"Baby Face Willette" was a jazz musician who lived for his music; he was also a friend of mine. I’m writing this post in honor of his memory, when he played the biggest stage in St. Louis; that’s center stage Fair St. Louis on July 4, 1969.
He got an incredible right up in news papers, but I can’t find anything to verify that fact. That was consistent with so much of "Face’s" life. I can’t even verify the incredible music he was playing that Summer; none of it was recorded. Fortunately there is a record in my memory to verify this incredible jazz musician and the music he was playing that Summer.
He was looking for a place to stay, and I told him I had a spare bedroom in my bachelor apartment and he moved in. When we greeted at breakfast, he did most of the talking while I listened. There were a lot of thoughts going through my mind while he talked; for example (How do you just wake up "cool", he took a shower and got dressed the same as me, but he’s dressed "cool"; how does he do that?. He even talks "cool"; is that another gift that jazz musicians have?
That day we went to scout places for future gigs. He introduced me as his manager, saying I was the silent type and didn’t talk much . Fortunately, he was very well known on the jazz circuits in St. Louis. He talked to the person in charge of hiring while I listened; nodding approval or frowning in disagreement based on his body language.
We didn’t have any trouble getting our first gig, now all we needed was the rest of the band. I was thinking "This is impossible"; we got the gig, and we’re supposed to be jammin on the stand in just a few days.
We went back to the apartment and he got on the phone and called the "Musicians Union". At any rate, on the day of the gig, one hour before show time, a drummer and a guitar player showed up. "Ain’t no way this can work", I thought.
Here I am, sitting right there, and listening to every word said, and sound they made with their instruments for an hour, and understanding nothing.
From the first notes, this musical trio had the crowd. For six years, I had followed "Face", but this music was new, it was like "Bird" on organ, fast and articulate, without one slurred note. As I listened, I began to have visions of how my fortunes could change as his manager; just imagine notes coming from an organ as fast as notes coming from "Bird’s" sax, without one note slurred.
We did pretty good all Summer long, until "Face" got sick at the end of August; my dreams of riches, and his career was over because he could no longer make the gigs.
When we parted, neither one of us realized how tight a bond we had formed; jazz musicians evidently have a hard time dealing with their feelings, because that was the only time he fumbled. My dreams of riches vanished, and even more important, what would be my friends future?
There is no recorded music of his that resembles what he was playing that Summer, so just find whatever music you like the best by "Face".