Musical blast from the past
Tonight was a musical blast from the past. I received an email a few days ago announcing a jazz concert here in little old Keene, NH. The featured artist was Richie Cole. Richie is a rather famous Alto Saxophonist whose professional included stints with big bands led by Buddy Rich, Lionel Hampton, Doc Severinsen, and numerous others. I knew I'd have to go hear him play.
Before I left the house, I rifled through my closet and, much to my surprise, quickly found something to take with me for him to autograph.
We got front row seats and enjoyed the fantastic concert which included Richie and a band that had never played together before. Scott Mullet, an outstanding tenor sax player from right here in Keene, who also leads the Keene Jazz Orchestra, was responsible for bringing them all together and played with the group for several numbers. Near the end of the evening, they were joined by a couple of students who Richie had worked with in a clinic earlier in the day.
Edison and Erin really enjoyed the show, too. The music was fabulous, but Richie gave them a neat treat. He played a song from Willy Wonka (one they're familiar with) and even came right up to them and played some of it right in front of him. Edison got to look right in his saxophone while he played.
After the show, I caught up with Richie to have my piece of nostalgia autographed. Before I asked him for his autograph, I told him this story.
In 1991 or 1992 (I forget which year, I went both years), I toured Japan with a big band under the direction of trumpeter Bill Berry, who I've written about a time or two before in this blog. One of the gigs we played (both years) was the Monterey Jazz Festival in Noto, Japan. Noto is the sister city of Monterey and Monterey has agreed to let them use the name for their festival - the only such agreement in the world. We played both years and the guest artists we played with there (I can't remember who played which years) were Maynard Ferguson, Bobby Shew, Don Menza, and Richie Cole.
This was the first time in 18ish years that I had seen Richie. The last time was playing together with him at that festival. The item I miraculously found in my closet was the shirt from that festival. In honor of Bill's passing a few years ago, and as a fun memento of Richie and I having played together all those years ago, I asked him to sign it: To Varrin, For Bill Berry, Richie Cole.
V-
Before I left the house, I rifled through my closet and, much to my surprise, quickly found something to take with me for him to autograph.
We got front row seats and enjoyed the fantastic concert which included Richie and a band that had never played together before. Scott Mullet, an outstanding tenor sax player from right here in Keene, who also leads the Keene Jazz Orchestra, was responsible for bringing them all together and played with the group for several numbers. Near the end of the evening, they were joined by a couple of students who Richie had worked with in a clinic earlier in the day.
Edison and Erin really enjoyed the show, too. The music was fabulous, but Richie gave them a neat treat. He played a song from Willy Wonka (one they're familiar with) and even came right up to them and played some of it right in front of him. Edison got to look right in his saxophone while he played.
After the show, I caught up with Richie to have my piece of nostalgia autographed. Before I asked him for his autograph, I told him this story.
In 1991 or 1992 (I forget which year, I went both years), I toured Japan with a big band under the direction of trumpeter Bill Berry, who I've written about a time or two before in this blog. One of the gigs we played (both years) was the Monterey Jazz Festival in Noto, Japan. Noto is the sister city of Monterey and Monterey has agreed to let them use the name for their festival - the only such agreement in the world. We played both years and the guest artists we played with there (I can't remember who played which years) were Maynard Ferguson, Bobby Shew, Don Menza, and Richie Cole.
This was the first time in 18ish years that I had seen Richie. The last time was playing together with him at that festival. The item I miraculously found in my closet was the shirt from that festival. In honor of Bill's passing a few years ago, and as a fun memento of Richie and I having played together all those years ago, I asked him to sign it: To Varrin, For Bill Berry, Richie Cole.
V-