nyro's Murky Depths ...
Curtis Mayfield, Dionne Warwick: Dionne Warwicke, Curtis Mayfield: Circle Star, San Carlos CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 22 March 1972
Dionne Warwicke Sings to the Rescue ...
Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway: Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack: Community Theater, Berkeley CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 6 May 1972
Soulful, Powerful Show ...
The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder: Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder: Winterland, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 7 June 1972
Rolling, Rocking Stones Gather No Moss ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 17 June 1972
Smokey Fans Spoil Farewell ...
Cheech & Chong, Mahavishnu Orchestra: Berkeley Community Theater, Berkeley CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 20 June 1972
Two Hours of Non-Stop Music By Mahavishnu ...
Honey Cone, The Temptations: The Temptations, The Honey Cone: Circle Star, San Carlos CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 21 June 1972
Temptations Have Never Been Better ...
Grateful Dead: Community Theater, Berkeley CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 22 August 1972
Grateful Crowd on Its Feet 'Dead' Freaks Unite ...
The Staple Singers, Tower Of Power, Bobby Womack: Cow Palace, Daly City CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 26 September 1972
Strenuous Evening At the Cow Palace ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 28 October 1972
Bowie Band Fails To Arouse Crowd ...
Mahavishnu Orchestra: The Mahavishnu Orchestra: Community Theater, Berkeley CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 10 November 1972
Mahavishnu Plays More Jazz-Rock Than Raga ...
Ray Charles, B.B. King: B.B. King, Ray Charles: Circle Star, San Carlos CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 1 December 1972
Let's Call Him King of the B-B-Blues ...
The Mothers of Invention, Weather Report, Copperhead: Winterland, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 16 December 1972
Unique Blend Of Styles at Winterland Show ...
Clover, Sunnyland Slim: Long Branch Saloon, Berkeley CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 22 December 1972
Clover Now a Great Sextet ...
Bill Withers: A Star Now, Shocked By the Shallowness
Interview by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 27 December 1972
THE HUGELY successful singer Bill Withers is a big guy. When he comes through the doorway, he fills it; when he shakes hands, he really ...
Weather Report: Keystone Korner, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 17 February 1973
Hot and Cool — Weather Report Casts Spell ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 24 February 1973
3 Bs' Rock Blues Jam Exciting ...
Tim Buckley: Boarding House, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 2 March 1973
Stupendous Show by Tim Buckley ...
Bruce Springsteen: Community Theater, Berkeley CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 3 March 1973
Electric Guitarist a Blast ...
Linda Ronstadt, Neil Young: Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt: Winterland, Sand Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 22 March 1973
Neil Young: A Reminder of Mellower Days ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 20 April 1973
Country Music Show a Natural ...
John Hammond, Tom Waits: John Hammond Jr. and Tom Waits: Folk-Blues — Two Times And Places
Profile by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 30 May 1973
POPULAR MUSIC generations are particularly short in recent years — styles change, young artists establish new norms, a huge maturing audience sets new standards twice ...
The Stylistics, The Temptations: The Temptations, the Stylistics: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 16 June 1973
Night Was Right, Thrill Wasn't There ...
New York Dolls, The Tubes: The New York Dolls, the Tubes: the Matrix, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 5 September 1973
THE REMARKABLE thing about the rock group called the New York Dolls, who began a three night engagement last night at the new Matrix (once ...
Elton John, Sutherland Brothers and Quiver: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 11 September 1973
Magnificent Ham and a Musical Genius ...
The Wailers: the Matrix, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 30 October 1973
Reggae — active and complex ...
Bobby "Blue" Bland: Bobby Bland: Ruthie's Berkeley; Club Long Island, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 7 November 1973
Bobby Bland and his brilliant band ...
The Band, Bob Dylan: Bob Dylan & the Band: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 12 February 1974
The memory, if not much melody, lingers on ...
The Jackson 5: The J5½ at work and play
Interview by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 22 May 1974
THE JACKSON Five are reaching out, consciously trying to relate their music to an older crowd. ...
Ann Peebles: Soul Train Club, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 2 August 1974
Ann Peebles — a major soul talent in S.F. debut ...
Jobriath, Pamela Polland: Jobriath, Melba Rounds: Boarding House, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 14 August 1974
Boarding House turnout turned on ...
Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt: Berkeley Community Theater, Berkeley CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 26 September 1974
Browne-Raitt concert lifts the usual to new heights ...
Duke Ellington: Harry Carney, an appreciation: A great sax man
Obituary by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 12 October 1974
JAZZ SAXOPHONIST Harry Carney died at age 64 a few days ago in New York City. ...
