Rooster_Ties Posted September 12, 2004 Report Posted September 12, 2004 (edited) So I'm down at the best jazz club in town just now (here in Kansas City), and the last tune of the 2nd set is buggin' the hell out of me. At first I thought it was "Riot", but I don't trust that initial instinct. Somethin' like that, though, I'm pretty sure of it. Only heard the head twice through, real quick, and I keep humming it back to myself to try to remember what it is. The leader of the band that night is one of the better-known local musicians here in KC. He finishes his solo, and walks off the stage towards the bar to get a glass of water, while the rest of the band plays on. I know the guy somewhat -- in fact, I'm down there specifically to drop off some CD's for the guy (some Charles Tolliver discs I found in St. Louis for him a couple days ago). Knowing he's in the middle of a tune, I don't expect to chat any more than just a quick "Hi, good to see you, talk to you in a minute". But I think I've got enough time to ask him what the tune is. He says "One Finger Snap", and I immediately say that I knew it was a Herbie tune. Nah, he says, Freddie wrote it. No, that's Herbie's. Freddie played it a lot with Herbie, but it's Herbie's tune. But he swears it's Freddie's tune. And he's so sure, he wants me to put my money where my mouth is. I'm not much of a betting man, but I was about 98% sure I was right -- so I ask how much the bet is for. Gerald D. says $50.00. Damn!! I don't usually even bet $10 or even $5 on anything. $50.00 is more than I've ever bet on anything, ever!! - far as I can remember. But somehow, I take the bet (cuz I was pretty damn sure it was Herbie's tune). Gerald walks back up on the bandstand, and finishes the set. We chat briefly at the bar, where I give him the Tolliver discs, and we agree to do lunch sometime (which is great – cuz I know Gerald, but not really that well). And I remind him about our bet... ...so then he asks his drummer who wrote "One Finger..."?? Drummer doesn't know. So he asks his bass-player. Bass-player says he thinks it's Herbie. Gerald says, no, no, no!! - it's Freddie!! Bass-player backs down and says maybe it was Freddie -- but he thought it was Herbie. I tell him I'll check when I get home (I was about to leave anyway, gotta an early morning tomorrow), and Gerald says no, we'll settle this, once and for all, for good, right now. And then he gets out his cell-phone and calls Bobby. As in Bobby Watson. (I guess Bobby was probably still up, but it was like 11:30 at night, so who knows?) I only hear half the conversation, but suddenly Gerald's all "no, no, no man - I mean "One Finger Snap" - you know...", and he sings the head to Bobby over the phone. Bobby confirms the origin of the tune. The look on Gerald's face was priceless!!! Ah, sweet victory. B-) Joe and Paul -- next time you see Gerald D., you each gotta ask him who wrote "One Finger Snap". (And I wanna hear back what he says. ) Edited September 12, 2004 by Rooster_Ties Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted September 12, 2004 Author Report Posted September 12, 2004 Oh, Joe and/or Paul... Who can I get to call into Gerald's radio show on KKFI on Monday afternoon, and request "One Finger Snap"?? Quote
sidewinder Posted September 12, 2004 Report Posted September 12, 2004 Once again, Bobby Watson delivers the goods Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted September 12, 2004 Report Posted September 12, 2004 That's funny. Reminds me of a time the guitarist in my R&B band kept starting a tune way too slow. We all kept saying, "Man, that's too slow!" and he would say, "You just haven't heard the original.... this is the tempo!" I said, "Man, I have the original in my car on CD! I bet you $20 you're playing it too slow! It should be here... (pat knee at correct tempo)." So we figure out what tempo he thinks it's in using the sequencer on my keyboard and do the same for me. Then I go out to my car and get the disc and play the tune over the sound system on a break. Guess who was right? Then he tries to tell me that CD players play discs at different speeds! I said, "Ok, let's go out to my car and see what the CD player there sounds like... for another $20!" He didn't go for that! Quote
Big Al Posted September 12, 2004 Report Posted September 12, 2004 After reading the title to the thread, I figured it might've been about the GA Tech/Clemson game tonight. Whatta finish!!!! Quote
Jazzmoose Posted September 12, 2004 Report Posted September 12, 2004 Oh, Joe and/or Paul... Who can I get to call into Gerald's radio show on KKFI on Monday afternoon, and request "One Finger Snap"?? Ah, "graceful winning".... Quote
MartyJazz Posted September 12, 2004 Report Posted September 12, 2004 Many years ago I had the nerve to get into a discussion with Archie Shepp wherein I insisted that Bird wrote "Donna Lee' while Shepp maintained that Miles was the composer. Obviously he was correct. Glad I didn't bet. Quote
Bright Moments Posted September 12, 2004 Report Posted September 12, 2004 After reading the title to the thread, I figured it might've been about the GA Tech/Clemson game tonight. Whatta finish!!!! was nothing compared to the UM/FSU finish!!! B-) Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted September 12, 2004 Author Report Posted September 12, 2004 Oh, Joe and/or Paul... Who can I get to call into Gerald's radio show on KKFI on Monday afternoon, and request "One Finger Snap"?? Ah, "graceful winning".... Don't you know it!! For the record, though, I told Gerald I wouldn't take his money --- BUT, if he wanted to 'comp' me into $50 worth of shows at The Blue Room (the big-name acts usually have a $25 cover), I was certainly open to that. Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted September 12, 2004 Report Posted September 12, 2004 Oh, Joe and/or Paul... Who can I get to call into Gerald's radio show on KKFI on Monday afternoon, and request "One Finger Snap"?? Ah, "graceful winning".... Don't you know it!! For the record, though, I told Gerald I wouldn't take his money --- BUT, if he wanted to 'comp' me into $50 worth of shows at The Blue Room (the big-name acts usually have a $25 cover), I was certainly open to that. I would have done the same thing. I never bet over $1. The guilt of taking money from a bet equals the pain of losing money from a bet. Nobody wins... Quote
Herb Posted September 12, 2004 Report Posted September 12, 2004 Rooster, I'll call him for you for one of the tickets! Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted September 12, 2004 Author Report Posted September 12, 2004 Rooster, I'll call him for you for one of the tickets! I'll buy you a drink sometime, if you do!! Lemme know how it goes. I think he's on from Noon to 3pm, or something like that -- on Mondays and Tuesdays only. Quote
Big Al Posted September 13, 2004 Report Posted September 13, 2004 After reading the title to the thread, I figured it might've been about the GA Tech/Clemson game tonight. Whatta finish!!!! was nothing compared to the UM/FSU finish!!! B-) You got THAT right!!! That one kept me on the edge of my seat, too!!! Quote
Spontooneous Posted September 13, 2004 Report Posted September 13, 2004 Hey, Tom, if you've got some old issues of JAM around the house, look for one about two years back where people were asked about their desert island discs. Gerald said his was "Empyrean Isles." Quote
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