A Great Day in.........Vienna !

[Gheorghe]

Hello Friends !

You all know the famous photo "A Great Day in Harlem". 
In one of our 3 important jazz clubs in Vienna, the "ZWE" which is run by the wonderful Mr. Christoph Klein, there is a large copy of that legendary photo near the bandstand.

But let me start  my story : 

This spring in  April I got a message from N.Y. from the author of the famous book about Bud Powell "Wail", Mr. Peter Pullman. He wrote me that he will come to Vienna for vacation, together with his wife and will bring a signed copy of his book for me. I suggested that we spend an evening at ZWE, were my favourite Austrian pianist and composer Oliver Kent was scheduled with his wonderful quintet "Worry Later" featuring the creme de la creme of Austrian Jazzmusicians. It´s the Wendesday Jam Session "Let´s Groove" so I was sure that Mr. Pullman will here some great music. I had told Oliver and the Clubmanager about our visiting guest and asked Mr. Pullman to bring also a book for Oliver Kent. 
 

Mr. Pullman arrived at the club with his wonderful wife, was greated by Christopher Klein, the club boss,  and imediatly told us that he likes the club, it reminds him of "Small´s " in N.Y. and he was very pleased to see the "Great Day in Harlem" picture on the wall. He told us some insider anecdotes  about the making of that famous picture. 

Finally the  music started and was great as ever. I knew that I had not promised Mr. Pullman too much, he really was fascinated by the playing of Oliver Kent p, Daniel Nösig tp, Thomas Kugi ts, Uli Langthaler b, and Dusan Novakov dr (the name of the group is "Worry Later" ).  

During intermission (the core band plays the first set, after intermission the second set is jam session) Mr. Pullman was asked on stage to give me and Oliver the signed copies of the book, and Christoph Klein made a photo of us three (from left to right: Oliver, me and Peter Pullmann). 
 

At the beginning of  second set I got on stage to sit in on two numbers( in honour of Mr. Pullman it was Bud-related numbers like Ornothology and April if I remember right). 

Some days later I got a mail from Mr. Pullman who announced me that he is back in N.Y. and how much had enjoyed that evening. He wrote that he had traveled much all around the world but never before had seen such a fine club so far away from NY.

I also  got a hell of a compliment as Mr. Pullman  wrote about my own playing  that "be bop flows so easily from my veins into my fingers". 

I´ll never forget that fine spontanous event. 

[Big Beat Steve]

Congratulations on a certainly unforgettable evening!

[Jack Pine]

Hey good for you man, sounds like quite a night!

[HutchFan]

Thank you for sharing that story, Gheorghe.  Sounds like a terrific time!  

 

[adh1907]

A memorable evening Gheorghe and a great photo!

 

[Gheorghe]

Glad you like it ! The photo was shot by the club management. 

I´ll play there next week, a fine unit with tp, as, p, b, dr.....always nice to be there, so many young jazz students there, that´s really good audience......