When I was young, I would go to the Beverly Caverns in Los Angeles to hear Ory play with Teddy Buckner, a fine trumpet player in the Armstrong tradition. He was considerably older then, but played so well in his inimitable shouting and tailgate style. I was enamored of New Orleans jass at the time and as my friend Ed Cray recalls,I had the temerity to ask if I could try his trombone. Ory, generous and warm, actually allowed me to do it with great amusement on his part. I think he really appreciated that a young kid would love the old style New Orleans jazz.

I was imprinted with early jazz by a few experiences:
1. Sitting in on trombone at the 47 Club in North Hollywood with Zutty Singleton.
2. Hearing Louis, Jack T., Cozy Cole and Barney Bigard (with Velma Middleton) at the Shrine Auditorium concerts every year.
3. Standing in the Second Line in a parade talking to Big Jim Robinson (of Bunk's band) en route to a funeral and barbecue in Gretna.
4. Meeting Johnny St. Cyr in a Burbank park where I was practicing a five-string banjo under a tree. He came up to me and politely told me he played banjo too.
I didn't know who he was at the time and I could kick myself today for not being smart or old enough to ask him all kinds of questions. He was a nice man.
5. Playing Dick Robert's banjo (he let me try it). He was with the Firehouse Five plus Two at the time.
6. Being on the opposite band at the New Orleans Jazz Club with Oscar "Papa" Celestine. There was a race mixing ban in New Orleans which meant black and white musicians could not play on the same stage together in the Fifties. "Papa" played his memorable "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" which I remember to this day.
7. Jamming with trombone at the Four Aces up the street from The Famous Door on Bourbon Street.
8. Sitting in with a one-armed trumpet player (not Wingy Manone) in a strip club on Canal Street in New Orleans where I could reach out with my trombone slide and practically touch the stripper.

Today, I play trad jazz accompaniment on my Martin 0021 with a clarinet player friend.