For a short while I took guitar lessons from one of the finest female jazz guitarists since Mary Osborn. I never became a great guitarist, but that’s because I never put in the time it takes to be a great guitarist. Emily on the other hand, lived and breathed the guitar.
One day I arrived at Emily’s apartment to take a lesson and there she was in a leg cast and on crutches, Continue Reading
Dec
03
2009
Category : Musicians
Dec
03
2009
Category : Musicians
Ella Fitzgerald’s last concert at Carnegie Hall featured Joe Pass to play duets with her. I called the hotel earlier that afternoon to speak with Joe. The operator said he wasn’t in his room, but he might be rehearsing with Ella, should we connect you to Ella’s room? I couldn’t believe that she asked me that. I was thinking to myself, “what kind of idiot would refuse talking to Ella”, so I said sure. Continue Reading
Dec
02
2009
Category : Artists
Nov
30
2009
Category : Musicians
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The beauty that went on inside Jaco’s head never ceases to amaze me. Whenever I heard Jaco play a song his presence was always so strong. He didn’t have to overplay or overpower a song to make that presence known either.
- I only got to see Jaco play in a group setting 2 times, once with Weather Report in 1977 or 1978, when they played in Virginia Beach and the second time in Forest Hills Stadium, when Jaco was the leader of Joni Mitchell’s Band. Both times were amazing! Up to that point the best electric bass player I’d ever seen was Stanley Clarke, but Jaco had so many more sophisticated harmonies going on and to me his sense of “space” was perfect. Continue Reading
Nov
30
2009
Category : Musicians
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In the early 80’s, Joe Pass, one of the finest solo guitar players that ever lived, had just finished his last set at Fat Tuesday’s. I was alone that night, sitting at the bar. Joe looked in the direction of the bar and said “Is anyone going my way?” I asked where he was staying and he told me that he was around the corner from the Plaza Hotel. Since I lived in Queeens and I could go home lots of ways I told him I would drop him off.
- As I dropped Joe off, I told him that should he ever need a ride, I’d give him my number and he could call me. Joe told me “you pick me up tomorrow and you can get in for free” – So, I did that for the next 12 years.
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