This doesn't happen often...

i'm not a name-dropper.

i don't take pictures with celebrities unless they ask for one with me in it. that almost never happens.

but every now and then, i have a singular experience that i like to get down on paper.

a while back, i was hired to direct a series of shorts for the u.s. dept. of education on the history of jazz. it was coordinated through the thelonious monk institute of jazz (), and i was to write, design, direct and animate almost the whole thing.

now, when i like to get into a project, i like to know as much as possible about it. i like to become as close to a pseudo-expert as possible. granted, i'm not gonna get a degree in it or learn how to hang with the masters, musically speaking. but i want to be able to hold my own, and walk the walk.

so i asked if it might be possible to meet up with someone at the institute and chat it up a bit...get the scoop on jazz.

the client did me one better - they told me that the shorts would feature the one and only herbie hancock, and that he, wayne shorter, terence blanchard, and t.s. monk (son of thelonious) would all be at the institute one weekend, listening to auditions for the masters program at the institute (housed at USC).

they suggested that after the auditions wrap up, that i might be able to come by and chat it up with these four greats...if i was interested.

WHA?? if i'm INTERESTED?!?

yah, i was there very early. i didn't care that i had to wait outside for a bit...ok...three hours. i had my ipod. i was listening to as much jazz as possible...learnin' how to keep cool and not wet my pants in front of these greats.

anyhow, the auditions wrapped, and i went inside, and just listened for a bit as these cats talked bout their families, they caught up on normal stuff...and then my client introduced me. needless to say, like most artists at the top of their game, they were the nicest gentlemen i'd met in a long time. we talked about jazz and the project for about 90 minutes. i asked them questions, they answered. they suggested ideas for the shorts...references...and even a wonderful similie i found fascinating. i asked them, 'what other non-musical creation is most like jazz?' they thought for a moment, and terence blanchard spoke first: 'Basketball,' he said. the other men called out like it was church and the preacher just told it on the mountain-top. they all chimed in on how jazz is EXACTLY like basketball.

'you all are working toward an end goal, and the way you get there has its rules.' said mr. shorter.

'ah yes, but the way you get from one end of the court to the other is up to you.' added mr. monk.

'yeh...sometimes you get some serious airballs, and sometimes...man, it's just kareem and magic all the way!' mr. hancock exclaimed. he's an LA man...

and mr. blanchard added further, 'yeh, but sometimes' he pointed to mr. hancock 'that man has tossed me a no-look pass on the court and i was lookin' the other way!'

they all erupted with laughter, and i tried to just capture the moment - knowing that the odds of me being in a situation like this was most likely never going to happen again. watching friends, highly-respected colleagues at the top of their games, talking excitedly about the thing they love the most, and how to share that thing with children.

yeh, that was a good day.

and i managed to sketch a couple of doodles, too.



...when the project's done, i'll be sure to post a link to the short.