I love jazz because... It has been a part of my life since the 60's. It has grown in my heart as a TRUE ORIGINAL AMERICAN ART FORM. I was first exposed to jazz... It was in my house as a child (5 Boys and 1 Girl) and Dad had a set of drums. IT WAS OVER once I heard SONNY PAYNE and SAW Buddy Rich. Saw & met Buddy at age 13 in Philly. Still get chills. I grew up in the 70's (I am 60 now) and Rock was peaking and Jazz was in decline and the "F" word was controversial "FUSION". I met [musician name]... Since the mid 70's the Jazz musicians I met a too many to name. The best show I ever attended was... TOO MANY to Name. One multi show group was - John McLaughlin with Joey DeFrancesco and Dennis Chambers - 6 times on a tour! every show I left on a high. The first jazz record I bought was... First real Jazz (Vinyl) I bought was Basie with Joe Williams— INSANE! Then I saw Billy Cobham with Michael & Randy Brecker and my music perspective changed and OPENED UP! My advice to new listeners... I can suggest to anyone even a little interested in Jazz to go to the Major festivals. Especially in Europe (Where Jazz is appreciated much more than USA). I attended 4 Montruex Jazz festivals (Switzerland), 5 North Sea Fests (Rotterdam), Sicily festival, and 4 UMBRIA JAZZ (Italy). The Festivals also create and amazing atmosphere among the musicians and they are usually on their game in front of their Peers! Open minded listening is required and find a good starting point and grow into (THE MANY) other sub-genres of Jazz. Or whatever else you have in mind. "JAZZ IS NOT DEAD. IT JUST SMELLS FUNNY!" Frank Zappa

My House Concert Story

Mike Manieri with Michael Formanak and (A YOUNG) Chris Potter and I forget drummer. In Switzerland (Near Zurich) 1999 in a small Swiss household. I was on business and saw it advertised they were doing a concert in a middle school auditorium. I took a cab (PRE-UBER) and this nice man greeted me and when I asked to buy a ticket he says, "the concert is tomorrow night but come with me". Up pulls Mike and his band in a van, I helped unload the equipment and the host invited me to dinner with the band. After dinner, we walked across to the auditorium and they played a full set for 5 people in audience in preparation of the next nights show. (They had the night off so they came 1 day early.) LUCKY ME. They played for almost 90 minutes with no stops and these guys were so focused. 5 people included the host man & wife & their son, a tour bus driver and little old me from Philly! That was an intimate HANG! Mike was so accessible and nice. Chris was just as great. Michael Formanak taught me how to listen to Jazz. Amazing memory.