Yes, the genius players often carry baggage, but what a delight to listen to and learn from.

When I was in high school, I had the honor of playing upright at a local facility which was called NARCO. It was a narcotics treatment center, and over a three year period, sadly, I got to play with the "who's who" of the jazz world of the early 60's. It was a sad but life-changing experience. A few years later, I ran into some of the same players in LA. They regularly made trips into Lexington to "dry out".

You've heard of and even heard recordings by many of the people I ran into at NARCO. To name them would be disrespectful.

To have met and heard them was an honor.

R.



[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 11-19-2008).]