So on my trio gig tonight the leader calls "Isfahan" which is an Ellington tune from the "Far East Suite" album. The thing is that John Lamb, the
bassist on the original recording had come out to hear us and was sitting about ten feet away as I sight read the tune having never played it before! It was sort of like playing "So What" with Paul Chambers in the audience! No pressure at all! I mentioned this during the break and John just said "Yes, I was listening to you". I really wish I had studied the original recording first and then I could have quoted his bass line which he would have dug. Anyway, John sat in for the last set and was very gracious, as always. He laughed when I played Jimmie Blanton's "Jack the Bear" lick during one of my solos and even showed me the right way to play Blanton's "Pitter Panther Patter" which he played when he was with Duke. John still gigs regularly around the Tampa Bay area and it's always a treat hearing him play and talk about all the great musicians he met and performed with during his tenure with Ellington. Just wanted to share the story.
- Steve
http://kaybass.home.att.net
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