Ed Polcer

Ed Polcer grew up in a world filled with music and the older people around him were supportive and encouraging. As a result, all throughout his career, Ed sought to do the same for younger musicians. His musical career began when he was a child playing xylophone and his sister sang, the act was called Eddie & Betty! He switched to trumpet and later cornet and played with jazz greats such as Benny Goodman, Eddie Condon, Teddy Wilson and even the King of Thailand (King Bhumibol Adulyadej)! Ed and his wife, singer Judy Kurtz, co-owned (along with Red Balaban) and operated Eddie Condon’s Jazz Club in New York from 1975-1985, which provided incredible opportunities for the audience to hear jazz from some of the top musicians at the time, often having artists sit in on a set. Along the way, Ed took the time to encourage young musicians, giving them the support he was given when he first started playing.