Billy Harper's Rite of Passage: on attempting to sit in with Elvin Jones

You may have heard some tales of rites of passage by jazz musicians who have come to New York. Perhaps the most famous is of Cannonball Adderley’s sitting in with Oscar Pettiford at Cafe Bohemia (you can find more about that on the web). Here is one that I like, Billy Harper’s tale of attempting to sit in with Elvin Jones.
Read about conveying the time in your playing (including when you are unaccompanied), and fast tempos, in: THE RHYTHM BOOK - Rhythmic Development and Performance in 4/4
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Rory Stuart - Author
Billy Harper - Saxophonist & Composer
Adam Cordero - Video Recording and Editing
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On a personal note, from Rory: When I moved to New York from Colorado, I managed to get the mailing address for Elvin Jones, and sent him a cassette of some of my best playing. Soon after, I saw he was performing at the Village Vanguard and went to hear his band. As he got off the stage and was walking towards the back of the Vanguard, I got up to talk with him. “Mr. Jones,” I said, “I’m Rory Stuart, the guitarist that sent you a cassette recently.” With a big smile, Elvin said “Oh yeah! The guy with the cassette!” He put his arm around my shoulder. “Wow, that was beautiful, man!” He gave my shoulder a squeeze, then headed to the back of the club (it is a stretch to call that area of the Vanguard the “dressing room” but …). I left the club delighted; Elvin loved my cassette! Maybe, when there was an opening for the guitar chair, I’d end up playing in his band! The next night, I went and heard another set of Elvin’s band. As he came off the stage after the set, there were a number of people ahead of me to talk with him. As I watched him put his arm around each of their shoulders, give them a huge smile and say things like “Beautiful, man!” and didn’t see even a hint of recognition as he approached me, I realized my interpretation of the previous night had been a bit naive and overly optimistic! So, that is my personal context for appreciating Billy Harper’s story - his persistence for an entire week at Slug’s, and his brilliant rising to the challenge of the “rite of passage” on the final night.

[@andrewpotter4131]

Billy Harper is one of the best anywhere !

[@cavaleer]

This is priceless!!❤❤

[@mattyjf1]

Great interview - thanks! It would have been much better without any music in the background, though.

[@jazzhopper1]

...or any interruptions...

[@Bruh-uo8ku]

I didn't know that Walter White was a jazz enthusiast!