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Tal Farlow Gigi Gryce Pepper Adams Stuff Smith Wardell Gray Joe Puma Booker Ervin Carmell Jones Serge Chaloff

Saw a great double bill last weekend here in Wilmington NC at our wonderful Thalian Hall, Joe Chambers and His All-Stars opening up for The Jimmy and Tootie Heath combo. Joe is the first Professor of Jazz at UNC Wilmington (since '08), and it's great to have a musician and teacher of his stature in our small town. Jimmy and Tootie went to high school in Wilmington, so it was a homecoming of sorts. Saw Jimmy walking through the upstairs lobby after the mayor passed out some awards and struck up a conversation. Couldn't meet a nicer guy. Talked a bit about Wilmington, his notes on the Heavyweight Champion box, and leafed through his book "I Walked With Giants." While I was away getting a pen, the handlers started moving him along to get ready for the show and he told them to hold on because he had to wait for Adam to sign his book. Nice gesture-makes you feel good as a fan that he'd make an effort for you. Definitely check them out if you ever get a chance. Watching an 85-year-old get funky to Fungii Mama isn't something you see everyday. Great couple of hours of jazz legends-can't ask for any more than that. Anyone in these pasrts might want to check out Benny Hill, the saxophonist who played with Joe Chambers, perform at The Cameron Art Museum April 5th.