James Booth

I love jazz because of the complex composition on the fly that take place in each well-played solo. I was first exposed to jazz by my brother who played in the Stewart Air Force Base Dance Band in the early 50's before West Point had a band of its own. I went on to play in the Sheppard Air Force Base Dance Band, playing standards and some original charts from the North Texas State Univ. Lab Bands, from which one of our other trumpet players graduated. I met Taylor Haskins when he played at the Village Vanguard with Guillermo Klein and his big band. The best show I ever attended was a Stan Kenton Band performance in an Erie, PA lakeside dance hall. Stood right in front of the band and let them blow me away. The first jazz record I bought was Stan Kenton's Adventures in Jazz My advice to new listeners... Or whatever else you have in mind.