I owe a great deal of thanks to my father for getting me interested in music at an early age. He would take me to concerts and I had the opportunity to see many of the great big bands - Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Don Ellis, Maynard Ferguson, and Count Basie. I even remember a Chase concert where he moved to the back after being nailed by the trumpet section with double-high C's.
Dad had his own band and he often did arrangements, writing out all of the band's parts by hand. Now in his 80's he's suffered from some mini-strokes and hip fractures which both have slowed him down physically and mentally. I spent time with my parents over Thanksgiving last week. One day I came back to their apartment and to my amazement dad was transcribing notes for a piano arrangement. He also continues to play, often from memory with no written music. The music is a part of him and has never left even though he sometimes cannot remember basic things that happened just a few hours ago. I imagine it will be the same with me. Thanks Dad!
