It is with more than a few tears in my eyes that I come
here this morning to pay tribute to the passing of my friend the
Jazzman. Ron was a dear friend and mentor to so many of us in the blog
world. The banners at the top of the Cover Project, Kublah's Crib and
one of my private sites all come from him as he was an accomplished
commercial artist amongst his many talents. (A photographer, record
store owner, lifelong friend of music....) The last one he stubbornly
insisted on making for me despite being quite ill at the time, it would
be the last late night conversation we would have.When I first began this place it did not start out so smoothly and not many folks seemed to notice as day after day I poured out posts seemingly to no one. Slowly a couple folks started coming around, Ish and E-Mile gave me some pointers and then one night a long, thoughtful comment showed up on a post followed by a longer and encouraging direct email with some links, one to Jazzman's blog (it was still public then) and the other was my first contribution from a reader. A friendship was born that night as I responded at 3 AM only to hear right back! He was a nightowl our Jazzman and most of our conversations took place in the wee hours. I will miss that.
Here in New Orleans when a musician or a Friend of Music passes on, we honor them with a Jazz Funeral, we put together the best band we can find, go visit our friend first at the church, then accompany the casket to the graveyard, walking solemnly behind as the band plays a dirge but as we free our brother from the shackles of this world something happens and we begin to celebrate his triumph over the hardships and the band picks up this change of spirit and we sing, we dance, we drink and we cry some as we leave the grave site and go to celebrate our fond memories and continuing life.
Obviously
I won't have the opportunity to do this properly for my friend but here
is a fine substitute that was done by the best Brass Band I know, The
Dirty Dozen. This music was made in loving tribute to their lost friend
Tuba Fats, back a couple years before the storm. I know they and he
won't mind if I use it today to send up my friend the Jazzman ---Fats, when you hear this playing today please look out for my friend Ron the Jazzman, he'll be the tall, slightly latin looking fellah who looks a bit like Julius LaRosa, only better looking!
Goodbye my friend,
