Klarinet Archive - Posting 000281.txt from 1995/02

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re David Niethamer's note on "Rap City Blues"
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 1995 08:13:31 -0500

Very much enjoyed David's note on what must have been a remarkable
performance of the work that is called (around here) "Rap City Blues"
and everywhere else in America "Rhapsody in Blue."

But that is not the purpose of this note. There was something else
in David's note that caused me to sit up and go all goggle-eyed because
it raised memories of almost 50 years ago.

When I was growing up in Paterson, NJ, a town of then around 140,000
people, there was a young man who lived on the east side of town who
was a legend, even at the age of 15 or 16. I was the hot 10 year
old because I could play fast. Not smart, mind you, or good, or even
musical, but FAST!! My big thing was the variations on "Long, Long
Ago."

Anyway, my older brother decided that the Paterson legend had to
hear me play so that the true nature of his musicianship would be
exposed when I did my FAST thing on "Long, Long Ago." This was
a business relationship, too. The young Paterson legend was going
to be paid $2.00 for a lesson. I think it must have been assumed
that, after $2.00, he would have nothing left to teach me. I was
so FAST, I would absorb it all and he would become an ex-LEGEND.

Well, that young legend's name showed up in David Niethamer's posting
on the Rhapsody in Blue. He was Walt Levinsky!! I remember being
in awe of his house on the east side of town (that was the "rich"
area), and I was ready to do my "Long, Long Ago" thing 6 times
FASTER than it had ever been done by humankind. I was on a
genuine high because I was to play for Walt Levinsky!!!

Walt listened to me and, though it undoubtedly must have sounded
like two cats fighting in a sack, was as friendly and as kind as
could be. I was scared to death, so naturally, I came on like
Gang Busters. He recognized (in 3 milliseconds) that he did not
have anything to worry about from my "Long, Long Ago" thing and
so he went on to become one of the very best jazz clarinet players
(and sax, too) in the world today.

It must have been my $2.00 that pushed him into greatness. And
I keep listening on his many recordings to hear him play "Long,
Long Ago" faster than I did (which was so blindingly fast that
there was no vaguely recognizable tune by the time I got done
with it).

I have not seen Walt in close to 50 years. He is still a legend,
and I can't play "Long, Long Ago" any longer (or very fast, either).

Thanks David for bringing up an old memory for me.

====================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
====================================

   
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