Doctor Scat – Jazz Master

Monday July 4 Independence day in a foreign land

I’m not sure what redemption looks like, but singing in front of the Monday Night Big Band at midnight during the Copenhagen Jazz Festival really cleans my karmic slate. In this artistically rarified environment the past fades into nothingness and we are drawn completely into the present moment. This sixteen piece band is comprised of some of the best musicians in Copenhagen; and that´s saying a lot. This is my tenth year performing with them. I bring my own arrangements written by Carl Wolfe, alto sax player with the Memphis Jazz Orchestra. The Danes love his arrangements. I am still dealing with pain in my knees and some serious pain in my left foot. The pain can be draining, so I have been napping (a perogative of those of us that are seventy years old). My friends and I had front row seats, looking into the eyes of the saxaphone section. The comraderie and joy at playing this music is palpable. Some of the soloists are so outstandng that you can see other musicians closing their eyes in deep revery as they follow the innovatve lines of the improvisation.

It often amazes me, given that jazz is America´s original art form (along with skateboarding) how few people realize that when a jazz musician is performing a solo, he is creating spontaneously in the moment. Our school systems have failed miserably at conveying the meaning and essence of this precious music, so revered around the world. My father was one of the top jazz bassists during the 40´s and 50´s. He often talked about the delight the band felt in playing for European audiences. Their respect for jazz and their knowledge of it´s history impressed him. To play a jazz solo into intelligent ears was always a delight; and still is.

Monday night´s concert was physically hot and humid. One rarely sees air conditioning since the summers are so short. Some years it was like performing in a sauna. This time it was just sweaty. The genuine love and affection expressed by the musicians for one another and for the music touched our group and as the concert ended, we left feeling full and uplifted. Tomrrow, BOBBIE MCFERRIN!!!!

  Monday Night Big Band playing Autumn Leaves featuring Dr. Scat