Artist: Sergio Mendes

September 28th, 2022, I attended his concert at Strathmore Music Center in Bethesda, MD. On the way to the concert I was listening to Moacir Santos recordings. During the concert Sergio acknowledged his indebtedness to the Maestro Moacir Santos, one of his first teachers.

– Archer Jordan
Born: New York City, New York, November 7, 1946

Artist: Django Reinhardt

In the 1970s I worked with Bill Kluft, of Sunland/Tujunga CA, who told me many stories of his experiences in the US Military during WWII and Korea.
— During WWII, Bill was a soldier in the US Army fighting Hitler’s Nazi forces in Europe. Whenever he got leave, he would try to spend time in clubs and inns and drinking holes in France.
— He kept hearing chatter among the locals about someone whose name he never knew, was never told. But the locals would talk and wonder if “He” was going to make an appearance. Might “He” turn up tonight? If not tonight, when?
— It sparked Bill’s curiosity further when he found out that it was a Swing Jazz Guitarist. Bill was a huge fan of Big Band and Swing Jazz and wished very much that whomever “He” was might make an appearance while he was on leave.
— Eventually, one night, with no expectations or buzz rumbling through the locals’ chatter, a sudden hush came over the patrons. In “He” walked, with no fanfare or entourage, only a guitar in hand.
— Excitement spread throughout the pub, and the Gypsy Jazz Guitarist took hold over the audience.
— Without a word, he began to play, and not just play, but play in a manner not seen or heard before by the American soldiers in the crowd, who were all in shock over the quality of the music and that this Gypsy fingered his guitar with only two fingers.
— Bill and his fellow G.I.s left, never knowing who “He” was, only that it was the greatest guitar playing they had ever heard. It left a lifelong impression on Bill and the others.
— Flash forward to 1972-1979, Bill told me this story and still, 30 years later, did not know who the Gypsy Guitar Player was.
— I was a Blues/Rock guitarist and avid reader of music magazines and had the pleasure of explaining to Bill that he had seen DJANGO REINHARDT play in Paris during WWII and that Django had died in the early 1950s, details were still rather vague in the 1970s.
— To this day, in February 2026, Mr. Bill Kluft is the only person I have ever met that actually saw and heard DJANGO REINHARDT play music.

– Lew Campbell
Born: Los Angeles, California, 1949

Artist: Ken Peplowski

Been seeing Ken Peplowski on The Jazz Cruise for about 15 years. What was cool is that he died on the last day of this year’s cruise, which means that for seven days he had been listening to some of the greatest musicians and singers in the country. Can’t think of a better final week.

– Michael Tarbet
Born: California, 1945

Artist: Ken Peplowski

I was lucky to see him on the Jazz Cruise several years ago. Sadly, I read he passed away on the cruise this year. I was not familiar with him when I first saw him, but quickly became a fan. He was lyrical and had a great sense of humor. It was apparent he loved performing. He will be missed.

– Alan
Born: New York, New York, August 22, 1951

Artist: Cab Calloway

Just LOVED when years later he was cast in The Blues Brothers movie! So great!

– Jennifer Evetts
Born: Brownwood, Texas, February 28, 1964

Artist: Pharoah Sanders

I have had the good fortune to attend several Pharoah Sanders concerts in the San Francisco Bay Area. One performance at Grace Cathedral, presented by SFJAZZ, was particularly remarkable. I remember the clergy always occupied the front rows, and Pharoah emerged from behind the podium playing some of the most abstract music imaginable.

Grace Cathedral was filled to capacity, standing room only, and the clergy remained intensely interested throughout. Before the performance began, I remarked on the cathedral’s famous seven second reverberation. The musicians clearly understood this, Pharoah and his ensemble “played the room,” weaving their music into the echo to create an unforgettable soundscape. It reminded me that Duke Ellington was the first to bring jazz to Grace Cathedral when he was commissioned to write his Sacred Concerts (there is still wonderful footage of Duke at Grace on YouTube).

I also saw Pharoah at Yoshi’s in Oakland, where he performed his masterpiece, “The Creator Has a Master Plan.” As he segued into the next piece, the beat picked up and he became increasingly animated. A group of people I believe were his family were in attendance, and their cheering and applause seemed to energize him.

Pharoah became so inspired that the atmosphere shifted, it felt like we were on the cusp of a blues rock concert. The crowd and his family were clapping with such enthusiasm, the energy was palpable. It remains the most unforgettable concert experience of my life. Pharoah was truly a gift to all of us.

– Dr. Chris Narker
Born: Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, 1953

Artist: Muddy Waters

I had the good fortune to meet Muddy in 1965 and again in 1967 at the Newport Folk Festival. Backstage passes are the best.

Then in 1972, when Bonnie Raitt and Sippie Wallace met at the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival, Muddy and I had many opportunities to hang out. To say that he was one of the great gentlemen of the blues is an understatement. He never put on any “airs” and would freely speak about his times in the South and coming up to Chicago. No doubt in my mind that he brought electric slide to a new level and taught the British bands the meaning of the blues.

– Ron Harwood
Born: Detroit, Michigan, August 26, 1947 

Artist: Taj Mahal

I first met Taj in about 1966. He not only plays and sings the blues with skill and passion, but he is also a helluva historian. Many years ago, when I began writing the history of the Thomas Family (George, Hociel, Hersal and Sippie Wallace), he spent many hours with me providing historical paths to follow in my research and understanding. His perspectives challenged my own, and he was often responsible for a new outlook that helped me succeed in writing about facts rather than opinions.

– Ron Harwood
Born: Detroit, Michigan, August 26, 1947 

Artist: Veronica Swift

We saw her first at the Jazz Party in Newport Beach, CA, and then again at Chris’ Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia, PA. A great voice and a great stage presence.

– Kenneth Davis
Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 25, 1945

Artist: Ray Pizzi

Worked with Ray in the late 60s in Boston. One night I was drinking a glass of Crème de Cacao. Ray had never heard of it! I offered him a taste. He quipped, “Yah, it’s like a Hip Bosco!” Miss him! What a musician!!

– Sonny Daye
Born: Boston, Massachusetts, February 12, 1945

Artist: Jay McShann

I was fortunate enough to produce a series of Blues and Boogie Woogie concerts about 20 years ago. Because Jay was always in the groove between blues, jazz, and boogie, I asked him to perform, and what a great time we had! Jay was so sweet, and when we taped an interview, he made sure that we didn’t leave anything out that he wanted us to know. We had about 1200 patrons, and the house rocked. What a night to remember, and a video with six cameras!

– Ron Harwood
Born: Detroit, Michigan, August 26, 1947 

Artist: Count Basie

Saw the band in concert at Lincoln Center sometime in the late 70s.

– Vin Limoli
Born: Brooklyn, New York, September 15, 1954

Artist: Santiago Grande Castelli

Santiago Grande Castelli era un guitarrista, compositor y arreglador de jazz y amigo de Joe Pass. Cuando estuvo en NY arregló algunos temas para el trío Los Panchos y tocaron juntos. Lo invitaron a quedarse en USA pero él prefirió volver a Argentina.

Santiago Grande Castelli was a jazz guitarist, composer, and arranger, and a friend of Joe Pass. While in New York, he arranged some songs for the trio Los Panchos, and they performed together. He was invited to stay in the USA, but he preferred to return to Argentina.

– Carlos Pueblas
Born: Rosario, Argentina, March 8, 1948

Artist: Danny Barker

As a teenager in 1966, I was taken on a trip to New Orleans by my mother. While there, we visited the New Orleans Jazz Museum where Barker was, if I remember correctly, the curator or manager. He spoke to us at length about class and race in music, pointing out that the board of the museum at that time was entirely white. Only after our return home, when we looked him up, did we discover who he was and the important role that he had played in jazz history.

– Sam Boskey
Born: Detroit, 1950

Artist: Ella Fitzgerald

I worked with her, Keter Betts bass, Freddie Waits drums, and Tommy Flanagan piano and musical director. She was great every song, ran overtime. She was opening for the comedian Allan King. He told the band that, yes, Ella was running overtime, but he would adjust his act to accommodate Ella, because who was he to say anything to the great Ella Fitzgerald!

– Robert Rockwell III
Born: U.S.A., May 2, 1945

Club: 1369 Club

The 1369, a tiny club in Inman Square, often brought in headliners, and the George Adams Don Pullen Quartet with Dannie Richmond and Cameron Brown carried the evening, while the Celtics beat the Lakers on a tiny TV above the bar in the 7th game of the NBA Finals on June 12, 1984. Serendipity!

– Peter Caesar
Born: Cambridge, Massachusetts, April 8, 1953

Artist: Fred McDowell

Fred was instrumental, no pun intended, in motivating me to look deeper into Delta blues, and thus began a lifetime journey into a world unknown to most white folks like me. That journey led me to discover and record several great musicians living in the Detroit metro area, all of them arrived here in the late 1940s, including J. L. Hooker, Mr. Bo, Little Sonny (Aaron) Willis, Eddie Burns, Washboard Willie, and Willie Blackwell. This all came at the same time that I was able to get Sippie Wallace to perform once again. That led me to Bonnie Raitt, who was also motivated by Fred’s music and wonderful personality.

– Ronald Harwood
Born: West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, August 26, 1947

Artist: Hermeto Pascoal

Thank you for posting the tribute to Hermeto Pascoal. I was very fortunate to have a close ten year performing and studying association with Jovino Santos Neto, his pianist, producer, etc., as well as attending master classes with Hermeto in the States (2005) and Brazil (2010).

That decade of tenure with Hermeto’s “Musica Universal” transformed the way I heard, approached, played, and internalized music. It was truly an ethereal experience, and I’ll be forever grateful for being able to experience such a unique and rare opportunity to be so intimately acquainted with who I believe is the “Bach of our time.”

Thanks again for the tribute to such a rare gift!

– Burt Boice
Born: N/A

Artist: Charlie Parker and Billie Holiday

I love Bird and Lady. My love introduced me to research and make books in Japanese about their lives.

– Chieo Yamada
Born: Tokyo, Japan, February 8, 1958

Artist: Earl ‘Fatha’ Hines

On honeymoon in ‘78 my wife and I went to Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London to see ‘Fatha’. He had a quartet with a fabulous clarinetist. It was quite ‘theatrical’ with the clarinet player emerging from the audience to start the show off. ‘Fatha’ didn’t disappoint either. It was a great event!

– Stewart Forbes
Born: Scotland, November 25, 1961

Artist: Ronnie Cuber

My late wife, Sharon, was related to Roberta, Ronnie’s wife and manager. When he toured with Steve Gadd and Friends, Sharon and I were invited to attend their concert at Yoshi’s in Japantown in SF. That day I went Dungeness crab fishing and caught my limit of ten. We showed up to the concert and were invited backstage between sets. The band thoroughly enjoyed fresh crab more than the dinner served by Yoshi’s. The second time Roberta comped us was also in SF when Ronnie was touring with Dr. John, best live performance we had ever seen!

– Jon Dunn
Born: London, England, May 9, 1944

Artist: Bobby Watson

He was in my hometown with Art Blakey Jazz Messengers, 1981, 1st International Jazz Festival, including the two Marsalis brothers, great concert and dinner afterwards with all the Messengers.