Sun Ra: Space Is The Place (Dir. John Coney)
Film/DVD/TV Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 14 November 1974
A timeless — also plotless — film of Sun Ra ...
Charlie Daniels Band: Rural electrification hits S.F.
Report and Interview by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 23 December 1974
BIG CHARLIE Daniels brought his roaring good Tennessee mountain-rock 'n' roll band through Winterland over the weekend. ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 7 February 1975
Linda returns as a superstar ...
Roy Buchanan: Community Theater, Berkeley CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 5 April 1975
Buchanan show, was it sabotage? ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 29 April 1975
Herbie Hancock's marathon ...
Kraftwerk: Keystone, Berkeley CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 13 May 1975
German robots of sound ...
Ralph J. Gleason: Yesterday, we were all losers
Obituary by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 4 June 1975
EARLY MORNING phono calls are the bad ones. A year ago I was jangled awake and plunged into gloom on hearing "Duke died." ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 18 November 1975
Can't get enough of 'em ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 17 January 1976
A concert of funk and syncopation ...
Jimmy Reed: A Chicago blues great dead at 50
Obituary by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 31 August 1976
JIMMY REED, one of the great Chicago blues artists, died early yesterday morning in Oakland. He had been playing club engagements throughout Northern California in ...
Cab Calloway: Of Minnie the Moocher and a Cab with ciass
Profile and Interview by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 6 September 1976
CAB CALLOWAY, sharp, nimble, full of stories and laughs, moved through the noontime crowd at the Washington Square Bar and Grill and onto the sundrenched ...
John Handy: Jazzman's new direction
Profile by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 15 September 1976
"HARD WORK," that's what John Handy and his band chanted... Handy blew on the alto sax, the audience at Keystone Korner clapped along in a ...
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 8 May 1977
Downpour fails to dampen Day on the Green spirits ...
Pat Metheny, Marlena Shaw : Marlena Shaw: The City, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 20 May 1977
A singer with everything ...
Sylvester: Old Waldorf, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 21 July 1977
Sylvester: A turn in the right direction ...
Emerson Lake & Palmer, Journey: Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Journey: Cow Palace, Daly City CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 5 August 1977
Smoke, props and balanced sound ...
Bing Crosby: A legend takes up where he left off
Interview by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 11 August 1977
IT USED to be said that Bing Crosby's was the best-known voice in the world, and that his films and wartime appearances in the 1940s ...
Crystal Gayle: She's more than a little sister
Interview by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 17 September 1977
OVER THE last few years, as her own star has been rising high over the country music scene, singer Crystal Gayle has learned to live ...
Donny Osmond, The Osmonds: In the busy world of Donny Osmond
Interview by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 2 November 1977
"YOU'RE GOING to phone Donny Osmond?" A couple of my jazzfan friends stared in disbelief. It was as if I had announced that Duke Ellington ...
Behind the growth of punk rock
Comment by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 13 November 1977
THE UNPRECEDENTED attention being lavished on what is called "punk rock" by record companies, trade papers, publicity houses and international media is clear indication that ...
Obituary by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 6 December 1977
BLIND JAZZ multi-instrumentalist Rahsaan Roland Kirk died of a stroke early Monday morning after finishing a performance at an Indianapolis club. He was 41. ...
Sex Pistols: The Sex Pistols: Winterland, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 16 January 1978
Sex Pistols end U.S. offensive bored but richer ...
The Bee Gees: Disco: They said the same things about the Tango
Comment by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 7 April 1978
"These new dances never lost their original reason for being — passion!" "If couples dancing these new steps could see themselves, especially from the rear, they ...
Mel Tormé: Tormé writes about a singer, but not himself
Interview by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 16 June 1978
YOUR ONLY contact with Mel Tormé has been while he was performing (singing, playing piano or drums, joking). So you've really only gotten a sample ...
Profile and Interview by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 29 September 1978
CHET HELMS was the great visionary of the innocent early days of San Francisco's rock music and hippie scene. ...
Sylvester: War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco CA
Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 13 March 1979
Disco at the Opera House ...
The Shaggs: They are so bad, they're popular
Report by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 13 June 1980
I FIRST HEARD about the Rounder label LP called The Shaggs — Philosophy of the World via a shout of outrage from my 14-year-old son ...
Bruce Springsteen: Secret of Springsteen's success is 'Born in the U.S.A.'
Profile by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 21 October 1984
SAN FRANCISCO'S local entertainment scene in the second week of January 1970 was in its typical, rainy, post-holiday doldrums. ...
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