#jazzhouston

[katsola]

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Andrew Lienhard on piano at @sparrowandthenest Underground Art Market Holiday Cocktail Edition from 4-9 pm, 802 Ralfallen in the Heights tonight. . . #jazz #piano #musichoyston #jazzhouston #houstonjazz #musichouston #musiciansofinstagram (at Houston Heights, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrGsVySgtzT/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=qisuy24mkh1j

[earldetrick]

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I'm in the lab working my next project where I will go back to my Jazz roots... I'll let my horn "Black Velvet" do the talking! #DeeSmuve #Jazz #HipHopJazz #jazzhouston #houstonjazz #music

[marktowns]

Derrick Lewis

The first time I met and played music with Derrick Lewis was also the first time I met and played with Paul English. It was at a free improvisational jam at Lindy Pollard’s house in the late 70’s.

That’s what we did in those days - jammed, improvised, no tunes. We created all the music at jams on the spot. It ranged from beautiful to scattered. Exciting to boring.

Just like real life.

The parts where it really clicked were amazing. And I remember there were quite a few of those amazing parts that day. Derrick was on electric bass, Paul on acoustic piano, Lindy on sax, and me on percussion. There were other musicians there too who I can’t remember now. I have it on tape somewhere. I used to record everything on my reel to reel.

Derrick was hit by a car while riding his bicycle last week. He died.

Derrick had a comedic side. He was a funny guy. The last time I played with him was this past New Years Day at the jam at Bob Henschen’s house.

Unlike the old days, at most jams now people call tunes. Someone wanted to play “Speak Low” and asked Derrick if he knew it. Derrick said “no,” which I found kind of strange - him not knowing a fairly common jazz tune like that. Then we proceeded to play the tune anyway and Derrick nailed it perfectly.

Later I asked him why he had said he didn’t know the tune. He said he had come to a decision in his life to always answer “no” when someone asks him if he knows a tune. Then he’ll go ahead and play the tune.

That way they’ll either be amazed if he aces it, or they won’t be disappointed if he butchers it. Because he didn’t know it.

Brilliant.

Thanks for the music and the memories, Derrick.