– Miguel Angel Pérez Mart
Born: Valladolid, Spain, July 30, 1954

Artist: Gordon Goodwin

I enjoyed playing his arrangements as a piano player in the George Lake Big Band in Toronto.

– Ken Cory
Born: Canada, December 1, 1956

Artist: Ken Peplowski

This was at an evening concert at a Jazz Education Network conference in Louisville in the early 2010s. Shelly Berg was on piano. Ken played an old standard ballad, I wish I could remember which one. In his solo he stayed close to the melody, playing with intense feeling and beauty. I was amazed when throughout the hall I saw dozens of high school and college students rise in ovation, something I rarely saw for other performances at the conference.

– Bob Jacobson
Born: Providence City, Rhode Island, October 20, 1950

Artist: McCoy Tyner

Many years ago at the Montreux Detroit Jazz Festival, McCoy Tyner appeared with his big band. I’ll never forget the command he had over that band, playing a full sized concert grand on the main stage in Hart Plaza. As a pianist myself, I realize the role that we play in a big band is minimal. This however was the opposite. McCoy’s piano was literally rocking the stage and there was no doubt who was in charge of this large ensemble. It is a memory that I think of any time I hear him play.

– Arlene McDaniel
Born: Livonia, Michigan, April 26, 1941

Artist: Count Basie

I saw Basie in one of his last performances in the UK, London South Bank, I think. He came on to the stage in an electric wheelchair and manoeuvred it to be in front of the piano. They brought out a wooden piano stool and he pulled himself up out of the wheelchair, which was taken away. The wooden piano stool was placed underneath him, and as it came down on to the wooden floor it squeaked, a high pitched squeak. Basie just stretched out to the right and hit the key which matched the pitch of the squeak. Years of ear training!!

– Paul Blythin
Born: Clacton, Essex, United Kingdom, October 1, 1947

Artist: Vi Redd

I remember hearing Vi Redd more than once at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach back in the 60s. I was very impressed by her soulful saxophone playing. Recently, I happily acquired one of her few vinyl albums, Bird Call. She should have received more recognition in the jazz world.

– Ken Cook
Born: Long Beach, California,  January 30, 1947 

Artist: Toshiko Akiyoshi

Sometime in the early 1960s, I was waiting in the bar for a Charles Mingus performance to begin at the Village Gate when Toshiko Akiyoshi came in, sat down at the piano, and played Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag. The next time I saw her was when she and her husband, Lew Tabackin, were performing with their big band in Washington, DC, at Fort Dupont Park. I think it was in the 1980s.

– Tony Jordan
Born: New York City, New York, November 7, 1946

Artist: Jimi Hendrix

I went to se and hear Jimi Hendrix at the Columbia Meriweather Post pavilion in about 1968 when I was a teenager with my bass playing boyfriend Brooke. Jimi was great and his music was the best. He was attired in scarves and bell-bottoms and really played that guitar. I gasped when he got the weirdest sounds out of it by slamming it in the stage and then setting fire to it! So novel at that time. Also the usual Jimi prop of a tall thin blond came up on stage to dance during part of the act too. What a night!!!

– Janice B
Born: Baltimore, Maryland, February 22, 1952

Artist: Teddy Wilson

For several years Wilson would return to Copenhagen to perform in Timmes Club (Rosenkrantz) and the Tivoli Slukefter with local trios, NHOP, Ed Thigpen, Hugo Rasmussen, Mads Vinding, Bjarne Rostvold, etc. He became a friend and very often showed up after the gig before midnight, bringing a very small container with gin. Never touched it during the day. Then he would tell stories. He and Ben Webster had quite a few, Wilson’s were often a bit bitter, about the three wives pocketing all his earnings, etc. I had the pleasure of introducing TW to Erroll Garner one night at The Tivoli, respect. Later Webster challenged them both on playing stride piano. Oh what a night…

– Henrik Wolsgaard-Iversen
Born: Copenhagen, Denmark, January 1, 1938

Artist: Eddie Gomez

I met Eddie when he was playing with Bill Evans. He spent a little time with me and my friend after their set at Shelley Manne’s Manne Hole in Hollywood many, many moons ago. His playing was so in sync with the way Bill Evans played that it was a joy to listen to.

– Susan Sullivan
Born: Los Angeles, California, March 17.

Artist: Clark Terry

Clark Terry used to visit the University of New Hampshire twice a year to spread his gifts among the students. I served as his aide when he was on campus. He served as an adjunct professor. We also did an oral history together. He was very generous with his time. Great memories!

– Steve Dunfey
Born: Exeter, New Hampshire, April 18, 1957

Artist: George Bohanon

Just found out about you through researching audio evidence of my old friend George Bohanon. I spent a lot of time with and around George when he was in Detroit after his Chico Hamilton period. I was lucky to hang out with him in LA a couple of times after that. No particular memories other than the music. George was not the kind of cat who generates stories, he was such a calm, level headed guy who just played so beautifully. I do have stories from my days in Detroit, and before that Cleveland, people like Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Betty Carter, Terry Pollard, Roy Brooks, and many others less known who were friends that I would be glad to share.

– Bill McLarney
Born: Jamestown, New York, July 28, 1949

Artist: Sheila Jordan

Great presence, beautiful voice, and phrasing marked her then recent return to performing. It was a spirited performance at church that night.

– Peter Caesar
Born: Boston, Massachusetts, April 8, 1953

Artist: Maynard Ferguson

I saw this band play at the Blue Note in Chicago, and I have never forgotten the experience.

– Allan Anderson
Born: Berwyn, Illinois, October 3, 1937

Artist: Maynard Ferguson

My husband of 62 years, Donald Keat, and I had our first date at Birdland in June 1958. Maynard Ferguson and his Birdland Dream Band played. We stayed for both sets. Particularly memorable were Slide Hamilton and Maynard soloing on “Slid’s Derangement.” Many wonderful arrangements by Don Sebesky. Great memories of seeing that band many times, and after that, even Maynard’s Bebop Nuvo Big Band out in Central Pennsylvania, a long way from Birdland!

– Marilyn Keat
Born: Pottsville, Pennsylvania, June 26, 1941

Artist: Hoagy Carmichael

One of the most talented of American composers, in the second batch after Gershwin, Ellington, Rogers & Hart, Cole Porter. But as brilliant as Hoagy was, he did not write lyrics. Similar to another hero of that era, although a comedian, Jack Benny did not write the jokes. I often think of composers who work with lyricists; they are thinking of words as they compose. I know it works differently for each, but many jazz instrumentalists sing softly the words as they play if piano, or mentally if playing a horn.

– Robert Losick
Born: Weehawken, New Jersey, March 9, 1940

Artist: Maynard Ferguson

Maynard lived in Ojai, CA, where we lived from 1986 to 2005. His record company was located in Ojai. I used to see him shopping in the market from time to time. I saw Maynard and his big band perform for a fundraiser for Ojai High School in Port Hueneme in 1973. I also saw him and his big band perform in the gym at Nordhoff High in Ojai to raise funds for the music program at the high school. Maynard Ferguson was a fabulous trumpet player and bandleader. He was also a very talented composer and arranger. He also ran a successful record company.

– Wayne Flaaten
Born: Culver City, California, December 27, 1940

Artist: Tommy Dorsey

Sinatra always paid tribute to Tommy for teaching him how to breathe secretly.

– Robert Losick
Born: Weehawken, New Jersey, March 9, 1940

Artist: Johnny Mercer

In the 1970s, Johnny and my dad Jimmy Rowles wrote the song “Frazier (the Sensuous Lion)” and recorded it with Sarah Vaughan. I was about 13 and just starting to understand the joy my dad felt in creating music. The lyrics are so fun and clever, and what an amazing story. Frazier said, “Haste la vista, you think all these girls my seestah?” 🐾🐾🦁♥️ I love Jazz on the Tube. Thanks for all of the great music and stories.

– Stephanie Rowles
Born: Los Angeles, California, August 4, 1958

Artist: Roswell Rudd

I saw him play in the Yale Dixieland band when I was in Junior High School in Connecticut. Then he was a counselor for one summer at a camp in New Hampshire when I was a camper. Then, when I was in medical school in NYC in the late 1960s, I went to see him play in a small midtown jazz club. A few years ago, I went to hear Heather Masse sing at the Stone Mountain Art Center in Maine. After her performance, she was selling her CDs, and one was entitled August Love Song. How many recordings are there featuring a vocalist and a trombonist? It’s a wonderful album dating from 2016. Turns out they were neighbors in upstate New York. Rudd died the following year.

– Ted Walworth
Born: Washington, DC, January 30, 1945

Artist: David Amram

DA has been an ole friend with the youngest heart ever, we interviewed him for Vagabond’s Harlem’s Last Poet / Abiodun Oyewole from the Last Poets, all major participators in the USA’s Civil Rights movements from their inceptions. David’s emails to me would cover generations of musical and socio political povs through his experience amongst so many brilliant shakers, movers, and especially players. His love of Latin music is because he was smack in the middle of everyone’s clave. His advice has always been spot on because his joy of life and living is contagious. He’s definitely an original, and I cherish his amistad. Mi amigo Amram, a fellow scorpion, has always kept his tail up and continues to do so. My love and respect, hermano. Happy Barfday as well. Definitely a link between the Beats and spoken word.

– Tontxi Vazquez
Born: Nueva Yol

Artist: Chet Baker

I have seen Chet a few times throughout his career, and every time, in spite of his issues, he was flawless. He put together melodic lines better than anyone. His sound was warm and soulful. Many trumpet players try to emulate his beautiful sound, but there was only one Chet. This is a perfect example of his relaxed, beautiful style.

– Tom
Born: New Britain, Connecticut, December 6, 1957

Artist: Dave Brubeck

I spent many joyous evenings and afternoons with Dave in the US and overseas. He was a kind and gentle man with a good sense of humor. He was into many forms of music, including blues, which gave us plenty of runway for long conversations.

– Ronald Paul Harwood
Born: Detroit, Michigan, August 26, 1947

Artist: Paul Desmond

When I grew up, my dad had a 45 of Take Five and Blue Rondo à la Turk on the flip side. I remember listening to the latter, intrigued by the change after the 9/8 part. My dad told me that he had played this record so many times. “What you are hearing after the 9/8 part is the other side of the record.”

– Simon Planting
Born: Heemstede, Netherlands, July 25, 1953

Artist: Jim McNeely

I have known Jim McNeely since fourth grade. We were best friends through high school and stayed in touch after he left the Midwest. If you would like to see memories, photos, and music he composed and performed as a young man, please visit my Facebook page. I have shared everything there across about a dozen posts.

– Nick Talarico
Born: Chicago, Illinois, March 5, 1950

Artist: Fred Hersch

The first time I heard Fred Hersch was when he was a student at the New England Conservatory in the late 70s. Jaki Byard led the Conservatory’s big band, the [FANTASTIC!!] Apollo Stompers, every Wednesday night at Michael’s to give them an authentic club atmosphere beyond the Conservatory walls. Fred would wait patiently at the bar for Jaki to take a break from the piano (often he’d pick up his alto sax and just put a microphone into the bell of his horn and prance around, sometimes with visits from tap dancer Harriet Kennedy or singer Lee Genesis), giving Fred a turn on the bar’s upright piano. He never disappointed then or since.

