WOW!

I can tell you that "cutting" sessions and "paying your dues", with TOTAL respect and compliance to established players is a real and brutal part of jazz history.

Get on the bandstand before you're ready, and you walk away bruised and embarrassed.

One week-end rehearsing for a TV appearance, Herb Ellis said to me," what are you doing, kid"? "Rehearsing", I said. "What the HELL for", was his response, as he walked away, shaking his head.

Move forward to several years ago. The phone rang. An obviously frail person at the other end said, "I'll tell you one G**D*nm thing. I'll bet you never have even learned to tune that piece of S*** toy guitar of yours".

"And how are you, Herb?", I answered. "What the Hell does it matter...just get your ass up to the Gault House (Louisville) and buy me some damn dinner"!I closed shop and immediately left for Louisville.

He died a few months later. A crude rough old dude I learned a lot from and loved to death.


Russ