JDWildcat

Would someone please explain what the "cigarette story" is?

Thanks.

wiseone2

Wynton and Miles were just about the same age when they entered Juilliard.

Wynton played for me and I was floored. He, at 18, played with the assurance of a pro twice his age. He became my #1 sub on the show I was playing at the time "Sweeney Todd." There were musicians of color in symphonies by this time, 1977. In fact, Jim Tinsley had alerted me to Wynton's coming to NYC to study at Juilliard. Tinsley played a lot with the Boston Pops and was at Tanglewood that year, the year Wynton attended the festival. Wynton was Musician Of The Year.......or something like that.
It's all in that book "Skain's Domain."

Miles is a different story.
Miles was alone in the classical world. No black players in orchestras until the late 40s. A bass player in S.F., Charles Burrell. There was a young trumpet player, William Horner, who was a member of the All-American Youth Orchestra in the thirties. I don't know if he ever go a chance to actually play with them though.
Miles played jazz before he came to NYC. I believe he knew exactly where he wanted to go. The symphony had no allure to Miles.
Clark Terry knew Miles before NY, I will give Clark a call.

Wilmer

__________________
Be sure Brain is engaged before putting Mouthpiece in gear.
S.Suark 1951

Jimi Michiel

The "cigarette story" as I heard: At the time, Miles was really into weed (surprisingly, it was the only time in his life that he regularly smoked marijuana). Vacchiano was a heavy cigarette smoker back then and one day, while in a lesson, Vacchaino found himself out of cigarettes. Miles had an open cigarette case resting on his trumpet case full of joints. Vacchiano reached down to grab what he thought was a cigarette, Miles looked at him and said, "nuh-uh, boss. You don't wan't one of THOSE cigarettes."
Vacchiano told Charlie Schlueter that story (I think while Charlie was in school) and then told it to me when I interviewed him last year.
-Jimi