– Peter Caesar
Born: Methuen, Massachusetts, April 8, 1953

Artist: Slim Gaillard

My dad, Morris Primack, was an original owner/investor in the Birdland nightclub in NYC. On my 11th birthday in 1951, he had me walk on stage at the club and had the patrons sing happy birthday to me. Appearing that night was Slim Gaillard, and it was he who led the singing. When I got on stage, Slim could see I was terrified, and he whispered to me that he would take care of me and not to be afraid. He called me Aurin O’Rooney and had this other language that he used, and it calmed me and made it quite a memorable occasion. A kind and lovely man.

– Aurin Primack
Born: New York City, New York, August 29, 1940

Artist: Andy Schumm

My special memory of Slim Gaillard is hearing him “fill in,” with his inimitable piano and vocal style, at the Brecon Jazz Festival (UK) in about 1986/87, while we waited for the Prague Syncopated Jazz Orchestra to arrive. Already in his 70s by then, he kept the audience entranced with his ad-lib performance for at least half an hour.

– Mike Moroney
Born: Barnet, Herts, London, March 19, 1939

Artist: Oscar Peterson

He mentored me before I even knew what a mentor was. I’d see him play every weekend at the above-mentioned hotel (Keele Street and Dufferin in Toronto). When I told him I got accepted to Miami-Dade Jr. College to begin studying my formal music studies, I told him that I hoped to go on to the University of Miami toward my Bachelor’s Degree and maybe a Master’s Degree.

He was more excited to hear this news than I was to have received it! Both my dreams of a formal music education resulted in scholarships in voice to study music at the University of Miami. He gave me one wisdom of teaching thought to never forget. He told me that with all the knowledge of the professors of music that I was about to learn from, he said, quote, “If you really want to learn to sing and sing well in the genres of pop and jazz, listen to Nat King Cole!” With that, he autographed a publicity shot of him at the piano with a Nat King Cole Songbook pictured with him. I still have that autographed photo and will always hold it dear to my heart. I miss you, Oscar, as does the rest of the world who so enjoyed your impeccable artistry!

– Nathan Brian Wine
Born: Toronto, Ontario, Canada, May 30, 1950

Artist: Pharoah Sanders

When learning that I was heading to NYC, my buddy Steve Gundy said, “If you see Pharoah, tell him I said hi.” Steve and Pharoah were close friends going back to their Oakland, CA days. When I got to the Village Gate, I saw Pharoah standing against a wall near the ticket booth with his eyes closed. I went up to him and said, “Steve Gundy said to say hi.” Pharoah’s face lit up, and he said, “Where is he?” I responded, “He’s in Sacramento.” Pharoah then closed his eyes and went back into himself.

– Lee Santa
Born: Rhode Island, December 30, 1943

Artist: Barney Kessel

I remember when the Brubeck gang was getting started, and they put out Jazz Goes to College. Barney Kessel appeared on one of those albums.

– Ronald Veenker
Born: May 13, 1937

Artist: Art Tatum

My German-born father, Hans Wildau, worshiped Art Tatum, having heard him for the first time in 1935 in Brussels, where he lived for a year on the way to the U.S. His first job was playing in a no-name club on the West Side of Cleveland. He had tickets for him and 11-year-old me for a Tatum performance at the Cotton Club in Cleveland that the pianist’s death precluded. There will never again be a jazz pianist his equal.

– Robert Wildau
Born: Cleveland, Ohio, February 8, 1944

Artist: Harry Allen

I first saw Harry Allen when he was a junior at Rutgers University playing with the late singer/pianist Ronny Whyte. In the many years since, I have seen Harry many, many times and was able to book him at several New Jersey Jazz Society JazzFests. For my ears, he is the premier tenor sax player on the scene today. Whether leading a band or playing as a sideman, he always sparkles with great tone, taste and imagination.

– Joe Lang
Born: Queens, New York, April 15, 1941

Artist: Thelonious Monk

I went to Far Rockaway High School where Harry Colomby was one of my teachers. Harry brought Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers there for a concert in 1956. The night before the concert Harry went to a club in the Village where they were playing to be sure they had the time and location right. That night he encountered Monk at the club where he was listening to Art and the group. Monk asked Harry for a ride home and that’s how Harry became Monk’s manager. Harry was instrumental in getting Monk’s cabaret card reinstated. In 1957 when Monk opened at the Five Spot Cafe, I was there.

– Alan Boss
Born: New York City, New York, October 26, 1939

Artist: Thelonious Monk

For some reason, Monk was playing a concert at Queensboro Community College. Charlie Rouse was part of the quartet, along with a bassist (Larry Gales?) and a drummer who showed up with just a snare and hi-hat. I was just a green teenager, but somehow I knew this would be special… and it was. Monk was into it: he danced off the stage during some of Rouse’s soloing, and he played in that jagged, harmonically rich style I love.

– Jay Singer
Born: New York City, New York, January 28, 1952

Artist: Thelonious Monk

I never saw him live, but ‘Round Midnight has been among my favorite tunes for as long as I can remember! When I think of the tune or hear it, Monk is not the image I get; it’s the singers who burned it into my soul. Hearing him play it is revelatory and nearly religious for me! What else did he compose? Need to research!

– Lou Judson
Born: USA, March 7, 1950

Artist: Ed Kelly

I had the honor and privilege of performing with Ed Kelly during the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. Pier 23 in San Francisco had a Tuesday night jazz gig/session with Dr. Kelly on organ, Robert Stewart on tenor sax, Babatunde Lea on drums, and me singing. We enjoyed surprising each other on the bandstand, and everyone came to play.

In 1994 I developed a jazz revue entitled “What Is This Thing Called Jazz?”, with my manager/partner Tup Lohse, and featuring SF Bay musicians—trumpeter Mike Vax, saxist Steve Heckman, bassist David Daniel, drummer Willis Kirk, and Dr. Kelly on piano. The revue also featured several singers and middle school/high school students from Contra Costa County.

Dr. Kelly was revered and respected in the SF Bay Area and beyond. His music made you smile, made you think, and always reminded you why you loved live jazz. You are missed, sir…

– Scotty Wright
Born: Charleston, South Carolina, November 5, 1954

Artist: Ed Kelly

Many decades ago I decided to try a jazz piano group class at Laney College in Oakland, CA. I was over 40 and could barely read music. Ed Kelly was not only a great musician, but also a great teacher. He met people, including me, at the level we were. I still play a blues he taught me. It has no name, just based on basic blues. I named it Ed’s Shuffle and taught it to many once I became a teacher myself. I also witnessed how he took under his wings young people in Oakland. Ed Kelly was a kind, warmhearted, and generous person!!

– Eva Oakland
Born: N/A

Artist: Howard Roberts

When I was a young guitarist I gave lessons in a music store called Village Music in Amityville. The owner of the store, Steve Shapiro, owned a Gibson Howard Roberts. It was a beautiful guitar. I’m surprised there aren’t more of them around.

– Bill Welch
Born: Amityville, New York, November 16, 1950

Artist: Jim Cullum

Very tidy arrangements of many 1920s jazz classics. My late wife and I had the pleasure of an evening at The Landing, on the Riverwalk in San Antonio about twenty years ago. He and his group also played at the Bix Festival in Davenport a number of times, including the Sunday morning service at the Presbyterian church—all very nice listening music. Just a part of my memories of many jazz performances we were able to share over our 64-year marriage.

– George A Chapman
Born: Lebanon, New Hampshire, March 11, 1934

Artist: Stan Kenton

My best friend’s brother was 4 years older than she was and had a 78 rpm set of Stan Kenton’s records. I was about 15 when I heard Artistry in Rhythm and other selections from his album. I was completely captivated by the harmonies and have been a fan since then. That was a long time ago.

– Ann McDonald
Born: Lubbock City, Texas, November 6, 1935

Artist: Jim Cullum

Saw Cullum’s band at their club on The Riverwalk. Loved the music more than I anticipated. The band was polished and tight. Jim was very engaging and spent time between tunes talking about the creativity of the original musicians.

– A.J. LaCourse
Born: Detroit, Michigan, December 3, 1949

Artist: John Coltrane

I always used to hang out with my brother’s older friends. The first time I heard Trane I was 13 years old, listening to Motown. I visited my brother’s friend Donald. He was listening to Coltrane’s OM. It completely blew my mind. I had never heard anything like it before. My only wish was that I would see Trane perform live. He died before I was old enough to go to a jazz club. But the impression OM made on me lingers to this day. Trane is my go-to when I need to go deep inside myself or lift my mood from sadness. Thank God for John Coltrane, a special individual and talent.

– Gregory Peck
Born: Bronx, New York, March 31, 1952

Artist: Benny Green

I first saw Benny with Betty Carter in the late 80s. As she always did, the Trio opened the show with a few tunes. This “kid” comes out looking barely out of high school, and as soon as he played a few bars, it was like, WOW! Where did he come from? What a great night of music.

– Lee Cohen
Born: USA, December 4, 1957

Artist: Dave Brubeck

Thirty years ago my wife gave me a surprise birthday present; it turned out to be dinner with Jon and his lovely wife Judith at Daniel Restaurant. I was so shocked I almost couldn’t eat; you see, L H & R has been my favorite group since I was 15, introduced to them by my older brother. Jon and Judith were so welcoming and gracious. We had a great dinner and wonderful conversation. The best part, they invited us to join them at the Blue Note to see Dave Brubeck. Probably the best night of my life (next to my great fortune of marrying my wonderful wife Sue, who made this all happen).

– John Coletti
Born: Providence, Rhode Island, December 12, 1944

Artist: Joe Venuti

Brilliant. My dad Harry was a swing violinist and member of Roy Fox Orchestra, and I grew up listening to many of his jazz 78s, especially his Joe Venuti ones. I must have nearly worn out our copy of Raggin’ The Scale with Adrian Rollini! Thank you for this lipxxx.

– David Balen
Born: London, England, September 21, 1948

Artist: Scott Hamilton

In 1982, I won a phone contest on WBGO, the Newark jazz station. The prize was an evening of Scott Hamilton playing in an Italian restaurant in Chelsea. The quartet played next to us and we had a great time. He played like an old big band man, and we loved his sound and vibe.

– Dennis Melillo
Born: Newark, New Jersey, 1951

Artists: Diz and Moody Quintet

I heard the group at the Lighthouse (Hermosa Beach) in December 1966 with a different rhythm section. Just as great. Candy Finch was the drummer.

– Rusty Higgins
Born: Ohio, 1950

Artist: Kenny Dorham

I was a participant in the CBA Jazz Band, NYC 1971. KD came to rehearsal one day and sat by me. I was excited, having seen him before when he came to Atlanta with Duke Pearson. I was studying the music at that time. I felt honored to be sitting next to him. He was a great musician and a dynamic composer of many compositions.

– Ronald Hampton
Born: November 23, 1942, Atlanta, Georgia.

Artist: Sonny Rollins

We saw Sonny at Ontario Place Forum. He played with a mediocre rhythm session, as usual, but he played masterfully. He spoke into his saxophone instead of a microphone.

