Hanging Out with Jazz Giants

Budd and I had the incredible good fortune of going to see Dr. Lonnie Smith and his trio last night as part of Duke University's Soul Power program.  Having been a longtime fan and friend of Dr. Lonnie, we were able to get backstage and hang out in the Green Room. 
Budd Wilkins and Dr. Lonnie Smith

Lou Donaldson and me!

Dr. Lonnie Smith, is, of course, my musical idol, as I've indicated in an earlier post.   But along with him, he has played for many, many years with alto sax legend and Badin, NC native Lou Donaldson, and Budd and I had the chance to meet and talk with Mr. Donaldson, as well as tenor sax great David "Fathead" Newman and jazz virtuoso guitarist Peter Bernstein.  We were simply in awe and starstruck the whole time (at least I was).  It's so rare to have access to your favorite musicians, but jazz musicians are so accesible and so kind to their fans. 
Jazz Giant Lou Donaldson warming up before the show

To say the show was magnificent is such an understatement.  The performers had young people dancing in front of the stage, and I nearly gave myself whiplash, I was so excited.  I have to give proper respect to drummer Herlin Riley, who could stand up to the best drummers in jazz, living or dead, and to Peter Bernstein, a quintessential guitarist.  The nearly 3 hour set was soulful, tight and a musical ambrosia for the ears.  

After the show, we were blessed enough by the kind folks at Duke University to go back to the Green Room and hang again with our idols.  I'm posting some photos below.  
Dr. Lonnie Smith and me

Nearly all the way home, I cried tears of joy.  Just to be there, listening to the band banter back and forth, tell old stories, to be able to ask Lou Donaldson, "What made you write Alligator Boogaloo?" while he ate his dinner - it was nothing short of magical.  Mr. Donaldson is a jazz legend who played with everyone from Ellington to Charlie Parker.  He's been around the world and back and he knows where it's at.  He personifies the great things about jazz, especially when he told the audience, "This is your music; American music".  It was a privilege and an honor to meet Mr. Donaldson.

And every time I am lucky enough to be in the presence of Dr. Lonnie Smith ranks with the greatest moments of my life.  Not only is he THE consummate Hammond B3 performer, he is one hell of a nice guy.  And I love him dearly.  His music changed my life in dramatic ways, and for that, I will always be grateful, be a fan and be an evangelist for his music.   All these gentlemen, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Lou Donaldson, David Fathead Newman, Houston Person, Peter Bernstein and Herlin Riley, are jazz giants, and last night's performance was clearly the best jazz concert I've ever witnessed.  I'm still star-struck today.   I know Budd's going to post about this and will probably write a lot more eloquently than me.  But I'm still star-struck today.

Jazz Guitar Great Peter Bernstein and me 

Jazz Giant David "Fathead" Newman and me 

Budd & Tina Wilkins with Dr. Lonnie Smith 

Dr. Lonnie Smith, David Fathead Newman and Houston Preston 

Farewell to Oscar

Felix: 

"I got a big decision to make.
Do I go with Oscar Peterson             
or Bartok String Quartet No.  5?"
                  
Bogart:

"Play Oscar Peterson and leave Bartok
out so everybody can see it."

So goes the interchange between Woody Allen's Allan Felix and the ghost of Humphrey Bogart in Herbert Ross' Play It Again, Sam.  I remember that scene fondly because it mentions Oscar Peterson, one of my favorite jazz pianists who passed away on December 23.  I'm sure that many, many people saw that same scene and scratched their heads thinking, "Oscar who?", even though Peterson composed the score for Play It Again, Sam, and had achieved widespread popularity, although much less critical acclaim than he deserved.  He only won the Downbeat critcs' poll once, in 1950, but claimed the reader's poll 13 times.  Peterson was the same age as my father would have been; I'm grateful that my father had a love of instrumental music.  He inadvertently introduced me to Peterson's music as a child, when I found in his collection a copy of Night Train on Verve.

One of the best compilations of his astounding discography has to be A Jazz Odyssey, which includes the classic, "I Only Have Eyes For You."  Peterson, in his debut performance in 1949 at Carnegie Hall, received a standing ovation for his rendition of that song.  A Jazz Odyssey also features another jazz giant who passed away in 2007, hard bop drummer, percussionist and composer Max Roach. 

Jazz aficionados are mourning; hopefully, new fans will be listening.