Sudhalter Concert Comments

The concert for Sudhalter went very well. Good attendance, and the musicians limited themselves to one or two numbers, so the evening moved along just right. Frishberg's "Dear Bix" brought a tear to my eye, and to his, I believe, as well. Marian McPartland, Joe Wilder, Jackie Cain and Steve Kuhn were especially good, and the backstage hanging out was wonderful. Loren Schoenberg's big band topped off the evening just right. Sud was touched and happy, and though he couldn't speak his thanks, he stood there and beamed while a friend read a lovely thank-you statement that Dick had written. His speech and his legs aren't working right yet, but his mind is still there, working elegantly. The room was full of love, and our hopes for his improvement are high.

Bill Crow

Mr. Crow played bass at the concert with The Biagi Band.

What a great event and congratulations and thanks to all the participants. I've been deeply sorry to hear of Dick's condition. Not only was he a cornetist who greatly inspired my own efforts early on, but his writings belong in the select pantheon of Otis Ferguson, George Frazier, Whitney Balliett and a very few others. Indeed I would regularly buy an album for the pleasure of his liner-notes alone. We one mutually lamented the plight of the jazz polymath who both writes and plays but if one artist alone can restore the title to its proper honourable estate it must be Richard M. Sudhalter...as great in the cornet chair as he was - and is - at his typewriter.

Good wishes,
Digby Fairweather

Mr. Fairweather is a distinguished British trumpeter and long-model cornetist.

It was a remarkable evening, one in which I was proud to participate and will always remember. Such an outpouring of affection for Dick by so many great players! And I learned so much! Thanks to all the great musicians who performed selflessly and exquisitely.

Armen Donelian

Mr. Donelian played piano at the concert with the Bill Kirchner Trio.

As I watched the show unfold, I imagined a headlline for a news article: "LOVE AND LOYALTY" Every musician present had been touched in some way by Richard's simply caring about them and the music we all play. Dick credits me with giving him his 1st gig (Cape Cod 1960). He more than reciprocated by getting me playing again when he came back from Europe in the mid-1970s. Appearances at Carnegie Hall (the Whiteman band) and the Smithsonian (Hoagy Carmichael show); a chance to play with legends like Al Galladoro and Eddie Barefield; a shot at being a founding member of Vince Giordano's band in '75, and some wonderful recording trips. I and many of our mates owe him for keeping us out there. Dick Katz got it right when he said it was a love-in. And Bill Kirchner's set was about the loveliest music-making I've heard in this century. What I came away with was the enormous sense of community among us lunatics that play this music. I mean - a group of veteran stock analysts wouldn't do it that way.

Sam Parkins

Mr. Parkins is a record producer and clarinetist. He played in The Biagi Band.

I'm utterly speechless!! You did a major major mitzvah..and just in time for the High Holidays.

muchimas gracias,
Daryl Sherman

Sie sind willkommen

Ms. Sherman played piano and sang at the concert.