– Ken Cory
Born: December 1, 1956, Cobourg, Canada

Artist: Martial Solal

Martial Solal’s album “Modern Sounds” on the Contemporary label was the first-ever jazz disc to win a renowned Grand Prix du Disque, usually reserved for classical recordings.

– Dr. Jules Black
Born: Sydney, Australia, March 7, 1940

Artists: Many of the artists in the 40s to now!

I grew up listening to a lot of jazz. When my husband passed at age 48, in 1994, I could not listen to songs with words. So I went back to jazz and found a lot of wonderful local jazz musicians.

– Claudia Hastings
Born: South. Carolina, October 28, 1948

Artist: George Shearing

I only saw George Shearing once in 1961 when he was presented by the Boxwood Concerts at the Mount Vernon Unitarian Church in Alexandria, VA.

My other memory is of George David Weiss telling how, when he wrote lyrics for the song Lullaby of Birdland, he had to use the pseudonym B. Y. Forster since he was an ASCAP writer and Shearing was affiliated with BMI. This highlights the feud between the two performance rights organizations. It’s a fascinating piece of music history that demonstrates the economic and sociological factors that affected popular music and jazz.

– Tony Jordan
Born: New York City, New York, November 7, 1946

Artist: Lenny Breau

Unless he was born at home, I think Lenny was born in Lewiston, not in Auburn, Maine. There are two hospitals in Lewiston across the Androscoggin River from Auburn, and I suspect that he was born at St. Mary’s Hospital, given his French Catholic background. As a physician at St. Mary’s, I once treated Lenny for a minor problem, and I got to know his in-laws and his brother Denny, also a talented guitarist and singer. Lenny performed a few times with clarinetist Brad Terry, and there are some recordings of their sessions.

– Ted Walworth
Born: Washington, D.C., January 30, 1945

Artist: Philly Joe Jones

When I was 10 yrs old, I went into my father’s record collection of jazz artists and saw this strange-looking character on the album cover with the name Philly Joe Jones. The name on the cover: Blues for Dracula. He let me listen to it on our Hi-Fi, and I fell in love with it. There’s more I can say about this album, but I will be on this site all day. But thanks for allowing me to share this bit of my fondness for this guy. He was a great one.

– Adrian Davis
Born: Maryland, January 1, 1953

Artist: Louis Masinter

My Dad was born in 1908, was classically trained on strings, learned the tuba and bass horn in high school, and began to play professionally in New Orleans at age 16 (1924). Among others that we can document, he played with the New Orleans Shriners Band, Sunny South Syncopators, the original New Orleans Symphony, Ellis Stratakos Orchestra, Santo Pecora, The Prima-Sharkey Band, Johnny DeDroit, Tulane University 1932 Rose Bowl band, Earl Dantin Band, Lou Forbes Orchestra, Louis “Louie Prima” and His New Orleans Gang, the USCG WWII 8th District Jazz Band, Leon Kelner Orchestra in the Blue Room and Fountain Lounge of the Roosevelt Hotel, Tony Mitchell Quartet, Nick Stuart at the Monteleone, The Russ Papalia Orchestra, Harry Morel Orchestra, Johnny Feilden, and lastly Frank Federico and The Medicare Madcaps till passing at age 86 in 1994.

He also taught orchestra in New Orleans Public Schools, from which he retired, and also taught private students, some who currently play in bands and symphonies in the U.S.

– Dave Masinter
Born: New Orleans, Louisiana, 1956

Artist: Lawrence Brown

Lawrence Brown was my father’s friend. My dad was president of the Toronto Jazz Club at the time, in 1962. My dad passed that summer, age 37, from a brain tumour. I was 12 years old. My uncles told me that when the Ellington band came to town, after the show Brown said, “Where’s Norm?” He was in shock to hear my father had died. I often think of the connections that could have been. Our own son is now a jazz violinist. He gets endless stories about his grandfather, and the people he knew.

– Norm Mohamid
Born: Toronto, Canada, 1948

Artist: Roy Hargrove

I saw Roy Hargrove with his big band featuring vocalist Roberta Gamberini at the Blue Note in NY. It was wonderful! We were sitting pretty close to the band, and it was a pleasure to hear such a tight ensemble. The sax section was phenomenal, playing as if it was one instrument harmonized by five. The guitarist was great too. His first name is Saul, but I can’t remember his last name.

– Pasquale Pratico
Born: Trenton, New Jersey, August 31, 1955

Artist: Roy Hargrove

Saw/heard him at Yoshi’s in Oakland when he was about 23 or so. His greatness was developing. He talked to the audience about his music. We saw his potential. Tragic loss.

– David Rockwell
Born: Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1947

Artist: Cleo Laine

Cleo Laine’s debut in the USA was in 1972 at Town Hall, I believe. She returned to the States the next April at Carnegie Hall. I remember reading an advertisement for her appearance with a quote by the music critic John Wilson, who wrote, “Quite simply the best singer in the world.”

I was a college student in Albany and took a bus down to NYC and attended that concert. I was sitting in my seat and was positioned so I could see her in the wings awaiting the start of her appearance. She calmly and quietly walked out to the stage and sang the first few lines of “It Might As Well Be Spring” a cappella.

I was blown away by the purity of her voice. She was a contralto but possessed a range that was remarkable. I remained a lifelong fan and was fortunate enough to see her many other times at various venues in Manhattan.

– Alan Hymanson
Born: New York City, New York, August 22, 1951

Artist: Chuck Mangione

I saw Chuck every time he came to PA. In fact, one time I took my entire school jazz band to see his concert. After the concert, they wanted his autograph. He very graciously signed everyone’s autograph. He was the best!

– Ron DeGrandis
Born: Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, February 6, 1951

Artist: Joanne Brackeen

I saw her at The Banque in Seattle with Stan Getz about 1973–74.

– Steve Metzker
Born: Salem, Oregon, May 5, 1951

Artist: Annie Ross

I used to take singing and scatting lessons with Annie. Also did a few gigs with her and Jackie Paris. At the old Kippy’s bar in the Milford Hotel, “The Lullaby of Broadway,” Manhattan. Back when I was 20, along with Kenny Werner and Ratzo Harris. Fun times in an era long gone! Thanks, Annie!

– Ronnie Burrage
Born: St. Louis, Missouri, October 19, 1959

Artist: Tal Farlow

Hello, I want to say sincerely that I am very happy to have met and knew well the great jazz/be-bop guitarist TAL FARLOW in our lifetimes. We met at his gig in August of 1984 at the Silver Screen room at the Hyatt House Hotel on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, California. I was only one of 5 people there that night. But it was an experience to see the great TAL FARLOW in person rather than the recordings that I had heard him from. We stayed in touch over the years and over the decades.

Sometime around 1991 or so, I went to a show of his at Zinno’s nightclub in Greenwich Village, New York, and got to meet his circle of people, which was a great honor to be among one of his top-notch students, Danny Axelrod as well as Les Paul’s rhythm guitar man Wayne Wright, Jack Wilkins.

On February 7, 1995, my mother Claire and I drove from Whitestone, New York to his house at 16 Peninsula in Sea Bright, New Jersey. I took a guitar lesson recorded it onto a cassette tape and put $30, a twenty and a ten, under a teacup as my mom and I left that afternoon, only to get a phone call the next day from Tal Farlow saying I did not need to leave any money for the lesson and that he wanted to just have some company that day before.

What a wonderful experience that was. In fact, I must tell you all that TAL FARLOW was as great a person as HE was a guitar player. HE “TAL FARLOW” will never be forgotten. Love to you, TAL FARLOW, up there in Heaven from your pal forever.

– Hollywood Joe Nania
Born: Harlem, New York, December 20, 1952

Artist: Stephane Grappelli

Heard him at the Great American Music Hall in SF in the mid-1970s. Fabulous concert, and the venue, to its great credit, refused to make drinks or do anything that made noise while the musicians were playing.

– Tim Burdick
Born: Cleveland, Ohio, October 9, 1952

Artist: Ray Copeland

While in high school, I took an interest in Jazz and played with the school’s stage band on bass and later guitar. Ray Copeland came to the school to conduct a little seminar on how to approach improvisation. He played with us and explained his approach to improvising. I enjoyed it and learned from it. I remember him talking about taking choruses and that the first chorus should be closer to the melody, and then as the choruses progress, to make it more complex.

– Pasquale Pratico
Born: Trenton, New Jersey, August 31, 1955

Artist: Tete Montoliu

Au Petit Opportun, a tiny and great jazz club in the center of Paris, on the right bank near la Seine. The owner was Bernard Rabaud, piano and vibes, very nice player who recently died.

I played there with my quartet “Cordes et Lames”, and a few times with Lee Konitz, with whom we made an album “Medium Rare” (Label Bleu).

Some other nights I just came to listen to great jazz musicians…

I remember a special night:

Tete Montoliu was accompanying Michel Roques, great Parisian flute and sax player, sorry I forgot who were the bass and dms players.

In the intermissions between the sets, Michel and Tete were standing at the counter. They were exchanging stories, talking loud and laughing, both liked les histoires drôles. And it was a perfect show.

Both Tete and Michel are blind people.

A kind of surrealistic scène de théâtre.

– Cravic Dominique
Born: Dreux, France, June 5, 1946

Artist: Wayne Shorter

Thanks for posting me with Wayne. I am the last surviving member of that ensemble. I miss Wayne, Jim, Jeff, and Larry. Jim and I had a band together called Tribute. We were going to record, but he unfortunately passed just before our scheduled recording date. I was devastated, as was the entire music community.

– Ronnie Burrage
Born: St. Louis, Missouri, October 19, 1959

Artist: Anita O’Day

Played a show with Anita back around 1963–4. Joey Castro–p, B King–d, Nick Williams–b at The Colony Club on Alvarado St, Monterey, CA 93940.

During the show she sang Here’s That Rainy Day and stopped the music when I had a bass solo, to show all of us the correct line of the A verse. Then she saw the narrow room from the stage with a full house and said, “Let’s play nightclub!”

Later on our break I met her hairdresser, and she spoke of addiction and how to beat it by burying herself in the hot sands of Hawaiian beaches for two weeks.

Thx,
Nick
(still in the music biz and always get the melody line right!)

– Nicklas Williams
Born: Seattle, Washington, April 2, 1941

Artist: Billy Ekstine

I was lucky to see him and Sarah Vaughan when Newport came to NYC. It was a midday performance at Avery Hall, Lincoln Center, and the handsome crooner was particularly handsome in a yellow suit. He was so proud of Sarah, his protégé blossoming into the Divine One.

– Robert Losick
Born: Weehawken, New Jersey, March 9, 1940

Artist: Louis Jordan

Huge influence on everyone from Ray Charles to Chuck Berry. Joe Jackson did an album in the 1980s that featured several of his songs, and there was a Broadway musical in the 1990s that was a revue of his music produced by Clarke Peters (The Wire/Treme).

– David Kunian
Born: Colorado Springs, Colorado, 1969

Artist: Louis Armstrong

I only met Louis once. I had just become Sippie Wallace’s manager. As a 20-year-old Ethnomusicology student in Detroit, I grabbed a chance to set up a meeting between the two of them after a sound check at the University of Detroit’s theater.

