| Seņor Doc
Hey all,
I just finished a weekender concert set with our man Doc and, good grief, he sounds great. I just can not get over this guy after all these years and watching him ascend into the time in his life when others are dealing with a host of infirmities. Not our Doc, not by a long shot.
True he plays a few tunes less than he used to when I first got to know him 20 years ago but, damn... the guys almost 80 friggin' years old and playing like a maniac! I'm serious. Do you what an inspiration that is to guys like me just starting our 50's? It makes you feel awfully good about the future.
He jokes with the audience, he's demanding of us at rehearsals, he takes everything he does seriously and is constantly trying to find a better way to do stuff. I have a lot of respect for the guy. Oh, and dig... on top of that we had his new road manager, Tony Scodwell, playing in the section with us and also lead for the jazz charts. Yeah, fine, I could play the jazz charts okay but it wouldn't be the same as having the former lead player with Harry James and Stan Kenton, now would it? I learn a lot about swinging every time Tony plays with us. To top it off he's a nice guy! Imagine, a lead trumpeter who isn't a jerk... what a concept.
I don't know how much longer Doc will continue to do what he does but I'm going to relish every minute until he decides that riding his horses, playing with his dogs and cats, and walking with his beloved Emily require his being at home more often than playing with orchestras to adoring audiences. He truly will be impossible to replace. I hope Emily will let him hang with us a few more years. He sure sounds amazing, Doc does.
Well, anyways, I just wanted to say something nice about one of my favorite players and people in the whole wide world. If he's going to be anywhere near you I say check him out. You'll go home smiling and inspired, I promise.
ML |