Jazz for aficionados

Here is a link to an article on something we have discussed quite a bit here: 

http://arbanmethod.com/wyntons-twelve-ways-to-practice/

A person who intentionally antagonizes others online by posting inflammatory, irrelevant, or offensive comments or other disruptive content, are Internet trolls.

Learsfool's comment is a cleverly disguised "troll" comment, that will not go unnoticed by me, the person who the comment is intended to inflame, and it has served it's purpose.

Learsfool's comment was related to a hardbop jazz musician who lived in my apartment with me in the summer of 69. Although I had been an ardent fan of his for 6 years before he moved into my apartment, he jammed like he never jammed before in his entire life that summer; his music was even new to me.

Maybe some of you know about "Center Stage" under the Arch in St. Louis on the 4th of July; that's where he wowed the crowd, but I can find no record of this, nor was any of the music he was playing at that time recorded. One of the aficionado's referred to my friend as that giant imaginary rabbit "Harvey"; since I can not prove his music, that's fine with me; but I will tell you more about my "imaginary" friend.

He got dressed in the morning, the same as we all get dressed, but he put on something real hip and cool, without ever thinking about it. His conversation was "hip and cool", without ever giving it one iota of a thought; maybe that's because he had been a "jazz musician", who has played with so many other jazz musicians we love, for all of his adult life.

He performed three nights a week, and I functioned as his chauffeur. I was spell bound at each hard bop performance, and so was the crowd. There was one club that only opened up when they had "hard bop" jazz artists on stage, and he wowed that audience as much as he did me.

Not one time did he ever ask, "What I thought about his performance"; but there was no need.

We talked after his performances about his life as a professional jazz musician till daylight. (I was on sick leave at the time)

The controversy arose when I stated that he never practiced when he was living with me. It would have been very hard for him to practice if he wanted to, but I don't recall any need or desire to practice since he was performing three times a week.

I understand him now better than I understood him then; people don't like to tell you when they know the end is near, and their life is coming to a close; they just want to get away from you and do it their way.

Listened to this today.   Wonderful and very elegant playing.   With the exception of "Lover Man", not an album of standards,  but of blues originals.  His playing may be more to your liking, Schubert.

https://youtu.be/TuVqhA9fpOE

Thank you for that link Learsfool;  some wonderful kernels of wisdom in there.  I particularly liked the advice about practicing with emotion even when its practicing rudiments.  And, of course, this:

"It takes practice to learn a language, cook good meals or get along well with people."

Above all it takes Love .