asd

In keeping with the Woody Shaw theme, I wanted to share some thoughts
on KD. With the plethera of young trumpet players out there, the recent
"old masters" seem to get neglected these days. Problaby no other
trumpet player was so important, as well as neglected, then KD. He
worked a "day gig" in the post office and the end of his life saw him
working at a NYC music store, Manny's, and on dialysis. He died at 48
in 1972, I beleive. Unfortunately, I was was just too young to have
seen him live.
KD was an scintillating original; having played and recorded with
Charlie Parker during the bop era as well as apprearing with Joe
Henderson on many recordings; most noteworthy in its modernism: In and
Out. Here, KD played with a fearsome originality and modernism, as well
as contributing his own original compositions to the above named
Henderson album.
KD was truely the bridge between bop and modernism; as Fats Navarow,
previously, had been the bridge between the swing and bop (and a
seminal influence upon Clifford Brown); and before that, Rex Stewart
(from Ellington's band) was a bridge between early jazz and swing.
As an educator, I would urge all younger players to investigate as much
of KD as they can.
I think if you listen to KD carefully, and perhaps even try to
transcribe his work, you'll hear a lot of your current hero's ideas
having first germinated with KD. And going back to Bird, you'll hear a
lot of Bird in KD.
Wilmer, I lived in Brooklyn too, for 21 years: Garfield Place, 3rd
Street, 44th and 6th, and for a long time on 7th Ave between Sterling
and St. John's Place. Lots of great musicians I grew up with as a young
adult until middle age in Park Slope during those years.