A friend had invited me to drive to Detroit for a weekend at
the University of Detroit. He had a girlfriend there and she had a friend – you
get the idea. I was available. Today, there is just one part of that weekend
that I remember. It was a beautiful spring weekend in 1965 and the highlight of
the weekend was a Saturday evening concert with Dave Brubeck and his quartet
opening for Duke Ellington and his orchestra. The drive was just over 250 miles
and the accommodations were sparse – I remember sleeping on a bed in an
unfinished basement, next to a large furnace. The bed was probably shared as
well, but I really don’t remember that detail.
Music was not a big thing in my humble background. My roots
were poor, working-class Irish immigrant laborers. There was an RCA Victor radio,
record player, and speaker filled cabinet in our living room – but few
recordings. Prior to adding a television to the room in the late, mid-50s, the
radio was the focal point. We listened to radio shows like Gunsmoke, The
Shadow, The Great Gildersleeve, and others. Records were not particularly
valued – there simply wasn’t money to purchase this form of entertainment. However,
a highlight was an old recording of “Get Along Little
Doggies (Yippee Ti Yi Yippee Yippee Yay)” – I can still sing that refrain!
When the television found its way into our lives, one of the
early shows that the family enjoyed was “Peter Gunn.” Henry Mancini’s music was
my introduction to modern jazz (there was no way that Miles Davis could even be
imagined in my life at the time). Mancini was within reach, or so I thought.
The very first record album that I ever purchased was an 45 rpm LP album, “Theme to
Peter Gunn.” My mother made me return it immediately.
So, in 1965, just prior to being called to the military, it
was off to Detroit for a weekend with an unknown young lady from Saginaw. I had
no idea what the schedule had in store. Who cared? I was a young man with all
the red-blooded impulses that anyone would imagine.
All these years later, there is no way that I can describe
the details of that weekend. They have long been lost in the deep recesses
of my brain – blocked by the profound experiences of my future. What I
do remember, and will never forget, was how impressed I was by that music. Yes,
I already knew the music – Duke Ellington, of course. Brubeck too! Remember, I
had been listening to the radio. Radio was big in those days – no longer the
drama shows of the 40s and 50s, but popular music on the radio was the
background accompaniment to my teenage hormonal existence. I was just like
everyone else before and after. This was live music though, and I truly felt alive
that spring weekend.
What I learned afterward was how influenced Brubeck had been
by Ellington. Also, the relationship that the two had and their experiences
performing with mixed racial ensembles. In those years, playing college
campuses was a major performance outlet. But, there were colleges that would
not allow musicians to perform with other musicians that were not of the same
race. Brubeck’s quartet might arrive for a gig and find that they would not be
allowed to play. Brubeck has told of one such experience when this happened and
Ellington, who had been in the same place and available, was able to fill in
because he was traveling with an all black band at the time.
Both Ellington and Brubeck were giants in American music and
jazz in particular. They were innovative and classy individuals. They
represented musicians and their profession from a platform that was elevated by
their character and creativity. My accidental witnessing of both in this single
concert illustrated to me that the experience of these superstars was
accessible at just about any time, and around any corner. This knowledge has
been reinforced with many additional experiences in my life. It has been a
privilege to have met and witnessed some exceptional individuals – individuals with
character, talent, and even some with fame. I never had the opportunity to see
Ellington again, but Brubeck remained in his parallel life – until now. It was
great to have had him in my world!
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