Being with my kids at jazz festivals is nothing new for the Chidester family. All three of our children have been involved with jazz their whole lives. Each has competed in high school as well as college and most of my life has been spent directing ensembles on stage and in contests as well.
Some programs are more remembered than others as the photo above illustrates. Not only was our oldest son Scott, performing on the same stage as his old man but was representing the rhythm section on drums with a different band than I was in. As you can see, that was 31 years ago.
Last Friday was another jazz concert to remember for both Scott and I attended the 75th anniversary of the jazz program at the University of North Texas, the longest running jazz education program in the world. Both Scott and I are alumni of this famous program and revisiting the hallowed halls where it all started was a blast of a lifetime.
Something that made it even more memorable was the fact that I was able to visit with a fellow musician I had known while I was attending the school while finishing my Master’s. Some may not recognize the name Lou Marini, but most will remember him as the Tenor Sax player who played and danced on Aretha Franklin’s countertop in the film “The Blues Brothers”.
This week featured past members of the program and Mr. Marini was a featured soloist. Not only was he featured, but he also dedicated one of his numbers to my former trumpet teacher, Mr. Don Jacoby.
Lou was a regular in “Jakes” (Don Jacoby) house bands at several of the hotels and clubs around the Dallas area when I knew him. On occasions when Jake had double booked, I would be asked to sub for him in such bands. Lou and I also were members of the State Fair Band of Texas which performed each summer at the State Fair grounds. On one such occasion, Jake was our soloist, and I had the privilege of performing “Buglers Holiday” with him in the Cotton Bowl for a packed house. I distinctly remember him turning to our director and suggesting that we pick up the tempo a little. To Jake a little was pushing it up from 160 per quarter to 112 per HALF NOTE. At the completion of that number, everyone on the stage broke into uncontrollable shrikes and laughter. It felt like we had just broken the sound barrier. But that was Jake. We all miss him and his wife Dori.
With that said, enjoy Lou’s tribute to our good friend Don “Jake” Jacoby.