Louis was not told of the surprise pairing, and as the stage became empty, I walked Sippie out from behind the wings. He was sitting on a metal chair with his trumpet and handkerchief in his left hand. Louis looked to his left and rose immediately, hollering, “Sippie, is that YOU, IS THAT YOU?” Sippie responded, “Well, yes, Louis.” The rest is in my book, which will be published soon (I hope). Louis was such a gentleman and a gentle soul.

– Ron Harwood
Born: Detroit, Michigan, August 26, 1947

Artist: Louis Armstrong

I saw Louis live three times. The first time at the Roxy Theater in NYC as the live act with the showing of the film Boy on a Dolphin. The next time was in 1958 or 1959 at Carnegie Hall. He was still recovering from having had a heart attack in Europe and did not have his usual stamina, and he was just getting his lip back, so he was kidding around a lot. The last time was at the World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows.

As Louis was the cat who first got me interested in jazz through hearing the album Ambassador Satch, on that album he announced the song in this video, “The Faithful Hussar,” as “Huzzah Kuzzah.” It was a real thrill to see him in person. For me, he was the greatest jazz musician ever and, along with Zoot Sims and Thelonious Monk, are my all-time jazz heroes.

– Joe Lang
Born: Queens, New York, April 15, 1941

Artist: George Benson

I remember my father talking about going to see George Benson when he appeared in our hometown with many other jazz luminaries, especially being less than 200 miles from Pittsburgh. Ahmad Jamal, Stanley Turrentine found an organist in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania named Butch Cornell, along with George, who played on his 1970 album Sugar. I learned Take Five off a live George Benson CTI album in a neighbor’s basement in 1975 or 1976.

– Kevin D. Hurst
Born: Elmira, New York, May 7, 1957

Artist: Lalo Schifrin

Lalo Schifrin often graced our stages with his superb performances at the annual Hawaii International Jazz Festival. Performances were held at the Blaisdell Concert Hall and Hawaii Theatre until 2007. Lalo and family stayed at Kahala Hilton Resort.

– Dana Ritchie Fujikake
Born: Honolulu, Hawaii, 1951

Artists: Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers

First real “jazz” band I ever heard. Blew me away. Art Blakey (drums), Cedar Walton (piano), Reggie Workman (bass), Wayne Shorter (sax), Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Curtis Fuller (trombone). WOW!! Loudest band I ever heard that was unmiked, and Reggie cut through and you could hear him through it all. Hard player. True dat.

– Richard Bear
Born: North Carolina, 1943

Artist: Doc Severinsen

In college, watching Johnny Carson, he asked Doc Severinsen who deserves more recognition in the music industry? He answered, “MILES DAVIS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CAREERS OF 70% OF THE MUSICIANS THAT MAKE THEIR LIVING IN RECORDING STUDIOS TODAY!” – @1977

– Kevin D. Hurst
Born: Elmira, New York, May 7, 1957

Artist: Doc Cheatham

I have very fond memories of knowing and hearing Doc in his later years. On a few occasions, he was part of the all-star band that backed Sippie Wallace on big NYC stages. He was a kind man and very much a part of Sippie Wallace’s fame in New York. The band, as Sippie often said, played “just like the old bands in the OKeh studio and in saloons in New Orleans.”

– Ronald Paul Harwood
Born: Detroit, Michigan, August 26, 1947

Artist: Artie Shaw

My big band hosted a master class headed by a clarinet player who had worked with Artie Shaw. He said that Shaw’s band was the tightest of all during the Big Band era. It’s not the only reason, but Shaw’s band played six nights a week and twice on Saturdays. A lot of bands held to this schedule, but I think Shaw’s band added some special sauce as well.

– Ken Cory
Born: Cobourg, Canada, December 1, 1956

Artist: Miles Davis

While attending Berklee, I caught Miles with this very lineup, except Steve Grossman in place of Gary Bartz, at Harvard Yard in June of 1970.

– Archer (Tony) Jordan
Born: New York City, New York, November 7, 1946

Artist: Miles Davis

I bought my first LP at age 15: Kind of Blue. I still listen to the CD version. And Bitches Brew and more, including a collection of Coltrane, Keith Jarrett. In college, I produced a live concert with the Charles Lloyd Quartet, where Keith Jarrett offered me piano lessons.

– Bob Shea
Born: Buffalo, New York, November 23, 1946 

Artist: Miles Davis

I was nearly 16, and asked my paternal grandfather, who was a treasurer/manager of Broadway show theaters, if he could get me a seat there. As it was sold out, he used his contact to get me a seat in the spotlight booth! I wasn’t a fan of Gil Evans, but a lot of the show was just the quintet.

I think the subway was 15 cents then, and I went by myself. Afterwards, I returned to my grandparents’ apartment in Washington Heights, a few blocks from the 181st St. subway station.

From Grok:

May 19, 1961: This concert was a benefit for the African Research Foundation and featured Miles Davis with his quintet (Hank Mobley on tenor saxophone, Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums) and the Gil Evans Orchestra. The performance was recorded and released as the album Miles Davis at Carnegie Hall in 1962, with additional recordings released in 1987 and as a complete concert in 1998. The setlist included selections from Miles Ahead and Sketches of Spain, as well as standards like “So What” and “No Blues.” A notable incident during this concert was a protest by drummer Max Roach against the event’s sponsors, which briefly disrupted the performance.

– Steve Kurtz
Born: Manhattan, New York, June 19, 1945

Artist: Larry Carlton

Larry is a great musician and a nice person. He has been a major influence in my own career (over 50 years) and still someone I strive to meet his standards!

– Tom Newman
Born: Washington D.C, March 14, 1956

Artist: Archie Shepp

Archie is one of my dearest friends and mentors. We’ve made music together over 45 years. Our most recent concert was in 2023 at BAM with Jason Moran and Amina Claudine Myers and other all-star player.

– Ronnie Burrage
Born: St. Louis, Missouri, October 19, 1959

Artist: Wayne Bergeron

Waynard aka Wayne Bergeron and I have known each other since he was in High School. He was good then and has soared the older he got. Good guy too. You can’t tell from this video, but we performed The Soldier’s Tale by Stravinsky a few years ago and of course Wayne killed it.

– Mike Vaccaro
Born: Inglewood, California, January 26, 1947

Artist: Count Basie

“The Count Basie Orchestra at Randall’s Island in New York City

About 1954, three of my jazz-fanatic girlfriends in Dayton, Ohio, and I learned about an upcoming Count Basie concert with Joe Williams at Randall’s Island, east of Harlem. We had never been to New York City except for my senior trip a year or so earlier, but we decided we had to go and drove there from Dayton. Two of us got a hotel room, and the other two slid in surreptitiously.

On the balmy summer evening of the concert on Randall’s Island, we found the venue in a huge field filled with chairs. And surprisingly, as we handed in our tickets at the entrance, we were each given a small birthday candle. They explained that August 21 was Count Basie’s birthday, and with a signal at the end of the evening, everyone in the audience could light their candles in his honor.

After the fabulous concert featuring the vocalist Joe Williams and the songs ‘Every Day I Have the Blues’ and ‘April in Paris,’ with many extra endings, the lights dimmed. In the black of night, our thousands of candles shone as we sang Happy Birthday to Count Basie.”

– Esther Melvin
Born: Cincinnati, Ohio, July 7, 1934

Club: Half Note Club

My favorite club to listen to great jazz. I saw Zoot and Al many times while enjoying a cold beer and the delicious $1.00 meatball sandwich. And, of course, the beautiful Rosemary Cannerino, who was always so friendly and gracious.

– Hank Rogers
Born: New Jersey, 1939

Artist: Zoot Sims

In the early 1980s, I went to the Blue Note club in NYC to catch Carmen McRae’s show dedicated to Billie Holiday. Of course, she was marvelous – and with a white gardenia on her dress. To my surprise, Zoot Sims set up a music stand. After all, he was a master who I had seen before with Al Cohn. Then it hit me. He had transcribed Lester Young’s solos and riffing. It was a doubly special night.

– Howard Blu
Born: Bronx, New York, 1947

Artist: Billy Branch

We jammed 2 harps in Montreal at the Rising Sun, before Willie Dixon came on. We were hot! Drummer Sam Lay said he couldn’t tell the difference between us. Billy and I jammed another time outside the old Checkerboard, playing with a gospel revival going on. One thing about Billy that I loved: he didn’t compete with you, but he still played his best.

– Jay Sewall
Born: Boston, Massachusetts, December 19, 1942

Artist: J. C. Higginbotham

In 1962 or ’63, I helped produce the Billie Holiday Memorial Concert at Carnegie Hall. JC was to play, and backstage, many “younger” musicians were gathered around him as he recounted multiple stories of jazz “in the old days.” We all listened intently and showed him reverence. His memory was crystal clear, and he was very funny and self-deprecating.

– Barr Forman
Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 8, 1943

Artist: Carla Bley

The greatest jazz experience of my life was when, in 1992, I played lead alto in Carla’s big band for a week. She premiered Birds of a Feather, featuring Alexander Balanescu (violin). See YouTube clips . . .

– Stewart Forbes
Born: Scotland, November 25, 1961

Artist: Joe Morello

I saw the classic Brubeck Quartet in Macon, GA in either 1963 or 1964 at Wesleyan College.

At some point in the program, my Dad called out “Turn Morello loose.” After a brief conversation, Dave said, “Our next number is ‘Turn Morello Loose.’”

They started a number—Dave, Paul, and Gene left the stage.

Joe started his solo… he began to have a coughing spell… must have had a cold… he started playing with one hand and coughing with the other… switched hands… then, after getting over it, did the most amazing drum solo ever. Too bad it was not recorded. Incidentally, he played more drums with one hand than many can do with two!!

– Charles H Peacock
Born: Salisbury City, North Carolina, September 2, 1946

Artist: Wayne Bergeron

I have known Wayne since he was in high school and I was just getting some time off of the Kenton Band. Wayne (aka Waynard) has all the bases covered. I even played Stravinsky Soldier’s Tale with Wayne on trumpet. He was always good and now he mature too. Great combination.

– Mike Vaccaro
Born: California, January 26, 1947

Artist: Maynard Ferguson

Sometime around 1979 or so, I saw Maynard at Westbury Music Fair. He sounded as dynamite as can be.

Throughout the performance there was a fountain of spit shooting straight up in the air from the mouthpiece a good 12+ feet before widening into where it curved to descend.

Still — unless his mouthpiece had a hole through the side or something — to this day, I can’t fathom the mechanics of what I watched firsthand…

WTF Maynard?????? 😂😂😂🤣🤣

How could there even be so much spit and moisture to do such an incredible thing????

It remains a source of amazement for me. What a BEAST!!!!! ❤️🎺

– David Wood
Born: Jamaica, New York, April 23, 1961

Artist: George Adams

Mesmerized as I was from hearing Adams on the Mingus Moves and Changes One and Two albums, I finally got a chance to hear him live, not long after I reached legal age to get into jazz clubs. I brought my mother along, it being Mother’s Day (and her being a hip mother), and got to hear that amazingly tight band and George’s fluid playing. Would later hear him with Gil Evans at Nightstage in Cambridge, MA, Villa Victoria in Boston’s South End, with the local big band, Orange Then Blue, and at the 1369 Jazz Club in Cambridge (a happenin’ town for jazz in the 70s and 80s) with the Adams Pullen Quartet, while the Celtics were winning the 7th game of the 1984 NBA Finals, on the little TV above the bar. Like a complete basketball player, Adams had a great inside and outside game!

