While in Birmingham, we stopped at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and one of the hall of famers took us around to the exhibits. He was a wonderful resource of information, full of stories and energy. He told us at one point if we couldn't walk up the steps with him then we could take the elevator. . .well, we who could get on the elevator at that point??? He played with Duke Ellington and other well known Jazz Musicians. Since I don't know Jazz that well, I didn't know much about the other people that he played with, but it was a load of fun just being with him. Seemingly, this stop didn't have much to do with Civil Rights. . .however, hearing his success story during a time of such racial discrimination in the South (especially Birmingham!) was remarkable and uplifting. And hearing him play his clarinet. Wow. I loved the story that he shared with us about how he "found" jazz by hitting a blue note by accident. I had the same feeling when I was teaching myself play the guitar and my finger slipped on the strings and gave me a wonderfully different sound. I guess I found jazz on my guitar!
Doc. . . what a gem.
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