[TPIN] To Leon, Bob O, Glenn, Mike V, Michael A, Paul R., Nick M, and many others

[Jorge Alicea]

Thank you for sharing that. As a "silent" member of this list, I was
immediately drawn to Leon's ideas. I did not agree with all of it, but it
all made me think. He drove to me to understand why I believed what I
believed musically. Some of his emails I saved. One in particular he sent
late last year speaking on improvisation (a constant struggle for me) where
he described "being in the NOW." I must have read that email 20 times since
then, each time, it helped.

I never had the opportunity to speak to Leon, or take a lesson from him. But
his involvement here taught me much about being a trumpet player. I will
miss him.

Jorge
New Jersey 

-----Original Message-----
From: tpin-bounces at tpin.okcu.edu [mailto:tpin-bounces at tpin.okcu.edu] On
Behalf Of Travis Wilson
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2007 2:22 PM
Cc: tpin at tpin.okcu.edu
Subject: [TPIN] To Leon, Bob O, Glenn, Mike V, Michael A, Paul R., Nick M,
and many others

Last night, I (yea, me a 58 year old comeback guy who gave up the trumpet
for 30 years) played a really hot gig with a Blues/Rock band. I had the time
of my life.
Lots of friends were there to listen. Lots of folks I had never met came up
to talk about what a hot band we had. I was just "FLYING" when it was over.

A MAJOR reason I was there and had that kind of fun,  was the kindness and
encouragement of people like Leon. You guys that are there every day doing
this stuff live, as real pros, who then take the time to reach out to the
rest of us, are a real reason that some of us stay with playing. 
You are a real reason that we pick up this monster every day and blow those
same stupid warm ups. Do those same scales, and arpeggios, do those damn
Caruso studies, instead of watching one more episode of CSI.

Leon was one of the first of the real pros on here to reach out to me.  
Our first correspondence was right after I joined TPIN. I made a comment
about music that was very different then Leon's ideas. (It was about
electronic music). His comment right back to me was "yea, that sounds like a
lawyer". That started a private correspondence with him, that was always
encouraging to me. We had even begun talking about a trip to 
Florida to listen to him and take lessons.   I  cared much less about 
the lessons (although trust me I wanted them) then i did about the stories
he could tell.

I am having the time of my musical life. Much more fun then i had as a high
school and college kid. And this list has helped that. From the start of my
House Band for the Taco Stand, to my new "Dysfunctional blues Band", there
has been help, encouragement, fun, and (this is
important) real, honest ACCEPTANCE as a trumpet player. Not as a lawyer, not
as in investor. But the real players, the real pros, once they know any of
us our serious, treat us like we are real players too.

To the rest of you REAL PROS, remember how we all feel about Leon. Read what
is being said about him, and how his contributions have meant so much to so
many of us. Well, we feel that way about you guys to. You matter to us, the
struggling masses. A lot.

Travis
>
>
>   

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