Comments on: “The Parade” by Loft Drummer Ron Free http://www.jazzloftproject.org/blog/general/the-parade-by-loft-drummer-ron-free Chaos Manor Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:15:23 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Tom Wayburn http://www.jazzloftproject.org/blog/general/the-parade-by-loft-drummer-ron-free/comment-page-1#comment-460 Tom Wayburn Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:14:10 +0000 http://www.jazzloftproject.org/blog/?p=207#comment-460 I enjoyed the way you read your poem. That's the way all poems should be read according to E. A. Poe. I saw your comment under "Jimmy and Me", but I don't remember where I wrote the comment for you. If you see it, let me know. I wondered if it got a response. Sam's Jazz Loft Project has located lots of our old friends. I want to get in touch with Dave Frishberg and Hal Bigler too. I am at twayburn@att.net. Tom I enjoyed the way you read your poem. That’s the way all poems should be read according to E. A. Poe. I saw your comment under “Jimmy and Me”, but I don’t remember where I wrote the comment for you. If you see it, let me know. I wondered if it got a response. Sam’s Jazz Loft Project has located lots of our old friends. I want to get in touch with Dave Frishberg and Hal Bigler too. I am at twayburn@att.net.

Tom

]]> By: Frank Amoss http://www.jazzloftproject.org/blog/general/the-parade-by-loft-drummer-ron-free/comment-page-1#comment-148 Frank Amoss Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:02:36 +0000 http://www.jazzloftproject.org/blog/?p=207#comment-148 Ronnie Free's poem is is indicative of the sensitive nature which makes him such an inspirational drummer. I met Ron in Charleston, S. C. in the summer of 1960, shortly after he left New York. The only thing I learned about him at that time was he had played with Mose Allison, which greatly impressed me. I was doing one nighters throughout the South with a 12 piece band led by Dean Hudson, one of the last territory bands to survive the big band era. After a gig at the pier ballroom at Folly Beach a few of us went to Ronnie's gig in Charleston. He had invited us to come and jam, which we did all night. The next time I heard Ron's name was a year later when I was living at 821 6th Ave. and Gene Smith told me the "playing in traffic" story. Fifty years later he and I once again crossed paths at Sam Stephenson's book release at Lincoln Center in NYC. Neither of us looked the same as that time in Charleston but I, for one, once again appreciated the fruits of spending a life as a player. Ronnie Free’s poem is is indicative of the sensitive nature which makes him such an inspirational drummer.

I met Ron in Charleston, S. C. in the summer of 1960, shortly after he left New York. The only thing I learned about him at that time was he had played with Mose Allison, which greatly impressed me. I was doing one nighters throughout the South with a 12 piece band led by Dean Hudson, one of the last territory bands to survive the big band era. After a gig at the pier ballroom at Folly Beach a few of us went to Ronnie’s gig in Charleston. He had invited us to come and jam, which we did all night.

The next time I heard Ron’s name was a year later when I was living at 821 6th Ave. and Gene Smith told me the “playing in traffic” story.

Fifty years later he and I once again crossed paths at Sam Stephenson’s book release at Lincoln Center in NYC. Neither of us looked the same as that time in Charleston but I, for one, once again appreciated the fruits of spending a life as a player.

]]> By: Hal Bigler http://www.jazzloftproject.org/blog/general/the-parade-by-loft-drummer-ron-free/comment-page-1#comment-69 Hal Bigler Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:32:44 +0000 http://www.jazzloftproject.org/blog/?p=207#comment-69 I lived at the loft on and off for more than a year with Gary Hawkins but I only got to play with Ron for about 30 minutes one evening. Fity years later I still think of him as the best drummer I've ever gotten to play with. I started on drums myself (inspired by Gene Krupa) but swiched to bass in the army. And for me, for years after, I only heard the drums. And band music was just an excuse to get a drummer to play. I lived at the loft on and off for more than a year with Gary Hawkins but I only got to play with Ron for about 30 minutes one evening. Fity years later I still think of him as the best drummer I’ve ever gotten to play with. I started on drums myself (inspired by Gene Krupa) but swiched to bass in the army. And for me, for years after, I only heard the drums. And band music was just an excuse to get a drummer to play.

]]> By: Henry Ferrini http://www.jazzloftproject.org/blog/general/the-parade-by-loft-drummer-ron-free/comment-page-1#comment-64 Henry Ferrini Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:08:17 +0000 http://www.jazzloftproject.org/blog/?p=207#comment-64 Nice, I'm sure many musicians relate to Ron's poem. For me it conjured up an image of 1915 New Orleans and a young Lester Young "following the joy" listening to a wagon full of players twist through the Crescent city streets. Nice,

I’m sure many musicians relate to Ron’s poem.

For me it conjured up an image of 1915 New Orleans and a young Lester Young “following the joy” listening to a wagon full of players twist through the Crescent city streets.

]]> By: Richard Mitnick http://www.jazzloftproject.org/blog/general/the-parade-by-loft-drummer-ron-free/comment-page-1#comment-53 Richard Mitnick Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:16:53 +0000 http://www.jazzloftproject.org/blog/?p=207#comment-53 Video is a powerful tool. It is terrific to be able to see Ron Free. Video is a powerful tool. It is terrific to be able to see Ron Free.

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