Special People, Special Time, Part 2

While touring last January in California, pianist Bill Mays and I were fortunate to share a special day in the Anaheim area working with two exceptional groups, El Dorado High School Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Rich Watson, and Tuffree Middle School Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Jim Hahn. Jim and Rich exemplify what educators should strive to be, and they do honor to the title. Their relationships and communications with their students are splendid, and what they give to their young people is truly a gift; the students respond in kind to their efforts. 

We had a great time with these groups and thoroughly enjoyed the evening concert we played with the El Dorado band. Later, Bill and I were touched by the cards sent and signed by all the middle schoolers. This beautiful experience was made possible by David Browne and his wife, owners of Anaheim Band Instruments, who just wanted to do a little payback for the magnificant efforts of these two dedicated men! 

In February, I was invited to spend time at Northern Illinois University (NIU) with Ron Modell and his group during his last year of teaching; Ron retired from NIU in May 1997. During a career spanning 28 years, Ron  exposed his young players to many great Jazz musicians, providing the students a tremendous array of performance experiences. They have had the privilege not only of performing with these many artists,  but also of spending quality time with each of them. These artists have ranged from Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, James Moody, Tito Puente and Louis Bellson to Bob Mintzer, Claudio Roditi, Hal Crook and many others. 

Last year, Ron's band was invited by Quincy Jones to appear at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland under the multitalented musician's baton. The performance was a full retrospective of Quincy's career and featured many of the artists with whom he has worked. The invitation was a well-deserved honor, and Ron expended considerable effort to make the trip possible for his students. A fine player as well as a teacher, Ron will continue to be actively involved in music as a consultant and clinician. I congratulate him on a stunning and meaningful career and wish all the best to his successor, Ron Carter. 

I often speak of the importance of early teachers in a young musician's life, and I do so from the perspective of my own positive experiences. It would be impossible for me to overstate all that I derived from my teachers during that period of my life. I would especially like to thank and pay tribute to Perry Wilson, my trumpet teacher during my high school years in Memphis. I knew by age 14 that music would be my path in life, and Perry made substantial contribution to my pursuit of that goal. He was not only my teacher, but also my mentor and friend, and he prepared me so well that I was able to delve successfully into the intense musical environment at the university of North 
Texas and beyond. 

Perry hailed from Boston and studied at New England Conservatory. He also was a member of the first Herb Pomeroy Band in that city until he moved to Memphis in the early 1950s. He was - and is still - a fine trumpet player and arranger. For the major portion of our lessons, we used materials with which trumpet players are familiar: Arbans, St. Jacome, the Amsden Duets, varied technical studies and Schlossberg. That done, we moved to the small enclosures in which piano lessons were given. There, he taught me 
standards and current Jazz compositions while accompanying me on the piano, thus helping develop my improvisational skills. While teaching me to play, he also taught me the importance of listening. In addition, Perry aided my breaking into the professional ranks of Memphis' musical circles. Soon, I found myself sitting in various trumpet sections with him 
and the other fine players of that period. 

I have been fortunate to be the recipient of the knowledge from teachers John Haynie and Carmine Caruso and from great players I have had the honor and privilege of sitting next to, such as Ernie Royal, Ray Crisara, Snooky Young and Bernie Glow.  However, Perry Wilson is the one who made it possible for me to reach for those higher steps of the ladder. We still share today that love and friendship that began so long ago. 

I also need to say a huge thank-you to a dear friend without whom many of my opportunities to work with young people would not be possible. Jack Faas, president of Boosey & Hawkes, strongly believes in music and music education and does much more than just pay lip service to it; he supports it!  A patron of IAJE and other like endeavors, Jack has been a great part of my performances and educational efforts, and his direct involvement has benefited so many. In reality, heart-felt appreciation is hardly enough 
for all that he has done for Jazz and music education. 

To these and all the persons highlighted in these last two issues, I say "Thank you" for their music, their caring and their contributions to me and the many others that they have touched.