– Peter Caesar
Born: Methuen, Massachusetts, April 8, 1953

Artist: Red Rodney

I saw him at Al Casassanta’s 880 club in Hartford, CT in the mid 80’s. He played with a very good local rhythm section (Don Depalma on piano and Nat Reeves on bass). Red played from 9:00 pm until after 12:00 am. He had chops of steel, endless be-bop lines, and non-stop energy. You can tell he really loved playing. One of the most amazing displays of trumpet playing I have ever seen in person. He was hitting high G’s and A’s all night long. Just smoking hot be-bop. He literally wore out the rhythm section. What a great night, it was broadcast on a local college station (WWUH), and the legendary jazz critic/DJ Mort Fega was host. Perfect night of Jazz.

– Tom Chojnowski
Born: New Britain, Connecticut, 1957

Artist: Blossom Dearie

We lived in the same small Greenwich Village apartment building (Sheridan Arms- 15 Sheridan Sq) for around 15 years in the 70s-80s. We socialized a bit, and saw her live in London one time. She recognized us and introduced us to the audience. Another resident was Dave Van Ronk. We played a bit of chess, and he taught our son (then around 8-10) some guitar.

Funny, she abhorred cigarette smoke and forbade it, plus photos at performances. But she appeared at The Silk Cut Jazz Festival anyway. Some gems are on YouTube.

– Steve Kurtz
Born: New York City, New York, 1945

Artist: Dorothy Donegan

At the 1994 Gilmore Int’l Keyboard Festival in Kalamazoo, Michigan, I was hosting the artist’s lounge one night when Ms. Donegan and Marcus Roberts were both present. After meeting each other, they began a roughly 30-minute-long contest in which each tried to best the other in 60-second riffs at the Steinway keyboard. It was an extraordinary free ‘concert.’ The next night, my 24-year-old daughter Jennifer and I took Dorothy to a Marsalis Family Concert, also part of the Festival. We had an enjoyable evening together.

Two years later, at the 1996 Festival, Dorothy was to return and I chanced to be in the hotel lobby one day when, across the way, I saw Dorothy waiting to check in. She was looking around the lobby and even though I was quite some distance away, she amazingly recognized me from two years before.

She came over, greeted me, and then asked a question that could only be asked by someone with a truly outstanding memory. Consider that she had been continuously on the road the prior two years and had, no doubt, met hundreds if not thousands of new people. Her question to me? “Tell me Bill, how is Jennifer doing?”

She had not only remembered my face but also remembered having met my daughter and also the daughter’s name! I was dumbstruck. That, and the ‘shootout’ with Marcus Roberts, are memories that I hold dear.

– Bill Maxey
Born: Indiana, August 14, 1940

Artist: Jonny Griffin

I went to see him at Grant’s Tomb, on the Jazz Mobile. After the show he and Dexter and some other musicians were talking and he saw me standing there and he said to me, “Are you a musician?” I nodded my head yes and he said to me, “Study, practice, and play what you feel and don’t worry about it.” I tried to hand him a piece of paper to write it down and he said, “No, you remember that,” and I have never forgotten.

– Jonathan Clark
Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 30, 1949

Artist: Patty Waters

I met Patty through my then woman/girl-friend in 1986 when I moved to Santa Cruz, CA. She was the sweetest, quietest, shyest person I had ever met. A polar opposite from the Patty who sang ‘Black is the Color…’ I would either pick her up or take her back home at friends’ get-togethers. About two years before she passed away, she called to ask for copies of jazz charts of some jazz standards. We met outside her home and that was the last time I saw her. I miss her.

– Bob Basa
Born: Manila, Philippines, April 11, 1947

Artist: Joey DeFrancesco

When Joey was touring with Steve Gadd & Friends, Paul Bollenback on guitar and Ronnie Cuber on baritone sax, my wife and I were invited backstage between sets at their performance at Yoshi’s in Japantown in San Francisco. I had gone Dungeness crab fishing that day and caught a limit. I brought some to the party, they all approved!

– Jon Dunn
Born: London, England, May 9, 1944

Artist: Joey DeFrancesco

I saw Joey twice at Yoshi’s in Oakland and had tickets for his show with his idol Jimmy Smith.

I told everybody I knew about my favorite B3 player in the world who just swang so hard it was insane.

Humor in music, throwing bits and pieces into cause laughter! Now that’s what it’s all about for me!

Jimmy decided to leave our world just a short time before that show but…..

I will jam with them both on my air/heaven guitar someday!

Prodigies like these are proof to me of reincarnation. They arrive as musicians from day one…ready to go!

– Gary York
Born: Oakland, California, September 16, 1952

Artist: Tito Puente

My dad, Morris Primack, was an original owner/investor in the Birdland nightclub in Manhattan. He had gotten tickets to an MLB game for a friend and me. After the game, we took the subway down to the Club to have dinner with my dad. It was customary for the staff, managers, and guests to have dinner together before the first show. I heard someone mention that Tito Puente was at a table visiting with, I think, Terry Gibbs. I had been curious to visit the Palladium, a Latin music club a couple of blocks north of Birdland, and heard that Puente was appearing there. I asked my dad if he could ask Tito if he could shepherd us over for a visit. Tito very graciously said yes to “babysitting” us and walked us over to the Club. He told us to sit at a table set up beside the bandstand and behave, i.e., no liquor, no girls, just enjoy the music for one hour. Well, you could get high just breathing the weed smoke atmosphere, and the women in tight dresses and sexy moves were a revelation for the 1950s. It was a night to remember, and after an hour or so, Tito gave us the nod, and we left.

– Aurin Primack
Born: New York City, New York, August 29, 1940

Artist: Tete Montoliu

I was traveling through Europe in 1981. I met friends in Spain who learned I loved jazz, and they took me to see Tete in a large (and smoky) concert venue in Madrid. I had never heard of him. He blew me away. A huge talent. I particularly love his interpretation of Monk.

– Alan
Born: New York City, New York, August 22, 1951

Artist: Dave Brubeck

I had the distinct pleasure of being on the road and at festivals with Sippie Wallace for 22 years. One of the outstanding memories I have are the times when she performed at the same gigs as Brubeck. He was enamored with her and spent many moments chatting about the old days. What stood out was his love for the Classic Blues and how the piano players of those days informed him. Above all, Dave Brubeck was a gentleman of the 1st class—always with a warm smile and a lot of questions to ask Sippie.

We first met at the Bottom Line in 1981 when Sippie and Dave spent two nights sharing the billing.

– Ronald Paul Harwood
Born: Detroit, Michigan, August 26, 1947

Artist: Peter Nero

When I was a music major at the University of Michigan School of Music, Peter Nero played Rhapsody in Blue with the University of Michigan Symphony Band conducted by William D. Revelli. I believe this was in 1971, and I was 21 at the time. Although I was 3rd chair clarinet, I was the only one who could do the glissando required in the opening solo clarinet passage. Fortunately, I played it well and didn’t screw it up. I had worked on playing that passage since I was in high school, and I felt fortunate that I had the opportunity to play it with such a major talent as Peter Nero.

– Andrew Drelles
Born: Muskegon, Michigan, February 10, 1950

Artist: Makanda Ken McIntyre

I am sure he did not realize at the time how much I looked up to him and admired his talent and the impact he had on me at SUNY Old Westbury. I only knew him for a short time but remember him to this day.

– Eileen Keck
Born: Hollis, October 15, 1955

Artist: Carmen McRea

Carmen McRae recorded an album in the late 50’s called “The Great American Songbook.” By doing so, she named an important era of American popular song from circa 1930 to circa 1950.

If you say the Great American Songbook to any even minimally musically informed person, they will know of what you speak. BTW, Cole Porter’s song “Love For Sale” on the opening night of the show “The New Yorkers” was originally sung by a white woman.

In those racially ignorant and bigoted days, a hue and cry was raised about a white woman singing a song by a prostitute. On the second performance, a black woman sang the song by a prostitute, and there was sadly no outcry or expression of revulsion.

– Dr. Dennis Melillo
Born: Newark, New Jersey, January 13, 1951

Artist: Doc Cheatham

I have no memories with Doc, but my father loves his music—jala jala and boogaloo with Richie Ray. Fabulous trompist.

– Hector
Born: Cali, Colombia, January 26, 1964

Artist: Johnny Guarnieri

My wife and I spent many an evening at “The Tail ‘o the Cock” restaurant in Studio City, CA, where Johnny played a grand piano in the foyer of the restaurant. He was teaching at the time, and on occasion, a pupil would sit in and play duets. As a former keyboard player, I could only watch in awe at his skill and dexterity. Thanks, John, for all you brought to us.

– Jim Henrikson
Born: Hollywood, California, August 26, 1934

Artist: Vernell Brown Jr.

I met Vernell in Las Vegas in 2006. He was touring and had moved there with Gladys Knight, who had a residency at the Flamingo Hotel Casino, playing string parts in her orchestra. We met at a jam session held at the Bermuda Bar & Grill, hosted that night by trumpeter Tony Alvarado. Tony introduced him as a guest artist. Vernell came up, called out the tune “Caravan,” and proceeded to play it at a blistering tempo that left sparks flying afterward.

I was sitting in, playing congas. Afterward, I introduced myself to him and said he had played the tune at warp speed. I jokingly asked him if he had plutonium running inside him. I said, “Man, you are a nuclear power plant!”

I googled his name and read that he was a child prodigy. He won the prestigious Thelonious Monk competition in high school and signed a record deal in 1989. One of his signature tunes during that stint was “Hot Potatoe” — spelled like that for effect. He started touring with the world-class Kenny Garrett Quintet in the 2000s and did a stint with Ronnie Laws before returning to the Kenny Garrett Quintet until his passing in May 2022.

A month before his passing, he sat in while off-tour with the Uli Gissendorfer Quartet, hosted by the LVJS at the Bootlegger, alongside saxophonist Charles McNeal, drummer Peppe Merolla, and upright bassist Louis Belziguy. I have video footage from that event.

Thank you for letting me share a brief moment about this one-of-a-kind force of nature.

– Roy L T
Born: Chicago, Illinois, March 28, 1950

Artist: Ruby Braff

When I was a kid (1950s), I played trumpet, and one of my favorite LPs (a 10″ LP) was “Buck Meets Ruby” – my introduction to Buck Clayton and Ruby Braff. I’d love to have that again!

– Frank Yanow
Born: Malone , New York, July 26, 1939

Artist: Flip Phillips

I saw him with Jack Sheldon’s big band at one of Merv Griffin’s casinos in Atlantic City, I think it was Resorts International, around 1997 or 1998. He was in his 80s, and he took a solo that got a standing ovation — he was playing his ass off. He really swung. Milt Hinton was on bass, and the rhythm section was an all-star collection of monsters. Flip’s solo was pure genius. He built it up from the ground, and by the end, people were standing, shouting with joy — pure happiness!

