Hi, Uncle Grant. Dad tells me that youre in hospital. Im sorry to hear that. It doesnt look like Ill be able to get away in the next few weeks to pay you a visit, so I thought I would at least write you a note. Just recently I found a bunch of 78 rpm records at a book sale, and that got me thinking about Dads collection of records that I used to listen to, which is a treasured memory. And I also thought about the conversations that you and I used to have about music, back when I was just discovering jazz. We talked about different bands and musicians. You told me about visiting a little jazz club in Europe, and I still have such a vivid mental picture of this little basement jazz hangout with a band playing and everybody listening intently. Of course, the picture in my mind may be nothing like the actual club you visited! since Ive never been there. But when a friend took me Smalls, to a basement jazz club in New York a few years ago, I imagined it was pretty much the same. I also thought of you this summer when I had four friends over for a jazz barbecue on our back deck. I had given a young friend the gift of Miles Daviss record Kind Of Blue, and he asked what other jazz he should listen to. So he invited his room mate who was just discovering vinyl records, and I invited two friends who play jazz - a pianist and a Hammond organ player - and everybody brought records and CDs, and we listened to jazz for about six hours! While we barbecued steaks and swapped stories about Count Basie, Charlie Parker, Oscar Petersen, Thelonius Monk and all the rest. We should have invited you! Either just before or just after that backyard party, I was in a record shop here in Vancouver looking through the jazz LPs and I came across a copy of a Duke Ellington record I recognized immediately: you had given me a copy of the same recording for Christmas one year, back in my college days! And again I thought back to our conversations. We love music just because of the music itself, but also for the stories around it, and even more because of the people who introduce it to us, the people who share the love for it. Jazz has become a real pleasure in my life, ever since my high school and college days when we swapped our stories. And for me it has always had that connection to my beloved Uncle Grant, and the friendship we shared around the music. Youve always been a favourite uncle of mine. Partly because of that connection we made over the music, and mostly because I see so much of my own dad in your warmth and friendliness, your appreciation for life and easy way of connecting with people. I didnt buy the Duke Ellington record that day at the used record store because I was pretty sure I still had it in my collection. When I got home I had a look for it and didnt find it, though I think its among the other records up in the attic. But Ive got some time today, so Ill dig around a bit, and if its not there, Ill head up into Vancouver and pick up the copy I saw there, and spin it for you. Much love, Ron
Posted on: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 15:39:45 +0000
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