27 Comments

Hey Vinnie. I love how you give the play-by-play in each encounter. Who knows, this article may go down in jazz player history as rivaling the Buddy Rich bus tape...

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Ha! Well there’s certainly fewer fireworks in my essay than on those Buddy tapes, but hey, who knows! Thanks Su!

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Su, I knew bassist Dave Carpenter back when he played with Buddy and I heard the tapes(plural)...

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I understand the perfectionist mentality because I am one. But those tapes demonstrate the old school method, which is not relevant anymore. It's certainly not the way I deal with my own band, nor with my students. But it did have its place back in the day.

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Yes, there's more than one!

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Love that! Brave first piece!

[My mind]:That was f'ing fantastic. I love all your writing. You can make even the most technical drum talk page-turning for the non-musician! I read every word you put out. You have book ideas happening?

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Thank you Robert! Really appreciate the support and kind words. No plans for a book, just focussed on making this Substack as good as can be. Thanks again!

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Very fucking funny stories, it's pretty spectacular how you captured the vibe. You have some real perseverance, and it paid off!

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So great. Those conversations with the elders can be so awkward but you just have to power through...

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Exactly...better to power through and have a real moment, assuming you’re not violating the social contract...thanks for reading Ian!

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Love reading this again!

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Thanks Vince ❤️❤️

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Maaaan, I laughed my ass off! Great piece. Loved the "Vinnie's mind" bits. Totally empathized with you being young, awkward, and in awe of one of your musical heroes.

Paul Motian, amen.

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Paul Motian AMEN INDEED

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Thank you Mark!! Appreciate you!!

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Loved this, hilarious and affectionate. And somewhere, among all the brashness, a source of some of the most delicate and loveliest of tunes ...

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Being yelled at by Paul Motian at the Vanguard for asking for a picture with him is one of my most cherished memories.

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Glad you posted this. It is funny and close to experiences I may have had. And might have in the future.

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Terrific

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Bravo!

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great stories! thanks for sharing!

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Thanks for reading!

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Thanks for sharing. Paul's written some fantastic music, most of which I've never previously explored. Here's an initial reading of the referenced piece, "Drum Music". Cindy just recently sent both of Paul's books. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyHAPFivsWr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Best, James

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Thanks James— I’ll be watching that reel later..

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Thanks, Vinnie. The piece is a direct connection to Messrs. Kikuchi and Andrew Hill, at least to my ears.

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Love this. Thanks!

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Thanks for that. Loved it

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