As I sit listening to John Coltrane playing "Out of This World" I'm dealing with a morning-after reaction to the loss of a dear friend, James Robert "Bob" Edwards.
He passed away last night, sadly alone in a rehabilitation center where he ended up after a traffic accident around Thanksgiving. Somehow I knew when I saw the call was from Dru Patterson, a friend of ours, that would be the the deal. It was late last night. Dru doesn't call me at night.
Bob, born on the fourth of July, was 80-years old, a Navy veteran and a great American.
I had met him about five years ago and we grew close. He was a confidante, a drinking buddy, a fellow lover of jazz music and a near, dear, trusted friend.
He was one of the jazziest people I know.
He never met a stranger. He was open minded and young at heart. He knew how to establish common ground with people. He would help you before he would hurt you.
Bob, as meticulous as they come, was a sharp dresser and a connoisseur of fine food and drink.
He was no pushover, though. He was very opinionated and, most importantly, he had the strength of his convictions. He marched to his own drummer. The beats he heard came from the rich life he had lived traveling the world, raising a family, being an astute businessman, and making friends wherever he went.
Listening to Trane while writing this put me in touch with Bob. His version of "Out of This World" is full of intensity, beauty, warmth, insight and depth in its long, rambling exploration.
Just like Bob.
I'm missing him already. But that 's only in the flesh.
Like Trane, his spirit will always be around.
Rest easy, my man. Keep swingin'.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
ellington saturday in charleston
Feb. 12 was Duke Ellington Saturday for me. I certainly didn't set it up to be that way but it was anyway. And that's alright with me.
I was anticipating the day because it was the date of the collaboration between the Charleston Ballet Theatre and members of the Charleston Jazz Orchestra. Charlton Singleton led Tommy Gill, Quentin Baxter, Kevin Hamilton, Stephen Spaulding, John Cobb and Mark Sterbank in their rendition of Duke's Far East Suite accompanied by dancers from CBT.
Held at the House of Swing, the Charleston Music Hall, it was out of this world.
As fate would have it, I started the afternoon stopping by Ellington, a women's apparel and accessories store on King St. The owner, Cindy Gaetke, had told me she was having some wine and snacks that afternoon for her customers, many of whom were attending the ballet later around the corner. The store, located right next door to the CBT studio, is named after Duke, one of her and he husband Jeff's favorite musicians.
In fact, Jeff played his bass with his brother Tom on keys and Keith Namm on clarinet that day during the informal reception. They do this at the store at least once a month and have been doing it for years. Of course, they played from the Ellington book, "It Don't Mean A Thing," "Solitude" and many others.
It was a fabulous omen for the show. I was primed by the fact that on that day I seemed surrounded by Duke, a state that wouldn't bother me to live in the rest of my life.
I was anticipating the day because it was the date of the collaboration between the Charleston Ballet Theatre and members of the Charleston Jazz Orchestra. Charlton Singleton led Tommy Gill, Quentin Baxter, Kevin Hamilton, Stephen Spaulding, John Cobb and Mark Sterbank in their rendition of Duke's Far East Suite accompanied by dancers from CBT.
Held at the House of Swing, the Charleston Music Hall, it was out of this world.
As fate would have it, I started the afternoon stopping by Ellington, a women's apparel and accessories store on King St. The owner, Cindy Gaetke, had told me she was having some wine and snacks that afternoon for her customers, many of whom were attending the ballet later around the corner. The store, located right next door to the CBT studio, is named after Duke, one of her and he husband Jeff's favorite musicians.
In fact, Jeff played his bass with his brother Tom on keys and Keith Namm on clarinet that day during the informal reception. They do this at the store at least once a month and have been doing it for years. Of course, they played from the Ellington book, "It Don't Mean A Thing," "Solitude" and many others.
It was a fabulous omen for the show. I was primed by the fact that on that day I seemed surrounded by Duke, a state that wouldn't bother me to live in the rest of my life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
