IAJE Convention notes

Pics: #1 Frank Wess, #2 Mark Murphy, #3 Bill Watrous, #4 Benny Powell, #5 Summit Records group


1/11 We attended the International Association for Jazz Education annual conference at the NYC Hilton. Jam packed with familiar faces… Marvin Stamm, who plays trumpet on the “Speaking of Love” CD was there playing with his group, and our photographer’s husband is pianist Bill Mays, was playing there with Marvin’s group.

We heard an amazing collection of saxophonists that afternoon, led by the great lead alto player, Jerry Dodgion. Jimmy Heath sat right in front of us. Frank Wess was the featured guest soloist and conference attendees were primed to hear one of the great legends of jazz music. Here’s a picture of Scott and Frank Wess, the man he can’t stop talking about…”listen to that Basie sax lineup!”…”one of the funniest guys I know…”

Although 85 years old, and having recently suffered a heart attack, Frank played both flute and tenor sax like the ageless wonder that he is. The audience cheered each creative phrasing, and would gasp at each moment when it was clear he was going to grace us with yet another inspired chorus.. At the end of the concert Scott pointed out the obvious…that we had all witnessed someone and something absolutely magical

We ran into one of our all-time favorite singers, Mark Murphy. Giacomo Gates, another great singer, took the picture with Mark holding up our CDs.

Mark’s version of Jobim’s “Waters of March” kicked off my obsession to learn the song and record it on the “Haven’t We Met” CD that Mark is holding up. Mark has a very original, adventurous, and spontaneous style of interpreting songs, and I’ve enjoyed every one of his recordings that I could manage to find and listen to. His inventive expression is what I aspire to, so you can imagine my excitement at finally meeting him!

Bill Watrous and Scott are old trombone buddies - we were thrilled to see Bill hale, hearty and happy.

Benny Powell, another trombonist with Scott, was in the Basie band with Frank Wes. When Scott lived in NYC, the two of them played in Dean Pratt’s Pratt Brother’s Big Band.

Check out the picture taken at the Summit Records booth at the IAJE. Pictured are Kip Sullivan (l) and Darby Christensen (r). Summit has been Scott’s label home for a number of releases. We’re looking forward to an October release of our duo album.