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Posted (edited)

In the late 1980s I was standing on the corner of 9th and Main Streets in downtown Kansas City on a weekday, near the noon hour. I was walking back to work. The sidewalks and streets were covered with thick slush, so I was looking down a lot as I walked. I noticed an old man standing across the street, waiting to cross in the opposite direction. He was covered in an old coat and a warm winter hat. He was coming toward me in the intersection as we crossed. There were (and are) a lot of older homeless men in downtown Kansas City, and I thought to myself, "wow, look at that old, beat up guy. He looks worn out even by downtown standards."

I then looked down at the slush for the first several steps as I crossed the intersection. As the old man passed me, I looked up and was surprised to see that he had bright orange whiskers coming from under his lower lip. It suddenly hit me. I turned and looked at him as he reached the other side of the street and walked onto the sidewalk. It was Sun Ra, with Danny Thompson next to him. They walked off down the sidewalk, away from me.

I was very surprised, and thought of running after them, but thought, what exactly would I say? Plus I really needed to get out of the intersection before a car hit me. So I just went back to my office.

Edited by Hot Ptah
Posted

But the real question is: how many times have we been recognized by jazz musicians on the street?

I had that experience with Alan Silva - also with the late Al Levitt - when they walked along the Seine river on their way to visit the bouquiniste stand of a common jazz fan/friend!

Also with Jimmy Gourley whom I ran into several times when I worked not far from his home! Sam Fuller was also living at the time in the same neighborhood. I knew his films. He did not know me :(

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