Jim Spake

I love jazz because... Within a year of learning the clarinet, I picked up tenor sax and was thrown into the H.S. jazz band and that's where I learned early theory, improvisation, and how to listen and look for a sound of my own. I was first exposed to jazz... Probably as a kid. Not too many jazz records around the house, but there was always something interesting on PBS around the time I was learning the instrument. I met [musician name]... well.... James Moody, Urbie Green, Clark Terry were among those we accompanied in the H.S. jazz band, the "Hillcrest Norsemen" ('71-'75) Our band director was Jim Terry, who'd take us to recording sessions he was on as a multi-woodwindist. The best show I ever attended was... Come on. So many. Can't do favorites. The first jazz record I bought was...probably an Atlantic Jazz Sampler, or Chuck Mangione Quartet- early 70s My advice to new listeners... Open up your ears. Remember that the further back in jazz history you go, the more amazing the overall experience is. It can take some years to develop a love for some music that's now nearly 100 years old. But put pins in Hot Seven, Hot Five, early Fletcher Henderson... You'll be amazed at what you hear - eventually Or whatever else you have in mind.