For many years, (actually) decades, I have marveled at the ability of jazz and classical musicians to make beautiful music using one solo instrument. Although at a young age the trumpet was my choice in the instrument families, and I rebelled against my mother’s insistence for me to take piano lessons, I secretly envied those musicians that “tickled the ivories.” Like most musicians, I sometimes would sit at the piano and plunk out a few melodies, but for the most part, the piano was an instrument too complicated for me to “waste” my time with.
It was when I joined the Air Force Band that I found myself searching for ways to make music other than with the trumpet. It wasn’t until around 2000 that my curiosity about the piano got the best of me and I started to teach myself jazz piano. Jimmy Driscoll, an absolute beast of a jazz piano player and fellow Airman, taught me one jazz lick on the piano.
I must tell this TRUE story about Jimmy Driscoll and Wynton Marsalis. I was put in charge of military expedition to find and recruit talented musicians in New York City. To make a long story short, thanks to an oboe player whose father is a good friend of Wynton’s, my team, which included Jimmy, ended up in Wynton’s apartment. When we walked into the apartment, we were met by Wes Anderson (saxophone player) who ushered us into a music room where Wynton was sitting at his piano, singing and playing the blues about the devastating destruction to New Orleans caused by Hurricane Katrina. Wynton is a pretty good piano player and singer!
After finding out Jimmy played piano, Wynton asked Jimmy to play the piano. After some serious insisting from everyone in the room, Jimmy reluctantly sat at the grand piano and started to play. I was sitting across from Wynton and noticed that he was becoming more and more anxious. Suddenly, he gets up, runs to another room, and reappears with trumpet in hand. They had some serious musical chemistry.
After they finished playing Wynton asked Jimmy if he wanted a job. Jimmy told him in his self-deprecating way, that he (Jimmy) wasn’t good enough. ANYWAY….!!! Wynton was a very gracious host and even asked if we wanted to play basketball.
I was inspired to play more piano….and sing! Hope you enjoy. Full playlist here
