William Thompson

I love jazz because for me above all other forms of music, and I do love most every genre (save for opera and top 40 pop)jazz encompasses the breadth of the musical experience all over the world. I was first exposed to jazz in 1974 at the age of 16. My cousin took me and my little brother to see Chick Corea and Return to Forever at a small club in Philadelphia. I had never experienced anything like the energy and communication that I saw on stage that night. From that point forward my brother and I set out on a life long journey back to discover the roots and then forward encompassing everything from be-bop to avante- garde, as well as the scene in Europe that ECM had begun producing. I met Charlie Haden on a train to the East Village where he was headed to a gig that I was going to. I was visiting from Southern Calif. and a show in NYC was on my bucket list. Charlie's work has been a mainstay in my listening since. Naming the best show I attended is very difficult. The 1974 Return to Forever show ranks, as well as a duet show with Charlie Haden and Don Cherry in a church in Santa Barbara. And sitting behind McCoy Tyner at one of his gigs in a small club in San Diego in the 70s was also a highlight. The first jazz record I bought was probably Miles Davis, "Bitches Brew". My advice to new listeners is keep your mind open. And really listen. Jazz is not a passive engagement.