NEWS
|
|
|
June, 2013
|
Not only did Wayne inspire me with his onstage performances. He also made invaluable contributions to my Jazz education by sending boxes and boxes of reel (later cassette) tapes, LPs, CDs and photocopies of articles. A chance comment such as, "You know, I'm really interested in Vic Berton" would result in a large box of cassettes arriving a few days later, containing every Berton recording in the Jones collection. Wayne was totally unselfish and giving, and I am humbled to think how much of his free time was taken up with educating "The Kid." Whether in person or in a letter he could be gruff, but always soft-hearted. No one ever had to question his sincerity or generosity. Years later, Wayne wrote some wonderful liner notes for projects I was involved in. I will never get over the kind words he wrote for a session I made with Butch Thompson and Mike Duffy, but anyone who reads those notes should be aware that my best playing is because of Wayne's influence! By the time he wrote those notes, I considered Wayne to be family. I know Wayne felt the same way…Once, during the San Diego Jazz Festival, I commandeered an empty venue with a piano to rehearse the "Rhythmakers" for a recording to be done immediately following the festival. We had been playing for just a few minutes when Wayne wandered in. Obviously he was out for a stroll, in search of coffee for when he walked in the room he was in street clothes -- no band uniform or musician badge. He found a seat near the back of the room and settled in to listen. Vocalist Rebecca Kilgore looked up from her music, spotted Wayne and stammered, "Th-th-this is n-not open to the p-public!" Wayne replied, "It's o.k. I'm family!" We had many wonderful "hangs" over the years, during festivals in St. Louis, San Diego and elsewhere. "Talking shop" was always fun, though Wayne had interesting opinions on all kinds of things besides drums and drumming! For instance, he was passionate about Elmore Leonard's writing and frequently quoted lines of dialogue from Leonard novels when he wrote letters. During the past couple of years, I always enjoyed the phone calls with Wayne when we discussed the characters and plots of the television show "Justified" (which is based on Elmore Leonard characters). |
Fortunately I had a couple of chances to visit Wayne at home while he was still able to talk and listen to music for extended periods of time. He had slowed down considerably, but still had a fantastic sense of humor and well-informed opinions concerning a variety of subjects -- particularly the contemporary Traditional Jazz scene. The last visit was a lot of fun until his expression turned serious and he looked down at the ground and asked quietly, "You want my cymbal, Kid?" Wayne knew that his playing days were over, and he wanted to find an appropriate place for his "signature" cymbal. It was difficult to keep my composure, but I gratefully accepted "that" cymbal which livens up so many recordings by the Dogs, Jim Dapogny's Chicago Jazz Band, the West End Jazz Band, Neo-Passe' Jazz Band and more. The cymbal went to a good home, where it is respected, well-cared-for and used in special circumstances only. The first time I used it -- with the Yerba Buena Stompers -- John Gill, Leon Oakley and Tom Bartlett looked up immediately, recognizing the presence of an old friend on the bandstand. |
Hal plays Wayne's cymbal with the combined |
On a recent phone call, Wayne had difficulty conversing on the phone. We got through the conversation -- barely -- and I wondered if that would be the last time we talked. Unfortunately, it was. When I called again, he had fallen and was headed for the hospital. He died peacefully in the early hours of May 30 and I never had a chance to tell my mentor "good-bye." But fortunately I was able to convey how much he meant to me during a performance a few years ago… There are certain "Wayne licks" that have great appeal to drummers who studied his records and his live performances. (Drummers who have listened closely to Wayne, including John Gill, Chris Tyle, Steve Apple, and Kevin Dorn, will know what I mean). At a festival in the late '90s, I was playing with Bob Schulz's Frisco Jazz Band when Wayne came into the room and took a seat a few rows back from the stage, but directly in view of the drums. He scrutinized my playing with the usual poker face. I thought about the description of Baby Dodds seeing George Wettling in the audience one time and "talking" to George with the drums. So I deliberately played in Wayne's style. Tom Bartlett wheeled around and grinned through his mouthpiece. Kim Cusack eyed me and gave a quick nod, as did Mike Walbridge. But, best of all, out in the audience Wayne looked up, set his jaw and slowly nodded his acknowledgement. I would not trade that moment for anything. Farewell, Wayne. Friend, teacher, inspiration. You will never be forgotten and you will always be loved. Hal Smith
Wayne Jones - Elmhurst, Illinois, 2009. Photo by Hal Smith |
|
