Great thread. Both for the hat storage ideas as well as the music trivia (which is never trivial). I was fortunate enough to see a bunch of big bands in the 70's. I played sax, a little clarinet and even less flute. I've got no chops anymore.
I saw live: Buddy Rich, Stan Kenton, Mel Torme', Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson, Bill Watrous, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis. I know there were more. Got to play with Lew Tabackin and Toshiko Akioshi, Frank Rosolino, more... oh, Al Cohn and Zoot Zims (whose talent improved exponentially after a fifth of bourbon was consumed). I was only in the Kent-Meridian band for 2 years.
I was always impressed with Buddy Rich. I remember when that Muppets episode aired with Buddy. What a talent, but nothing like seeing him in person. I've been enamored by the jazz drumming of Kenny Clarke who played in tandem with Kenny Clare in the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland big band. Screamin' musicians in that band. Two drummers at the same time. Pretty cool. Gene Krupa was practically immortal in my estimation.
I went to a jazz event in Seattle a few years ago when a bunch of alumni who played under director Hal Sherman put together some of the old tunes we used to play; mostly unlicensed/pirated covers of old stuff that was never published. Nearly all of our sheet music had blue notes because it was copied from original onion skins in a copier meant for architects.
One of the alumni, Tamara Danielsson (Tami Schultz as I knew her) and her Swedish pianist husband, Per Danielsson, brought along a drummer they cut a cd with, Danny Gottlieb. Danny sat in on a few tunes. Great drummer, if not on the edge of being a bit over-powering with the band.
I couldn't believe the stuff we used to play. I look back and I'm amazed at the library we played and the opportunities we had back then. As a stupid high school kid I had no idea how good we had it... until I played in college and in "dance" bands.
We used to make fun of Kenny Gorelick, nka Kenny G, but he has the money now... He used to look like Disco Stu on the Simpsons and played the same tired "lick" in ALL his solos, no matter the style of the music being played. All the woodwind guys/gals studied under Johnny Jessen, including Keenny. No way you could get into Hal's jazz ensemble without Johnny on your side.
Now that you're all bored to tears, I'll go back to work!
I saw live: Buddy Rich, Stan Kenton, Mel Torme', Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson, Bill Watrous, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis. I know there were more. Got to play with Lew Tabackin and Toshiko Akioshi, Frank Rosolino, more... oh, Al Cohn and Zoot Zims (whose talent improved exponentially after a fifth of bourbon was consumed). I was only in the Kent-Meridian band for 2 years.
I was always impressed with Buddy Rich. I remember when that Muppets episode aired with Buddy. What a talent, but nothing like seeing him in person. I've been enamored by the jazz drumming of Kenny Clarke who played in tandem with Kenny Clare in the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland big band. Screamin' musicians in that band. Two drummers at the same time. Pretty cool. Gene Krupa was practically immortal in my estimation.
I went to a jazz event in Seattle a few years ago when a bunch of alumni who played under director Hal Sherman put together some of the old tunes we used to play; mostly unlicensed/pirated covers of old stuff that was never published. Nearly all of our sheet music had blue notes because it was copied from original onion skins in a copier meant for architects.
One of the alumni, Tamara Danielsson (Tami Schultz as I knew her) and her Swedish pianist husband, Per Danielsson, brought along a drummer they cut a cd with, Danny Gottlieb. Danny sat in on a few tunes. Great drummer, if not on the edge of being a bit over-powering with the band.
I couldn't believe the stuff we used to play. I look back and I'm amazed at the library we played and the opportunities we had back then. As a stupid high school kid I had no idea how good we had it... until I played in college and in "dance" bands.
We used to make fun of Kenny Gorelick, nka Kenny G, but he has the money now... He used to look like Disco Stu on the Simpsons and played the same tired "lick" in ALL his solos, no matter the style of the music being played. All the woodwind guys/gals studied under Johnny Jessen, including Keenny. No way you could get into Hal's jazz ensemble without Johnny on your side.
Now that you're all bored to tears, I'll go back to work!
Last edited:
downsize the collection... 