– Thomas Chojnowski
Born: New Britain, Connecticut, December 1957

Artist: Ronnie Scott

Heard Ben at Ronnie Scott’s in 1971-72 when we were playing upstairs for a week. His sound is what we remember.

– Malcolm Capewell
Born: 1943

Artist: Nat King Cole

I saw Nat Cole in person, singing at the Sydney Stadium in Jan. 1955. I was three rows from the front. The seats were very expensive that close, but I was a big fan and wanted to be as close as I could. It was a great performance.

– Barry Stephenson
Born: Sydney, Australia, December 2, 1935

Artist: Nat King Cole

When I was a child, I loved to hear him sing. I watched his show when we finally got a TV. He was so gentle and so soothing, I wished I could have him be my father. What a wonderful talent. I am white with blond hair and blue eyes, and I knew he would be a perfect father!

– Lydia Hinds
Born: Staunton, Virginia, August 18, 1943

Artist: George Bohanon

Thank you, George Bohanon, for all of your artistry. Your contributions to Brazilian jazz music, performing with Milton Nascimento, Flora Purim, Airto, & other masters, are legendary joy. THE PHILLY FERNANDEZ FAMILY. ODUNDE, ODUNDE.

– The Fernander & Fernandez Family of Philadelphia
Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1980

Artist: Mel Torme

Saw one of his last performances at Chicago’s Symphony Hall in the mid-’90s. Played drums for one number and gave three encores. It was only a couple of years before he passed. The two greatest scatters of all time were Tormé and Ella!

– Jerry Johnson
Born: Galesburg, Illinois, August 29, 1941

Artist: Dick Hyman

Besides being a great and versatile musician, Dick is a wonderful human being. Dick, Pops Foster, and Kenny Davern backed Sippie Wallace many times. They played with Sippie at Carnegie Hall and all over Europe at jazz festivals. Dick allowed Sippie to sing in her 1920s style in comfort. What a great guy.

– Ron Harwood
Born: Detroit, Michigan, August 26, 1947

Artist: Dick Hyman

Dick Hyman appeared on the opening night of Birdland, December 15, 1949. My dad, Morris Primack, was one of the original investor/owners of the club. Dick may well be the only living artist who appeared that night. Many years later, in 1998, Dick was appearing at a concert in Boca Raton, FL, which my mom, my wife, and I attended. My dad, Morris, had just passed away a few months earlier. During an intermission, we gave Dick a copy of the ad that appeared in all the New York papers in 1949, showing his name as a participant in the show. After the intermission, he graciously played Lullaby of Birdland in honor of my dad’s passing.

– Aurin Primack
Born: New York City, New York,  August 29, 1940

Artist: Dexter Gordon

In the days of musician exchanges between England and the USA, Ronnie Scott brought Dexter Gordon to Birmingham, where he appeared at the Mermaid Pub. It was a great night, as we rarely had the chance to see American musicians live in England—particularly outside London. I believe local drummer Tony Levin was in the accompanying trio—he went on to join Tubby Hayes. His son, Miles, is an accomplished drummer, playing regularly with various bands.

– Derek Spires
Born: Birmingham, England, April 4, 1945

Artist: Duke Ellington

In August of 1965, when I was just shy of 13 years old, I went to see Duke Ellington—and others—at Disneyland. This was a big deal for several reasons, but the biggest reason was that my grandfather, Simon “Cy” Shribman (who died before I was born), worked with Mr. Ellington.

Cy, along with his brother, Charlie Shribman (cited in Duke Ellington’s autobiography), managed many big bands and also owned dance halls across New England, including the Roseland-State Ballroom in Boston. (See a chapter devoted to them in The Boston Jazz Chronicles by Richard Vacca. In addition, there is a section on the Roseland-State Ballroom in Malcolm X’s biography that is well worth reading. Also, Cy Shribman’s character was played by George Tobias in The Glenn Miller Story.)

Now, my mother had told me a lot about my grandfather’s role in supporting big bands, and I had heard the music on many records, but I had never seen any big bands in person. And at the age of 12, one never quite believes one’s own mother when it comes to family history.

Seeing Duke Ellington perform was a moving and joyous experience for me that I will never forget. In addition to seeing Duke Ellington, Woody Herman, Tex Beneke and the Modernaires, and Ray Eberle were there. But Duke Ellington!! Oh my! And the wildest part of all was that Mom went backstage after the concert to introduce herself as Cy Shribman’s daughter.

Life is good!

(P.S. I have some not-so-great snapshots of all these musicians at this concert.)

– Susan Powell
Born: Salem, Massachusetts, September 10, 1952

Artist: Gary Burton

A medical school classmate and I were in San Francisco in the winter of 1965, doing an externship away from our main campus, when he heard that the Stan Getz Quartet was playing at the Fairmont Hotel. I was a jazz lover but had seen little live jazz. We decided to go hear this well-known saxophonist.

On the stage were Stan, his drummer and bass player (names forgotten), and this “kid” behind the vibes, introduced as Gary Burton—21 at the time. They started their first tune with the usual ensemble choruses. Stan then took a solo with his wonderfully recognizable sound. Next, it was Gary’s turn to solo, and I was instantaneously blown away by his performance—not just his creativity, musicality, and spot-on tempo, but the physicality, dexterity, and athleticism of his playing. I became an immediate fan.

Since then, I have seen him play live numerous times—several times in Chicago, twice in Santa Fe, NM, twice more at Colorado College in Colorado Springs (my now hometown), and multiple sets in 2014 on The Jazz Cruise. Pertinent to this Tiny Desk Concert, Julian Lage played with him on that cruise.

He’s written an autobiography, Learning to Listen, that I’d highly recommend. In addition, for many years, he was the director of curriculum at the Berklee College of Music. Sadly, several years ago, medical issues forced him to retire from playing, but my large collection of his recordings keeps his playing conveniently at hand.

Gary is my all-time favorite jazz instrumentalist.

– John (J. Robert) “Bob” Thompson
Born: Rock Island, Illinois, April 28, 1940

Artist: David Newman

I went to Memorial Hall at the University of North Carolina in about 1970 to see Herbie Mann. Herbie was Herbie—he played his songs well. The pianist was a late arrival because of a delayed flight. It was a good concert but nothing special until David Newman played his saxophone.

I never knew a saxophone could sound so beautiful until I heard David Newman play. The next day, I went out and bought two of his albums that I could not afford at the time. I did not know he was called “Fathead” by Ray Charles until 2016 when my sax instructor, Al Williams, filled me in.

David Newman is one of my musical heroes to this day (in 2025). He is missed.

– Jim Lamb
Born: Boston, Massachusetts, July 10, 1951

Artist: Glenn Miller

My family lived 18 miles west of Clarinda, Iowa, in Shenandoah. I remember my parents, family, and neighbors singing and dancing to Glenn Miller hit songs featured in your article and recorded from 1939–42. They bring back vivid war memories and letters from my uncle in the Pacific Theater.

Charlie Haden (bass), the Everly Brothers, and the Blackwood Brothers (gospel) were in Shenandoah during this time and into the 1950s. KMA and KFNF were the hot local radio stations with live Saturday night programming. A lucky time for music in southwest Iowa.

– Leland Nicholls
Born: Paonia, Colorado, January 11, 1941

Artist: Gary Burton

In 1971, Gary Burton played at RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), just across the Hudson from Albany, N.Y. He was playing beautifully, as always, when he abruptly stopped the music. He had seen a guy in the audience dancing in place and said, “My music’s not for dancing.”

I wonder if he’d say the same thing if it happened today.

– Richard Sigberman
Born: New York City, New York, February 16, 1953

Artist: Benny Powell

It must have been around the early 90s when, for a long time, I’d been a host on New Orleans’ radio WWOZ 90.7 FM twice a week—on Sunday early afternoon and Thursday mornings.

I received a call while on air one day, and it was Benny Powell. Benny was visiting as part of a band for the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

I’d just played a track that included Danny Barker, N’Awlins’ preeminent guitarist, banjoist, and raconteur-in-chief. Benny and Danny had apparently gone way back together as youngsters in N’Awlins, and Benny asked me if I knew Danny and if I had any contact details for him.

Cut to the chase… I knew Danny and Blue Lu Barker well enough, so Benny called them and arranged a visit to their home.

The next day, I picked up Benny at the Monteleone Hotel in the Vieux Carré and drove him over to Danny and Lou’s place at 1277 Sere St., where they were able to have a great catch-up.

I subsequently kept in touch with Benny several times, and we’d occasionally chat on the phone from where he lived in N.Y.

Benny was very saddened by what he saw happening at the Lincoln Center to himself and his older contemporaries at the hands of those he regarded as a younger generation of musicians around the “Marsalis Camp,” determined to push them out of their roles in the orchestra there.

It’s great to see Benny again, performing beautifully in a big band and talking of “The Life.”

– Barry Wratten
Born: Melbourne, Australia, November 30, 1946

Artist: Jay McShann

Heard Jay in the 70s at the Mariposa Folk Festival in Toronto. Maybe a quintet—it was so sweet. Reminded me of my parents’ house jazz parties in the 50s.

– Norm Mohamid
Born: Toronto, Canada, 1948

Artist: Dexter Gordon

In the mid-70s, I was fortunate to travel to the Monterey Jazz Festival. One late morning, I was eating at a lovely restaurant, and Dexter and his daughters were dining there as well. All three were tall, handsome, and smiling, clear-eyed.

– Robert Losick
Born: Weehawken, New Jersey, March 9, 1940

Artist: Nancy Wilson

First saw her in a Detroit club. I had to draw a mustache with an eyebrow pencil to get in and see her. I think I was 16 or 17. Sat right in front—I’m sure she knew we weren’t old enough to be in the club!

– Robert Smith
Born: Detroit, Michigan, July 22, 1944

Artist: Arnette Cobb

I remember him when he was in Lionel Hampton’s band. I remember his wife traveled with him. It was unusual for spouses to be allowed to travel with the band. I think Arnette’s wife was his manager, as was Lionel’s wife.

– Patricia McMurray
Born: Indianapolis, Indiana, October 18, 1942

Artist: Al Casey

The rhythm guitarist for Thomas Waller, whom I met in the Harlem Blues and Jazz Band and featured in my like-named Hot Blues and Jam Band at Chez Suzette and at Shutters Café, performed in a show titled “Tax Day Blues” near the post office on April 15th!

– Daniel Kassell
Born: Bronx, New York, April 15

Artist: Buddy DeFranco

While at Club Dizzy with our dear friend, Phoebe Jacobs, about 15 or so years ago, listening to the remarkable Paquito D’Rivera, Phil Schaap came by to pay his respects to the legendary Mrs. Jacobs.

Remembering me from a previous friendly disagreement about who was the better tenor player—at least on For Musicians Only—Stitt (my choice) or Rollins, he thought he would “get me” by asking, “Who do you think was Paquito’s greatest influence on clarinet?”

I, an amateur wind player and a full-time physician (in NYC), replied with nary a second or two of hesitation, “Buddy DeFranco!”

This took the proverbial wind out of Phil’s sails, as he stood, open-mouthed, for once speechless for a few seconds. “How did you know that?” he eventually responded. I just smiled, since I really didn’t know how Buddy’s name floated into my consciousness. I guess it was that liquidity that they both displayed in their playing.

