Distinguished Guests

Audiences make the occasion for jazz performances. It’s always fun to see long-time friends come in. Here are a couple of good pairs to see arrive:



Betty Rogers, Dallis Piccard, Sideman, John Rogers

Jean & Carey J. Hahn

A couple of blogs ago I mentioned seeing Ron DeWitte and his band. This last Friday there was the man himself, sitting there listening. Seeing a good musician quietly sitting there listening is good for my nerve-ends. It puts them on high alert. One becomes very aware of just what notes one is playing.

Here’s another guitar player who showed up at the last gig. Francis McMahon (I hope I’ve spelled his name correctly) is 92, he tells me, and has been a member of the musicians union for 68 years.

Francis McMahon & Eddie Piccard

Eddie introduced Francis to Ron DeWitte. Audiences do indeed shape performances. The two guitarists had such a good conversation about the beautiful song "Laura" that Eddie decided to play it the next set.