Michael Weiss

Just came across your comments and would beg to differ. From someone who worked with Junior for years as a sideman, I can tell you he was very conscientious about how the music was presented to his audience: His repertoire was a wide-ranging mix of under-played standards to many negleted gems of Monk, Tadd Dameron and others. The structure of his sets were always well balanced. He made sure every tune had introductions, codas and solo backgrounds. He announced the names of every piece and maintained the momentum – as he used to say, "No lulls!" You could say that Junior was not one who seeked the limelight and he may not have been a great business man when it came to promoting himself. But when it came to playing and performing, he was all business.

For a Downbeat article about Bradley's a few months ago I compiled a list of my gigs there and thought it might be interesting to see who were among the musicians working there at that time: 1988 July 4-9 with George Coleman, Bob Cranshaw October 9, 16 with Ted Curson, Peter Washington December 4 with Ricky Ford, Peter Washington 1989 March 13-18 MW Trio with Peter Washington, Kenny Washington June 25 with Junior Cook, Peter Washington, George Fludas July 17-22 MW Trio with Dennis Irwin, Kenny Washington September 3 with Frank Wess, Peter Washington November 21 with George Coleman, Bob Cranshaw December 17 with Frank Wess, Peter Washington, George Fludas 1990 January 29-February 3 MW Trio with Peter Washington, Kenny Washington March 25 with Gary Bartz, Peter Washington July 9-14 MW Trio with Dennis Irwin, Kenny Washington September 16 MW Trio with Peter Washington, Lewis Nash November 4 with Buddy Montgomery (on vibes), Peter Washington November 18 with George Coleman, Dennis Irwin December 2 with Frank Wess, Ray Drummond 1991 January 21-26 MW Trio with James Genus, Lewis Nash July 14 MW Quartet with Peter Bernstein, Essiet Essiet, Andy Watson September 2-7 MW Trio with Dennis Irwin, Lewis Nash 1992 May 31 with Tom Harrell, Dennis Irwin, Al Harewood July 6-11 MW Trio with John Webber, Al Harewood October 4 with Tom Harrell, John Webber, Brian Grice October 26-31 with Marcus Belgrave, Peter Washington, (Detroit drummer)

Nice meeting you all and thanks for dinner. As things go, it was a more inspired performance than other times, largely due, I believe, to a more acoustical (than amped up) sound and Derrick Gardner's cookin' solo on Groove Merchant.

Just a reminder for Dallas area folks: I'll be at the Sammons Center in Dallas on May 2. Joining me is Shelley Carrol, Lynn Seaton and Andrew Griffith. I should have a few comps if anyone's interested. On May 1, I'll be at NTSU giving a piano master class (all can attend) and performing at the Student Union at 9:00pm. Only $5 cover.

This is a facinating venue that I had the pleasure of performing at some 7-8 years ago. The nearby town of Sidi Bou Said is magical. A couple of days before we played in the Roman amphitheater of El Djem.

Hi Valerie, No, I was. I remember Bish's poems quite well!

I cut my teeth in NY with Junior Cook, working with him in a quartet from 1982 and then as a member of the Junior Cook/Bill Hardman Quintet up until I joined Johnny Griffin in 1987. We played regularly at the Star Café, Barry Harris' Jazz Cultural Theater, the Flamingo Lounge (and other short lived spots) in Brooklyn, Jazzmobile concerts in the summer, the Village Gate, a couple of spots in NJ and we made a ballbusting tour of Europe in September/October of 1986 with Walter Booker and Leroy Williams. My last gig with Junior, a few months before he died, was at Scullers in Boston in October, 1991 which was recorded and broadcast on NPR's Jazzset. Coincidentally, Blowing the Blues Away was my very first jazz record. Junior lived to play and was a great inspiration to all the young players who gravitated to him. He was always interested in playing the obscure standard, Monk or Kenny Dorham tune. He was also a great pun-master like many of his contemporaries such as Cedar Walton and Curtis Fuller.

Was that in the fall of 1986 perhaps?

Washington Post

I was in that band in 1982 with Murray Wall and Marvin Smitty Smith. Bob Gurland would frequently get lost in a blues. Maybe you heard us in Toledo?

Where are you guys?

Roy Haynes at the Vanguard last night. Playing like a young man...amazing

I just talked to Hank on the phone this morning about an hour before being released from the hospital and he sounded great - as sharp as ever.

Elvis Costello was in the Vanguard a couple of Mondays ago with his father. On another Monday night some 10 years ago or so: James Coburn with a fine babe on his arm. I saw Phyllis Diller hanging out at Bradley's a few times.

May 1 NTSU Following afternoon piano masterclass, I'll be performing most likely with a trio at the Student Union, 9:00p - 11:30p.

George Colligan Quartet tonight at the Jazz Standard. One of the best pianists in NY today, with Steve Wilson, Vincente Archer, EJ Strickland.

Hope to see New York area Organissimo chapter members out in force... I'll have the same band: Steve Wilson - alto, soprano Ugonna Okegwo - bass George Fludas - drums Daniel Sadownick - percussion going in the studio after our week.

Got tickets to hear Christian Tetzlaff play the Violin Concerto with the NY Phil March 14.

Did you ever get to your destination with that one spinning? We had no destination - just driving around the hilly countryside outside of Bloomington, Indiana in the middle of the night.

February 20 Michael Brecker's memorial concert at Town Hall. Herbie/Patitucci/DeJohnette was a highlight as well as Leibman and Randy's words. February 24 Piotr Anderszewski at Carnegie Hall playing Szymanowski's Metopes (highly recommended!!) and Beethoven's Bagatelles and Diabelli variations. Brian Blade at the Vanguard. Jon Cowherd had a great solo on a medium fast tune in 7/4, after which the set all but died with a long drawn-out Beatles medley. I don't get it....

In the late 70s I remember driving around in a friend's car listening to Trane Live in Seattle on 8-Track!

I just ran into Leroy at my neighborhood bank just a few months ago. Very nice guy....What a drag.

Thanks everybody for the well wishes. Just returned from a very enjoyable set by Grant Stewart at Smalls. Heading to Bermuda next week with the Vanguard bigband for a few days, then gearing up for a return to the Vanguard, March 27-April 1. Let's see. Which smilie? The "grateful" one of course:

With just a little notice I could have comped you.... Hmm.... Jim McNeely will probably be playing that concert. If anything changes I'll let you know.

With just a little notice I could have comped you....