Jazz Anecdotes

urn:iso:std:iso:639:ed-3:eng

98

text excerpt

So we went down there, and I don't know how the word got around, but before you know it, that joint was packed. There was Gus Aikens and Red Allen, and some other trumpet player, and we started to play. All of Fletcher’s cats were in there. They could really load up a cat.

“Roy? Shit, he ain’t playin’ nothin’! Go get him!” And then when I’d play,

“Yeah, Little Jazz, yeah!”

So he got bigger and bigger, and I made a mistake by coming in on his chorus. I screamed at G and the whole house fell out. He didn't let them other cats in; he jumped and caught my ass. Hit a B-flat, and I ain’t never heard a B-flat that high and that loud and big, in my life! I start feelin’ around on my horn to see what it is. I said’ “oh-oh.” I took my horn and put it in the case. I told the cats, “You can't play as high as him. Might as well give it up!” I had tears in my eyes.

So we went down there, and I don't know how the word got around, but before you know it, that joint was packed. There was Gus Aikens and Red Allen, and some other trumpet player, and we started to play. All of Fletcher’s cats were in there. They could really load up a cat.

“Roy? Shit, he ain’t playin’ nothin’! Go get him!” And then when I’d play,

“Yeah, Little Jazz, yeah!”

So he got bigger and bigger, and I made a mistake by coming in on his chorus. I screamed at G and the whole house fell out. He didn't let them other cats in; he jumped and caught my ass. Hit a B-flat, and I ain’t never heard a B-flat that high and that loud and big, in my life! I start feelin’ around on my horn to see what it is. I said’ “oh-oh.” I took my horn and put it in the case. I told the cats, “You can't play as high as him. Might as well give it up!” I had tears in my eyes.

excerpt from 'Jazz Anecdotes' pp. 98 (200 words)

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1440677345665