Nigel, Al's dad was the janitor at a Square D factory in Cedar Rapids Iowa. I used to travel there once a month to do photography for company publications. The dad told me about his son, who had performed at a club downtown before he moved. The dad said that Al would be at the club, which had also moved the next time I was up.

It was a Monday, during a terrible winter storm (late 70's) and besides the bartender (the owners wife), the owner (a drummer) and one "high mileage" stripper, I was the only guest. When Al arrived, we talked. He had just finished his first album. He had gone to svhool, earning a masters in social work, I think, in Cedar Rapids. After talking, he, the drummer and I played a set. There was a "high mileage" house-owned B-3 there.there were never more than 10- people in the room during the set.

Shortly thereafter, Al became the darling of the jazz world.

A real talent, and a gentleman who deserves the recognition and respect he gets.


Russ