This is an emotionally stirring and expressive Vintage Old Modern Expressionist Jazz Oil Painting on Masonite, by Southern California mid-century modernist painter, Jazz musician and Jazz Album illustration artist Rodney Evans Bacon (1922 - 2006.) Rodney Evans Bacon was a resident of Hermosa Beach, California, and it is said that he paid his rent for the room he stayed in with his paintings. He intended to create a book with all of his artworks, but unfortunately it never came to pass. He designed numerous album covers for the Jazz label, Lighthouse Record Company in the 1950's & 1960's. Despite his tremendous talent, there is very little biographical information about him, and the available info I found about him is scattered all across the Internet. Perhaps you know more about the artist or his work? This piece is titled: "So I Was Wrong" in the lower right corner and signed and dated: "Rodney Evans Bacon '62" in the lower left corner. This painting depicts a lonely marionette clown puppet, with his strings dangling from overhead. He sits on the floor in a defeated and exasperated manner, and stares balefully at the viewer. Approximately 34 1/2 x 50 1/2 x 1 1/2 inches (including frame.) Actual artwork is approximately 28 x 44 inches. Good overall condition for age, with moderate scratches, scuffing and edge wear to the original period vintage wood frame. Shipping will be unavoidably high due to the large size and weight of this piece. However, Free Local Pickup from Los Angeles County, California is also an option. Acquired in Orange County, California. If you like what you see, I encourage you to make an Offer. Please check out my other listings for more wonderful and unique artworks!



About the Artist:

RODNEY EVANS BACON
 
B. Feb 18,1922 in Los Angeles
D. May 6, 2006 in Pomona, CA

Rodney Evans Bacon: Is an American artist who is known for his jazz-themed artwork. Illustrated for a magazine called 'Jazz Americana' published in 1956 published by Trend Books.  He also designed album covers for various jazz musicians and today his artworks are prominent features in exhibition across the globe, where they are enjoyed by critics and collectors alike.



Once the supply of the Lighthouse Record Company edition of SUNDAY JAZZ A LA LIGHTHOUSE, VOL. 1, C301, was sold out, Contemporary Records kept the 12” LP in stock with new pressings with the Contemporary Records, Lighthouse Series, label and the same jacket art by Rodney Evans Bacon whose paintings adorned the walls of the Lighthouse and who would play the conga drum on the Thursday night ‘mambo’ sessions at the Lighthouse.  Later releases of C3501 dropped the Bacon artwork for a photo of the All Stars on the bandstand.



West Coast Jazz was born in California, and throughout the 1950’s and 60’s the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach was the very center of it.


In 1949 the club owners allowed bassist and bandleader Howard Rumsey to put together a house band, which he led for many years - often through exhausting 12 hour jam sessions. The house band grew into an institution that came to be known as the Lighthouse All-Stars, and featured a “Who’s Who” of West Coast jazz legends: Conte Candoli, Shorty Rogers, Richie Kamuca, Bill Holman, Gerry Mulligan, Bud Shank, Shelly Manne, and Jimmy Giuffre were regulars. Max Roach was the regular drummer for a time. Maynard Ferguson and Chet Baker sat in. The club also became an important venue for recording; Art Pepper, Lee Morgan, Cannonball Adderley, Mose Allison, Ramsey Lewis, Art Blakey, Charles Earland, Grant Green, Elvin Jones, Cal Tjader, the Modern Jazz Quartet, The Three Sounds, the Jazz Crusaders and Joe Henderson all made recordings there. Chet Baker and Miles Davis recorded there with the Lighthouse All-Stars. The Lighthouse was the place to be for West Coast Jazz, although it also served as a confluence for other artists as well.


In the early 1950’s now-manager Howard Rumsey began displaying modern art in the Lighthouse and for several years the paintings of contemporary artists including Rodney Evans Bacon were a regular part of the club’s decor. Bacon, a California artist known for surreal jazz-themed paintings, is closely associated with the West Coast Jazz movement. He is also known for his work designing jazz album covers. Bacon also once appeared in a film as a conga player on stage with Shorty Rogers.