Even before my early days with the six-hole flute, there was a fascination with sounds and how they could evoke feelings and stimulate my imagination. Uncle Chester had this old upright piano. There was a very low note that would resonate when the sustain pedal was depressed and held. I always looked forward to a visit at Uncle Chester’s house so I could play that note and let the sound decide when to disappear. I discovered how I could attack the note with different levels of force, influence its disappearance and change how it made me feel. I had lots of fun, but still not ready or asked to entertain at family gatherings.
As I began to explore, ultimately finding the saxophone, I noticed that I could express my feelings with my own notes, and sometimes others would pay attention. Imagine that.
The sound of a saxophone, it is said, more closely resembles the sound of the human voice than any other instrument. I could sing.
Many jazz greats had early experiences in rhythm and blues bands. My experience was similar and I was intrigued by the spontaneity that jazz offered. I thought I could play a bunch of weird notes and call myself a jazz player. Then I met Donald.
Listening to the jazz greats is one thing, and listening with Donald is another. He was an accomplished drummer with his own history on the Philly jazz scene before we had met in The Late Entre. Some years later, he returned from the west coast for his daughter’s wedding and stayed with Liz and me. Through the day, we listened to one jazz album after the next, some over and over. Donald opened my ears. I learned there was work to do. The apartment was a bit crowded that week. Liz was incredibly patient.
Franny (also a drummer) lived nearby and had a detached garage which he had made into a music room. It was the scene of many musical adventures, notable among other things, for ‘space jams’, a night of complete abandon when improvisation (collectively and otherwise) was encouraged and expected. Tommy Lucca (also a drummer) was there to participate and record. Tommy called it ‘Monkeys With Wrenches’.
‘So many drummers…I jam, therefore I am)))