I love Listening to GG's Steamin Greens~~~Little Jimmy Scott

A Member of the Washington DC Jazz Network

I love listening to GG's Steamin Greens~~~Christian McBride

A Member of the Washington DC Jazz Network

A member of the Washington DC Jazz Network

Outstanding!  What a wonderful interview, 

ought to be manditory listening for the entire planet.

Lets at least say that it was amazingly informative~~~Ian Dylan

A member of the Washington DC Jazz Network

Great interview with Benny Golson on Dec. 18.

Dear Gigi, I am listening with great interest to your Legends interviews.

If I may. Jimmy Heath was speaking like a statesman.  His description of his relationship with his friends in Philly and San Fran was very telling. Particularly the way he talked about how the comaraderie of musicians collaborated for the sake of music and music only.  The reed men loved to walk around with their mouthpieces only all day, just to see how they could develop a tone uniquie to themselves.  I ran with a number of them in my San Fran days.

Mr. Heath was right, i don't see that anymore.  Just like the jam session this most important component of jazz has eroded.  Biting but true.  Jimmy touched upon our relationship with the arts and government.  He is so right.  I was interviewed by the Orlando Sentinal once.  I made simliar remarks about the Florida scene.  The late great legend, Panama Francis read it and invited me over to his house with he and his wife to discuss this.  We who have the fire in the belly recognize each other. This is for all of the American art forms.  I just had discussions over the holidays in NY with
family and friends about how Aaron Copland tried to correct this at the Yaddo in Saratoga Springs NY, My hometown! He invited all of the major American artists to retreat at the Yaddo, Stipend free.  It was a 20 year endeavor that spawned our existing art progams in the greater US today.

Here for the first time Afro-American artists enjoyed the blessings of an environment that allowed the development of art for art's sake.  I mean 18 pulizer prize winners. People like Paul Robeson. Booker T. Washington, A Phillip Randolph, (one of my mentors) Marget Walker, Langston Hughes, our  jazz and classical greats in all the artist disiplines.  Last month I uncovered these records and told the story to the astonishment of my community.  This was a secret program.  J Edgar Hoover tried to shut it down.  They did not want this information to suface.  But it's here now.  Anyway, Jimmy Heath touched that nerve. Why can't we do that in the open
here like they do in Europe and elsewhere.

Well, after you read that mesmeriizing poem my eyes welled up. A pause,.  I waited to see how Mr. Heath handled it.  He did so graciously.  But when you played a song dedicated to Percy, there was not a dry eye in the house. 

Well done Ms Gigi. I have listened to Benny Golsen.  We had a day together in NY. By ourselves. The same with Billy Taylor.  Cobi Narita of the New York Jazz Coalition had a program similar to Steamin Greens.  Each week Cobi invited a guest to speak at an organized event, similar to what Christan McBride is doing with his Harlem Museum discussions too.  I was the only one that showed up during
their visits. I learned of their greatness then and there.  I was the scibe for the coalition so I got to be privy to a lot.  " I Remember Clifford" The great bassist  Reggie Workmen had me learn it as a bass bowing lession in Brooklyn. When Christian started talking about Billy Taylor I got teary eyed again.  You're shows are so emotional to me.
Little Jimmy Scott loved him some Paul Robeson.  You asked him twice to make sure.  Suprising that a man with a contra-alto voice deems his role model a deep bass.  But Jimmy explained it well, it's the way he told the story and  of course he was the ultimate statesmen for the American arts. 

To quote Mr. Golsen. "GIgi, you are famous!" I don't know what gives me the authority to say this Gina, but, I'M PROUD OF YOU!  I look forward to your year in broadcasting. 

Thanks,
your friend, Bill

William Lee Jones