Small town newspapers sometimes provide surprisingly interesting coverage of world-traveling jazz artists who pass through or live in their communities. For decades, Marvin Stamm and his wife Nancy have been residents of the Westchester County town of North Salem, an hour north of New York City. This week, the North Salem Daily Voice interviewed the trumpeter about why he lives there. This is some of what he said:
I tell people in my travels about our town, but they find it difficult to believe that I live in such a quiet space, affording reflection and renewal, while being so close to one of the largest cities in the world. . . I always look forward to coming home. I never tire of the reservoir, the hills and the woodlands. . .
To read all of the interview with Stamm, go here.
Pianist George Cables talked with the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, way out west where the
Columbia River flows into the Pacific. He told about what he learned from Art Tatum, his favorite instrument other than the piano, and what it was like when he and alto saxophonist Frank Morgan played for prisoners.
We went to San Quentin and played. If you think being there locked-up is life-changing … being there a matter of hours is life-changing. You get to meet some of the people. Alto player Grace Kelly came with us and played “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and there were tears in the hardened prisoners, an audience full of teary-eyed big guys that were locked up.
You’ll find all of the Cables story here.