– Arthur Lebowitz
Born: New York City, New York, October 27, 1940

Artist: Lionel Hampton

I saw the Lionel Hampton Big Band at the Empress Hall, London, in October 1956—it no longer exists and has been replaced by Earl’s Court. I was 14, already a jazz enthusiast, and I may even have bought the tickets for my mother and me to see the show.

This was during his full “showman” period, with band members performing party tricks, such as a saxophonist playing on his back while Hampton drummed on his raised feet. The crowd, still starved of American musicians visiting the UK—due to unions insisting on parity exchanges between the countries—went absolutely wild for this wonderful man and his band.

To cap it all off, at the end of the evening, he led the band through the standing, dancing audience, all still playing New Orleans style, and I managed to shake his outstretched hand. Unforgettable.

– Constantine de Goguel
Born: New York City, New York, September 16, 1942

Artist: Mel Powell

During the 1980s, I was the director of a Norwegian shipping company that owned and operated the Norwegian Caribbean Line (NCL), which arranged jazz cruises on its ships, particularly the SS Norway. My good friend Hank O’Neal and his wife Shelley arranged for an outstanding lineup of top jazz musicians to play on the ships, and among them was Mel Powell—perhaps after some persuasion by Hank, as Mel was deeply into classical music at that time.

I met Mel on the SS Norway, I believe as early as 1986, and we became friends. He also played at the festival in 1987 and 1988.

On one of these cruises, Mel told me a rather remarkable story: He was with the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band, and they had been giving concerts in England in December 1944. On the 15th of that month, they were scheduled to travel to France by air. Apparently, Glenn Miller was somewhat concerned about the load on the plane he was about to board and asked Mel if he could take the other plane instead, which Mel, of course, agreed to. As we all know, Glenn Miller never arrived in France and was recorded as “missing in action” (MIA). By sheer chance, Mel never ended up on that list, and we were able to enjoy his music for many years after.

What many people probably do not know is that, in addition to being an outstanding musician, Mel was also an accomplished watercolor painter. As a matter of fact, several musicians of that era were fine artists, including Bob Haggart, Pee Wee Russell, and George Wettling.

They all exhibited at the Sordoni Art Gallery at Wilkes College in Wilkes-Barre. The exhibition of Mel’s watercolors in 1987 was combined with a swinging jam session at Andy Sordoni’s boathouse, featuring a lineup of excellent swing musicians. Along with fond memories of the music, I am fortunate to own some of Mel’s artwork from that occasion, and I am grateful to have known this very interesting person.

– Stein H. Øvrebø
Born: Oslo, Norway, February 13, 1942

Artist: Sergio Mendes

I attended his concert at Strathmore Music Center on September 29, 2022. On the way to the concert, I had been listening to one of my favorite Brazilian musicians, Moacir Santos. At the concert, Sergio Mendes paid tribute to Moacir Santos as one of his first teachers and a progenitor of the Bossa Nova. Not that many people have heard of him, but I think he deserves wider recognition.

– Archer Jordan
Born: New York City, New York, November 7, 1946 

Artist: Lionel Hampton

I had the privilege of tap dancing at the Detroit Yacht Club (around 1957) with Hamp’s band behind me. He was the star, of course, but my dance instructor knew Hamp from Vaudeville days. Hamp was extremely nice to me that night, complimenting my style.

The real story came many decades later when I met Hamp backstage at one of George Wein’s concerts in Europe. Hamp was the same kind man as years before and remembered the gig we did! What a talented and humble man.

– Ronald Paul Harwood
Born: Detroit, Michigan, August 26, 1947

Artist: Jay McShann

Jay came to Maine late in his career… His age was such that he required sheet music to play his own tunes! He allowed me to buy him a beverage—Coke!—during intermission. Mr. McShan was brilliant… “Hootie Blues”! Affable, humble!

He spoke warmly of Bill Basie!

Jay… a true artist… a true gentleman.

—Don

– Don Johnson
Born: Washington, D.C., June 4, 1940

Artist: James Cotton

The first time I saw Cotton, I was probably in college. He did a VERY dynamic show with Matt “Guitar” Murphy on guitar. I saw Murphy from the side; he had a constant 5-degree forward lean. He leaned into the music in a lot of ways!

Cotton went down the center aisle of the venue on a solo with a wired microphone and did a forward somersault during his harp solo without dropping a note or missing a beat.

Many years later, after Cotton had almost totally lost his speaking voice due to throat cancer, I interviewed him over the phone as a reporter for the Medina (Ohio) Gazette prior to his appearance in Cleveland at a Blues at the Zoo festival. He had a singer along for the show, but his harp playing was so DEEP—it just blew me away.

I blow harp. Cotton is always an inspiration.

– Howard Blu
Born: Bronx, New York, May 19

Artist: Count Basie

I spent more than 40 years in the Washington, DC area managing hotels. In the early 1960s, the Basie band would come to Washington several times a year. Our bell captain was a friend of Basie, so whenever the band was in town, Basie would call the captain and reserve the following day so the two could spend the day at Laurel Racetrack betting on the horses.

– Douglass Ferguson
Born: Wayne County, West Virginia, May 5, 1938

Artist: Tubby Hayes

In the sixties, I often saw Tubby Hayes at the Thames Hotel at Hampton Court. Held weekly on a Thursday, the sessions were always well attended, and Tubby played his heart out!

– Vincent Grant
Born: Liverpool, England, December 28, 1942

Artist: Scott Hamilton

I would see him when he came to Boston and played at the Jazz Club in the Commodore Hotel or Scullers. I believe he played with a group called the Cape Cod All-Stars, with Dave McKenna on piano, Gray Sargent on guitar, and Marshall Wood on bass. Not sure, but I think the drummer was Alan Dawson.

– Stephen Hibbard
Born: Boston, Massachusetts, August 3, 1942

Club: Nick’s Pub

I lived a few blocks from Nick’s Pub from 2000 to 2010, and I was a regular there. It was the last remaining original jazz joint in NYC. It was a funky dive with the very best live music in town. I took many photos there of Donald Smith’s band, without flash, of course. I called the series Unfrozen Moments, and I’d love to share them.

– Carola Polakov
Born: Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1947

Artist: Gary Burton

We were lucky enough to hear Gary Burton in a very small venue at SUNY Stony Brook. Besides the fantastic music he created, I was impressed with how simple his vibes were; I believe he came out on the small stage, set up his instrument, and proceeded to play miracles!

– Jay Singer
Born: New York City, New York, January 1, 1952

Artists: Jesper Lundgaard & Bob Rockwell

Jesper Lundgaard Repertory Quartet, from Copenhagen. These musicians played with Horace Parlan, who lived and performed in Denmark and passed away there. Quite a tribute.

– David Rockwell
Born: Minneapolis City, Minnesota, 1947

Artist: Warne Marsh

In 1984, I had the honor to play with Warne for a few nights at The West End Cafe in a series presented by Phil Schaap. I’ll never forget it. Ever! Right before the downbeat of the first tune, he turned to me and Randy Johnston, the guitarist, and said, “Whatever you do, don’t try to follow me, just play the tune.” He was a giant.

– Michael Gold
Born: Poughkeepsie, New York, January 12, 1955 

Artist: Erroll Garner

Saw him in Carmel, CA, in the fifties at Sunset Auditorium when he wrote ‘Misty.’

– Nicklas Williams
Born: Seattle, Washington, April 2, 1941

Artist: John McLaughlin

It would have been 1971 or ’72. The place: Winterland Auditorium, San Francisco. The band: The Mahavishnu Orchestra. My mind was blown and remains blown. What an astonishing musician.

– Andrew Hingston
Born: Palo Alto City, California, March 9, 1954

Artist: Shelly Manne

Thanks! I really enjoyed the “Shelley Manne & His Men” clip from the TV show Peter Gunn.

Even as high schoolers, my like-minded friends and I could gain entrée into the [original] Shelley’s Manne-Hole, where the aforementioned aggregation appeared ‘in-residence,’ albeit with a rotating personnel. (Conti often played when he wasn’t doing many other things!) It was one of those rare, intimate clubs where one felt close to the players [regardless of where seated], and the acoustics were superb. (No need for dozens of mics and multiple speakers!)

As regards the Peter Gunn clip and personnel, Shelley, of course, showed his [unmatched] skill with brushes.
Stu Williamson, as I recall, was a multi-instrumentalist. If my mind serves me, I think he also played valve trombone (or maybe I’m thinking of Bob Enevoldsen?). Regardless, he/they rivaled the great Bobby Brookmeyer, a regular with Gerry Mulligan’s band alternating with ‘Chet.’

Other stand-outs we heard at the Manne-Hole in the early ’60s were:

* Cannonball Adderley (also at the famous recording at the Lighthouse with the amazing Victor Feldman replacing [within days!] Bobby Timmons. Brother Nat absolutely smokes on that session!)
* Bill Evans Trio [the original!] with the great Scott LaFaro!
* Bill Evans [solo] (He made the piano technician tune 3 times before he would play!)
* Jack Sheldon Quintet (The most underrated trumpet player—ever! Also made a lot of money with his voice. [R.I.P.])
* André Previn Trio (with Shelley and Leroy Vinegar. That was around the time they recorded their award-winning album My Fair Lady, which was the best-selling jazz LP for many years.)
* Cal Tjader (Not so sure?)
* Ruth Price (She was a regular and was as drop-dead gorgeous as was her voice. Years later, she opened her own club in Hollywood. I think it was called “The Jazz Bakery?”)

Please feel free to fact-check me on any of the above because—at 81—I could have confused some of the headliners’ performances at Shelley’s with those at the [also intimate] Renaissance Club, where I had the supreme honor of hearing the [original] Miles Davis Sextet! (And yes, Miles did leave the stage while the others soloed—but out of respect so as not to detract, not as an insult!)
This club was eventually torn down [along with adjacent buildings] to make way for the famous [also jazz-hip] Playboy Club—which was itself later demolished!

There are some other jazz clubs I could talk about, but I’ve already overstayed my welcome.
Thanks for all that you do…

– Kenneth Brungess
Born: Pottstown, Pennsylvania, September 29, 1943

Artists: Sun Ra Arkestra

I first heard the Sun Ra Arkestra in 1971 or early 1972 at Stanford University. I was either 17 or 18. I’d gone at the invitation of a high school teacher who was interested in all sorts of avant-garde things (drugs, sex, rock ‘n’ roll, as well as jazz, and somewhat surprisingly, fly fishing in Montana). I remember hearing “Second Stop Is Jupiter.” My mind was blown. I saw the Arkestra again in 1984 or ’85 in New York in a double bill with the World Saxophone Quartet. I still didn’t understand it, but I loved it.

– Andrew Hingston
Born: Palo Alto, California, March 9, 1954

Artist: Count Basie

I performed with Earle Warren and Dickie Wells of the 1938 Basie Band. I played piano on 4 numbers in about 1984 or ’85 in NYC.

– Robert Silverman
Born: New Haven, Connecticut, May 6, 1954

Artist: James Morrison

James was appearing at the Brecon Jazz Festival with his brother John on drums. The two of them shared some laconically funny Australian banter between numbers.

– Jin Trimmer
Born: Isleworth, England, April 30, 1943

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