I was in the bar (surprise!) at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Den Haag when I encountered Muriel who was a friend of Margaret Barnes and a rather special friend of Fred Hunt. Muriel had a way of latching on to musicians and, on this occasion, she'd latched on to bassist George Mraz.
"Hey Lance, say hello to George Mraz - Lance plays sax".
We shook hands and George, who I knew from listening to him on record with Art Pepper said. "we're trying to get a jam together bring your horn along."
I beat a hasty retreat.
George Mraz was one of the great modern jazz bassists and the iconic list of those whose rhythm sections he enhanced in Wikipedia is phenomenal - and to think I shook his hand!
He was 77 and, on the strength of that fleeting handshake, I'll never forget him.
Sadly missed - Lance
1 comment :
Lance..are you sure it wasn’t musicians latching onto Muriel?…xx
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