STORIES
Raymond Federman
ON JAZZ
[remembering Charlie Parker or how to get it out of your system]
XXXXXXXXXX?
Ah!
You guys want to talk about jazz!
You guys want me to tell you what I know about jazz?
Well, today, what I miss the most, it's myoid jazz collection. What
a treasure it was. Even though it was all 78s. Mostly BE-BOP be–
cause in those days, that's what jazz GREAT JAZZ (the great days
you can't deny that) was. All the Charlie Parker, all the Dizzy, Miles,
Prez, and also Dexter Gordon, and some Wardell Gray. Wow did I
like did I love that guy. The big mouth of the tenor. I was a real
nut a real fanatic of the sax. (Ah! you guys too! that's nice!) Yes,
but me I lived that stuff from the inside (in DETROIT) with all
of these cats who were revolutionizing jazz in 47, 48, 49. Yes I've
known them all. We were buddies. No kidding! In Detroit especially
and also New York. Yes, I played a little myself, the tenor sax. And
not that bad. (No! no more! finished now!) All 78s! Alto sax also.
The one I regret the most was the record where Parker blows his
famous solo, that unbelievable solo, on LOVER MAN. That was
the day he collapsed, passed out on stage, fell down like a bag
of sawdust. Loaded! Looped! Gone! Yes it was during a concert
toward the end of the solo (alto of course). Could not even finish his
solo. But towards the end, WOW, does it move. Unbelievable! Cries!
Screams out of
his
guts. Like a bag of sawdust he dropped!
A real madness!
I had that one!
Yes, in 78.
The original.
