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CHARITIES
As a professional musician, I have played for many fund-raising events over the years. I would like to recognize a few
of the organizations that do good work regarding issues that have affected me or my family directly:
1. The Alzheimer's
Association - Most of the advancements in medication and therapy have been made in the past fifteen years. A cure is now
no longer out of reach.
2. The American Cancer Society - Some forms of cancer that were certain death sentences
a generation ago are now treatable, especially with early detection.
3. Hospice of the Bluegrass - In my area--and
probably around the country--a frequently designated charity listed in obituaries is the local hospice, mainly because of
the high quality of compassionate care provided for terminal patients at end of life.
4. Jessamine Humane Society
- My wife Marianne is the organizer of Skelter for the Shelter, which benefits this organization.
5. ITNAmerica
(& ITNBluegrass) - Low-cost, convenient transportation is provided for seniors and the visually-impaired.
6.
FAITH IN ACTION: Elder Outreach - As the name suggests, this is a (nondenominational) faith-based group that assists seniors.
HS MUSIC MOMENTS
Over the years, I have heard many jazz artists in live performances in concert halls and clubs. Recently, I have
reflected on how many of them are no longer with us. These include a host of familiar names: Cannonball Adderley,
Count Basie, Louis Bellson, Art Blakey,Charlie Byrd, Cal Collins, Duke Ellington, Bill Evans, Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Flanagan,
Dizzy Gillespie, Sir Roland Hanna, Eddie Harris, Elvin Jones, Hank Jones, Thad Jones, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Mel Lewis, Carmen
McRae, Charles Mingus, Lee Morgan, Oscar Peterson, Lou Rawls, Tito Puente (actually Latin, but had a major influence on jazz--caught
him at the Casablanca, which used to be Birdland), Buddy Rich, Max Roach, Mel Torme, James Williams and Joe Williams.
I heard Cannonball, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Lee
Morgan and Lou Rawls at the Ohio Jazz Festival in the early 70s--at the old Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Cincinnati
was also where I first heard The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. Later, I would catch them at the Village Vanguard in
New York. If I got there early enough on one of their Monday night performances, I would grab the seat at the table
on stage right. This was not considered a good seat, since I was behind most of the band. But I could see Roland
Hanna’s fingers dancing on the keys, up close and personal.
In the mid-70s, I caught an all-star lineup in
New York at the relocated Newport Jazz Festival. One very unique set stands out in my memory: Four drummers took
their places behind their sets and played an improvised ensemble piece. There were no other instruments, only drums.
The players were Art Blakey, Elvin Jones, Buddy Rich and Max Roach. At first, they played together, and then each was featured in a solo. Finally, they
played together again for the finale. Surprisingly, Buddy Rich was at once extremely tasteful, subtle and humble.
Some time later, I caught both Mel Torme and Joe Williams at his club, Buddy’s Place.
Each of the players
had a distinct personality and a signature style. I never took the opportunity to see and hear them for granted.
Fortunately, we still have recordings of their studio sessions and live performances.
BUCKBLOG
Observations & Words of Wisdom from Buck Markowitz
It shouldn’t be a surprise that, as a young Buck, my favorite films were Westerns. My
mom’s favorite movies were ones that starred Frank Sinatra. She cried when Maggio died in FROM HERE TO ETERNITY.
She had grown up in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the daughter of strict orthodox Jewish parents. Marrying my dad
and moving to South Jersey (close to Philadelphia, where my dad and grandparents ran a hat-blocking business) was the ultimate
liberating experience for her. That liberation included listening to Old Blue Eyes on the phonograph for hours.
THE LADY IS A TRAMP was her favorite song that Sinatra sang. When he substituted lyrics in the bridge, she thought it
was cute: “She loves the free-flyin’ wild knock-down koo-koo groovy wind in her hair.”
When I was
seven, my dad decided to kill two birds with one stone and took us out to the movies. There, on the silver screen, was
Frank Sinatra as a cowboy, in the film JOHNNY CONCHO. He played the kid brother of an outlaw who made it possible for
him to run a town. When his older brother is killed, he has to deal with an unsympathetic local population that is tired
of being bullied, as well as the new town boss who killed his brother. The end of the movie plays like that era’s
updated and modified version of the last scene in HIGH NOON. Johnny, played by Frank, gets a bullet in the shoulder.
While the film
might not have been the “shot in the arm” Frank needed for his movie career, I was definitely inspired to see
a guy from Jersey transformed into a cowboy. Frank didn’t sing many cowboy songs, but “South of the Border”
is still a favorite of mine. My mom was usually quite reserved, but sometimes I would catch her singing “Ay! Ay!
Ay! Ay!” on the chorus. One of these days I will finally get her to a karaoke bar.
Happy Trails,
Brother Buck Markowitz
© 2010 Harold Sherman - All rights reserved
BUCK is in TROUBLE : Dec. 10, 2008 at Natasha's
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HAROLD SHERMAN DRESSED FOR WORK
PHOTO by
LARRY NEUZEL - www.larryneuzelphotography.com/
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