Long ago, when I was young trumpet player in junior high, I was very fortunate to spend time learning and making music for several weeks one summer with these two men: Donald Byrd and Herbie Hancock (thank you, Hal).
They looked me in the eye, they were honest with me, they taught me things I remember to this day. As tough and gruff as Donald was, that’s how soft spoken and gentle Herbie was. I had never heard a trumpet sound as loud as Donald played it – and he demanded that sound and confidence in my trumpet playing. Herbie’s touch on the piano was unworldly – like listening to Debussy play changes.
Both were incredibly supportive, challenging, and not afraid to bring their social consciousness to their classroom.
At the time, I knew Donald from his LP with Coltrane and Herbie from his first recordings – I think he was just starting to play with Miles’ band.
Both of these men helped me see at an early age how music wasn’t just notes but had the potential to be Art and change the way the world looked at itself.
They looked me in the eye, they were honest with me, they taught me things I remember to this day. As tough and gruff as Donald was, that’s how soft spoken and gentle Herbie was. I had never heard a trumpet sound as loud as Donald played it – and he demanded that sound and confidence in my trumpet playing. Herbie’s touch on the piano was unworldly – like listening to Debussy play changes.
Both were incredibly supportive, challenging, and not afraid to bring their social consciousness to their classroom.
At the time, I knew Donald from his LP with Coltrane and Herbie from his first recordings – I think he was just starting to play with Miles’ band.
Both of these men helped me see at an early age how music wasn’t just notes but had the potential to be Art and change the way the world looked at itself.
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