My dad was a pioneer in stereophonic sound before I was even born. He built his own stereo amplifiers and speaker cabinets, which were more than adequate for the modest 900 square foot home we lived in. That modest 900 square foot home also sported a basement of the same square footage… the original man cave. The only thing missing was a batpole. Now that would’ve been cool!
He also had a couple of sizable external speakers overlooking our backyard. So basically, anywhere: upstairs, downstairs, backyard, garage—or neighbors’ houses—the jazz-casts, as I liked to call them, flowed freely.
My dad often went to see the jazz greats perform when they were in town. He actually got to know many of them. He would put his hand on my shoulder and say, “Listen to that guy play, he’s speaking with his instrument.”
Which is why I have such a fondness for the creative spirit.
I wasn’t sure if I was going to take this sketch to fruition, but I may have just talked myself into it… now where's that old Cannonball Adderley album of mine…