ValerieB

i am so thrilled to see a thread about monday michiru. i have been a big fan of hers for quite awhile and have her last several cd's which i'm enjoying immensely. and, for those who don't know, i'm a dyed-in-the-wool, straight-ahead jazz fan!! she is just a gorgeous (inside and out), very talented young woman.

vivid recollection of J Mac from a Hartford listener. Tom Reney I graduated from Hartt in 1982 as a music education major. My last year there I told my classical saxophone teacher that I had talked to Jackie McLean and he had accepted me as a saxophone student. I then went to Prof. McLean and told him that my classical teacher said that I should study with him. Luckily, neither of them checked with the other so I was able to work both sides of the aisle, so to speak, and I ended up studying with Mr. Jackie McLean (a direct line to every sax players hero Charlie Parker), During that year I had the opportunity to take lessons from him at his home where Mrs. McLean would often greet me and give me a glass of water to soak my reeds in. Then Prof. McLean (I always called him Professor out of great respect and admiration) would have me play long tones, scales and the like. The exercises he would give me to practice were aural. Not written down. It was his way of ear training. Jackie McLean would talk to me about the history of early African American music, jazz and growing up in Harlem, hanging out with Sonny Rollins, piano lessons from Bud Powell and of course Bird. He would allow me to tape our lessons with an old reel to reel tape recorder that my family owned (the one with the single green illuminated meter to show the intensity of the decibels being laid down on the iron oxide). I would take that thing home and slow down the speed so that I could learn the complicated, asymmetrical licks that Jackie let fly with feeling just a few hours earlier. I should have practiced those licks in all twelve keys but I ended making them part of my vernacular in the original key they were played in. Jackie would talk about phraseology and the importance of music and staying free of substances, though he would not judge you if you happened to make unwise decisions. You see, he had been there. He would introduce his students to great teachers like Jaki Byard, Walter Bishop Jr., among others. While I was in school I had a chance to play with Sue Terry, Tom Chapin (God rest his soul), and Nat Reeves. I'm currently listening to his music on "Jazz à la Mode" and if I close my eyes he's right here. Peace & Love, Michael Psutka Hartt, 1982

thank you, bertrand. my best to you, valerie

By the looks of her avatar and last name, my guess would be Pianist Walter Bishop Jr., no? wigwise, you're a genius! LOL!

i would guess a heart attack but i haven't heard anything official at all.

just haven't been able to write anything before now because i'm just so damn sad. i can't say i was surprised to hear the horrible news though as i knew he had been battling health problems for years (prostate cancer, i believe). it's just such a huge loss. i remember hearing about how he used to practice and hang with my ex during the 50's and thank goodness i saw and heard him live a lot in the 60's, although not so much after that. i'm grateful for the dozens of times i did see him though. and he gave my ex teaching and performing gigs in his early years at hartt which was so great. i will miss jackie a lot. he gave so much in this lifetime and touched many folks deeply. my sincere condolences to jackie's family. valerie bishop

all i saw was carmela observing the dejected looks on vito(?) and paulie's faces as the elevator doors were closing, after they handed over all that money to her.

the l.a. times reported that he actually took ONE sick day in all those decades: the day his wife died! beyond amazing.

oh, i absolutely love those albums! and your duke pearson avatar is one of my very favorite old albums too!

wonderful article on an amazing man. just wish there weren't so many misspellings of musicians' names.

the person gets my vote. can't stand that kid and, besides, he's a lousy actor! the scene in intensive care was an opportunity for him to show his chops but he proved that he ain't got any!

Jaleel is a wonderful player. I'm happy to say that I've seen and heard him in various settings in the past few years, but mostly in the Mingus Big Band. We'll be hearing lots more about him in the years to come!

Whoa! not to be competitive, but i have a signed copy of that vinyl.

well, that book is gospel, baby! i liked it so much, i've read it twice!

yes, 1964 sounds right as it was before i met my husband-to-be, which was 1965.

hi, bertrand. i believe sue and charles met around 1965 but she knows enormous amounts about his history. i was actually around when they met. i remember vividly the day he introduced her to me! best, valerie

i think it's sue@mingusmingusmingus.com

why don't you e-mail sue mingus? she might remember.

from what i have heard, he was just the loveliest of human beings. i met him over 30 years ago when his son, rick, was studying piano with my ex-husband.

Saturday, June 17, 2006: Stanley Clarke/George Duke Project Branford Marsalis Quartet Jamie Cullum Benny Golson Quartet The Golden Striker Trio featuring Ron Carter, Mulgrew Miller and Russell Malone Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra plus special guest Stefon Harris in a Tribute to Milt Jackson Baaba Maal featuring Daande Lenol Spanish Harlem Orchestra Hiromi Cos of Good Music, featuring Walter Blanding Jr., Dwayne Burno, Ndugu Chancler, Gerald Clayton, Kevin Eubanks, Steve Turré Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Jason Goldman Master of Ceremonies: Bill Cosby Sunday, June 18, 2006: McCoy Tyner Trio with the Lula Washington Dance Theatre Elvis Costello and the Impostors featuring the piano and songs of Allen Toussaint with his New Orleans Horn Section, The River In Reverse Tour 2006 Groovin' for Grover featuring Gerald Albright, Jeff Lorber, Kirk Whalum: A Celebration of the Music of Grover Washington Jr. (The Grover Washington Jr. Protect the Dream Foundation to benefit young musicians) Ozomatli Eddie Palmieri Afro-Carribbean Jazz All-Stars with special guests Regina Carter and David Sanchez Chuck Mangione The Preservation Hall Jazz Band Eldar Christian Scott Lesa Terry and the Women's Jazz Orchestra of Los Angeles Elder Edward Babb and the McCollough Sons of Thunder Master of Ceremonies: Bill Cosby

i have extremely pleasant and strong memories of this lovely man. since i attended or listened to practically every red sox game from 1956 to 1960, i think probably explains it. curt's sidekick, bob murphy, also passed fairly recently. i wish the obit had mentioned how many years he had been married to jerre as it must be well over 50 years! i remember them as an extremely handsome couple. he was a supreme professional as well as gentleman.

it's just killing me that i can't be there!! rest assured, i'd be there every time you played!! best, valerie bishop

Valerie, I highly recommend this book on the whole story behind "Strange Fruit." thanks very much, ghost!

His uncle, not his father, was the one who produced "Strange Fruit." (Probably this was just a typo!) i actually remember billy saying that it was his father but it sure makes more sense if it were his uncle.

i, too was recently "enlightened" about billy's jazz connections through his one-man show. i knew very little before seeing it. had heard about the commodore record store and the label but not much more than that. it was a mind-blower to learln that billy's father was the one who recorded billie holiday's "strange fruit" when no one else would touch it!! billy did the "ziggy" bit in the show. the entire three-hour performance was so incredible that i'm trying to see it again before it closes next week! and the night i went is when president clinton came out on stage to receive a check from billy. the audiences throughout billy's tour had been contributing to a katrina fund (where billy matched every dollar donated). the whole thing was just too cool for words!!