(This is the second of a series of articles on Boston Jazz, its past, present, and prospects.)

When John Harvard marched off to war in 1941, the Savoy Cafe in the 400's of Columbus Avenue was already established as THE jazz spot of Boston. Manager Stevens Edward Connolly did S.R.O. business with Sabby Lewis, Pete Brown, and Frank Newton alternating as bandstand headliners to the accompaniment of a bar policy that hit the ceiling at six bits. In fact, the joint became so congested with characters that in early '43, moving day was declared to larger quarter on Mass. Ave., just across the bridge from Symphony.

Frank Stacy, editor of the music trade paper "Down Beat," was a Senior at Harvard when the new Savoy unshuttered and had this to say about the opening night atmosphere. "The crowd that showed up tonight to hear Sabby Lewis was a motley one, comprising Harvard Freshmen, visiting musicians, sailors and soldiers, sub-debs, debs, and addebs, and the local jazz critics." Rank heresy it is to classify Harvard men and jazz critics as "motely," but the description is accurate. Black and white enjoy the same music, drink the same liquor, and share the same table, while inhibitions are checked with Claude at the door.

The present featured attraction at the Savoy is a brand new eight piece outfit fronted by ex-G.I. tenorman Jackie Fields. Jackie will be remembered by the ancients for his work with Newton's old band, which also featured Vic Dickenson and Arthur Herbert. The group is still rough and the style is more jump than jazz, but nevertheless Fields' musical product is far more pleasing than the senile, sterile harmonics of nearly every other night club band in this bailiwick of the Irish and Beacon Hill Puritans.

A continuous entertainment policy is upheld by an alternate group under the baton of Sherman Freeman, also a tenor-man and Newton alumnus. Upon all too rare occasions a gal named Shirley Mhore sits in on vocals and makes you forget all about people named Lena Horne or Billie Holliday. The grapevine has it that in a few weeks Shirley will go on the payroll. That would really be a break for jazz in Boston.