The next time you are looking for surprises on YouTube, do not bypass Tommy Flanagan playing Billy Strayhorn’s “Rain Check.” The 1991 performance at a club in Germany was with his trio; George Mraz on bass, Bobby Durham on drums. The video and audio quality are unusually high for a YouTube clip, with matching direction and camera work. Flanagan’s Ellington quotes in his solo might be expected, but…”Star and Stripes Forever?”
Doug Ramsey on Jazz and other matters...
Tommy had a certain fondness for that song. I remember an incident in the late 1990’s when he played a concert at Fresno State. We were in the backstage area, and Tommy came across an ancient black Chickering upright piano, which somehow caught his fancy. He immediately sat down, and proceeded to play Stars and Stripes Forever!!!