Media is a small Pennsylvania town. The trolley still runs in the middle of the main street through the center of town where all the shops and restaurants continue their business in the quaint atmosphere of bygone days. I’m not sure if Washington ever slept there, but if he did, I wonder if he knew that one day jazz would come to the Plum Street Mall. After all, he was the Father of our country and jazz is a truly American art form.
The main part of Media stretches from The Media Theater at one end of State Street to the law offices at the other. In between are about six blocks. The Plum Street Mall crosses State Street about halfway through town. At one point, the mall had been a street, but it had been closed to auto traffic and paved with red bricks. Some trees and benches were added so people could meander and relax. The lawyers were happy for the shortcut between the Media Courthouse and the Plumstead Inn.
The mall had two parts, each one block in length. Both enjoyed/endured the changes of the seasons in open air. One was flat, the other was not, but at least the ‘other’ part had shade from the summer sun. On one side of the gradual slope was the Plumstead Inn with a bank on the other. With its acoustics, it was a perfect place for lunchtime jazz. Looking up at the passing trolley only enhanced the challenge. The summer heat could only surrender.
There were two (maybe three) summers when I would play every other Friday to the lunchtime traffic and anyone willing to stop and listen. I was not attached to a particular band at the time. I was committed to drill and practice. Thankfully, there was a place where I could plug in my PA system, cue up the rest of the band on my tape machine, and play some tunes.
Jamie Abersold had published a long list of ‘Play-Along’ tapes for hackers like me who couldn’t find a live rhythm section willing to sweat it out on the Plum Street Mall. His tapes gave me the chance to play with the ‘heavy weights’ in jazz.
As is the custom for street musicians, I had considered offering an opened instrument case for tips, but with four saxophones baking in the noonday heat, I didn’t want to seem greedy. I am happy for the support of Ma’Dear and special friends. I am not always sure why I was so lucky)))