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Lorraine Gordon R.I.P.


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  • 2 weeks later...

As others have said aptly, Lorraine was a force of nature – just the kind of fortitude needed to successfully run the most famous jazz club in the world and to maintain its integrity throughout the years. Lorraine's love of jazz preceded her introduction to Max Gordon so this story is no accident. She had "big ears" and really listened. Lorraine's spirit will now hover around the club together with all the musical icons who performed there. And believe me when I tell you, when you're on that stage you feel their presence. On a personal note I'll always be grateful to Lorraine for booking me into the Vanguard as a leader beginning in 2006:

Despite having played annually as a sideman at the Vanguard for 20 years by that point, trying to negotiate a gig as a leader seemed like a lost cause. Yet one night, when playing there with Joe WIlder, she called me over in her typically stern voice. "I want to talk to you!" I thought she was going to ream me out about something, but to my surprise she asked me to bring in a band of my own. So after the shock wore off, now I'm thinking I can either bring in a band and play what I'm known for and what I think she'll like - OR - I can bring in a band and do what I really want to do, which is my own composition-heavy music with tinges of "fusion". I figure I may never get another chance – I'd rather go down swinging and not have any regrets, so I opt for the latter. Opening night, immediately after the first set, again - "Come here! I want to talk to you!" Oh shit, I'm going to be read the riot act now. I'm expecting the worst. Lorraine says, "That was fantastic! The way you played da-da-da-da and the percussionist (Daniel Sadownick) picked up on it, and how it went from one thing to another... that was great." I couldn't believe it.

This is more typical: A few years later, I'm standing at the bar, minding my own business, when Lorraine walks by and steps solidly on my foot. She immediately barks at me, "What's your foot doing there!"

 

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