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Dewey Left Town!


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yah, Schaap just made the announcement... now he's saying Richard Sudhalter is very ill also... keep an ear out, maybe tomorrow (most likely 2-7, or longer) or Monday (from noon onwards) for a Dewey memorial on WKCR. i heard a Dewey intereview a few years ago, he was very into speaking about the cancer he beat (& great for him & us he did)... or so we thought? adios, Dewey.

i was gonna post this elsewhere but, to life--

for everyone diggin' on the aeoc, old or new--

c

Was it liver Cancer?

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I played in his quartet for the past year, starting in Montreal last July - he was the greatest, and the day I got the call was one of the happiest in my life. I remember him telling me to please call him and let him know asap if I couldn't make the gig, and I replied "But Dewey, you don't understand......" We shared some really nice time together, both on and off the bandstand, and I'll always cherish it. Last Sunday we played the Charlie Parker Festival, and he sounded beautiful.......the last tune he played was "Turn Over Baby", and he rocked it hard. I can't believe that less than a week later he's gone.

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I played in his quartet for the past year, starting in Montreal last July - he was the greatest, and the day I got the call was one of the happiest in my life. I remember him telling me to please call him and let him know asap if I couldn't make the gig, and I replied "But Dewey, you don't understand......" We shared some really nice time together, both on and off the bandstand, and I'll always cherish it. Last Sunday we played the Charlie Parker Festival, and he sounded beautiful.......the last tune he played was "Turn Over Baby", and he rocked it hard. I can't believe that less than a week later he's gone.

Wow.

Not much to add to that. Except I did get a chance to see Dewey once (about 2 years ago) with a avant pickup band. Dewey walked in with his bags 'cause he came straight from the airport (I'm sure he was beat, but didn't show it in the least). The band opened with a couple of originals and played the most outside stuff that wasn't connecting to the people. Dewey came out and played the slowest tempo Rhythm Changes and MADE those guys groove...!!!! I'll never forget Dewey telling the bass player to WALK! He was nice about it, but made his point. Dewey was there to play for the people. For anyone in that band thinking they were just going to self-indulgently play "out" all night was sorely disappointed. Dewey reminded everyone what jazz tenor was supposed to be all about. Great night. Sad to hear he's gone. Glad I got to see him play.

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yah, Schaap just made the announcement... now he's saying Richard Sudhalter is very ill also... keep an ear out, maybe tomorrow (most likely 2-7, or longer) or Monday (from noon onwards) for a Dewey memorial on WKCR. i heard a Dewey intereview a few years ago, he was very into speaking about the cancer he beat (& great for him & us he did)... or so we thought? adios, Dewey.

i was gonna post this elsewhere but, to life--

for everyone diggin' on the aeoc, old or new--

c

2am-9pm on Monday. :(

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I did get a chance to see Dewey once (about 2 years ago) with a avant pickup band. Dewey walked in with his bags 'cause he came straight from the airport (I'm sure he was beat, but didn't show it in the least). The band opened with a couple of originals and played the most outside stuff that wasn't connecting to the people. Dewey came out and played the slowest tempo Rhythm Changes and MADE those guys groove...!!!! I'll never forget Dewey telling the bass player to WALK! He was nice about it, but made his point. Dewey was there to play for the people. For anyone in that band thinking they were just going to self-indulgently play "out" all night was sorely disappointed. Dewey reminded everyone what jazz tenor was supposed to be all about.

Lots of code words there, maybe, but the bottom line is this - it wouldn't have mattered if he had joined them in their "outside stuff". It still would've been what jazz tenor was supposed to be all about, just because it was Dewey, and Dewey was what jazz tenor is all about, supposedly or otherwise.

We were blessed by his presence on this planet, and we will be lessened by his absence.

Edited by JSngry
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I did get a chance to see Dewey once (about 2 years ago) with a avant pickup band. Dewey walked in with his bags 'cause he came straight from the airport (I'm sure he was beat, but didn't show it in the least). The band opened with a couple of originals and played the most outside stuff that wasn't connecting to the people. Dewey came out and played the slowest tempo Rhythm Changes and MADE those guys groove...!!!! I'll never forget Dewey telling the bass player to WALK! He was nice about it, but made his point. Dewey was there to play for the people. For anyone in that band thinking they were just going to self-indulgently play "out" all night was sorely disappointed. Dewey reminded everyone what jazz tenor was supposed to be all about.

Lots of code words there, maybe, but the bottom line is this - it wouldn't have mattered if he had joined them in their "outside stuff". It still would've been what jazz tenor was supposed to be all about, just because it was Dewey, and Dewey was what jazz tenor is all about, supposedly or otherwise.

We were blessed by his presence on this planet, and we will be lessened by his absence.

Well said.

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I did get a chance to see Dewey once (about 2 years ago) with a avant pickup band. Dewey walked in with his bags 'cause he came straight from the airport (I'm sure he was beat, but didn't show it in the least). The band opened with a couple of originals and played the most outside stuff that wasn't connecting to the people. Dewey came out and played the slowest tempo Rhythm Changes and MADE those guys groove...!!!! I'll never forget Dewey telling the bass player to WALK! He was nice about it, but made his point. Dewey was there to play for the people. For anyone in that band thinking they were just going to self-indulgently play "out" all night was sorely disappointed. Dewey reminded everyone what jazz tenor was supposed to be all about.

Lots of code words there, maybe, but the bottom line is this - it wouldn't have mattered if he had joined them in their "outside stuff". It still would've been what jazz tenor was supposed to be all about, just because it was Dewey, and Dewey was what jazz tenor is all about, supposedly or otherwise.

We were blessed by his presence on this planet, and we will be lessened by his absence.

No code words here, as if "outside sucks." It was just my perception that Dewey brought the proceedings to a grinding halt and changed course drastically. Read into what you will. Whatever happened that night, I dug it. Dewey lives.

Edited by Soul Stream
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RIP Dewey. only thing I have him on is Pat Metheny's "80/81".

I don't have that album, but I was lucky enough to hear him with that band when they played at my college around the time the recording was released.

Very sad news. Another truly individual player gone. He was indeed what jazz tenor was about.

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