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Chuck Israels (b. 1936) was born in New York City. As a bassist, he is best known for his time with the Bill Evans Trio from 1961-1966. In 1966, he left the trio to study composing and arranging with Hall Overton.

Ira Jackson was born in Detroit, MI. A saxophonist, he participated in many loft jam sessions in the early 1960s. Jackson knew loft resident and bassist Jimmy Stevenson and other young Detroit musicians from their youth.

In this oral history, Tomas Janda focuses on his relationship with W. Eugene Smith, whom he met in 1958. Janda talks about helping move Smith's materials into his space at the Jazz Loft building and visitors to Smith's space including Salvador Dali, Zoot Sims, and Nechama Hendel. Also of note is Janda's discussion of his own interest in photography, his work in construction, and his memories of Hall Overton.