An obituary in Monday’s New York Times got us thinking again about the venerable New York jazz nightclub, the Village Vanguard (whose owner, Lorraine Gordon, was profiled in the Jazz Issue in 2008 — click here to read the piece): Philip Stein, who painted the famous mural that lines the back wall of the Vanguard, passed away in his Manhattan home last month at the age of 90; for more on the Vanguard, visit these STOP SMILING interviews with bassist Ron Carter and photographer William Christenberry, both of whom stress the significance of frequenting the club during their formative years. RIP Philip Stein.