I always enjoyed playing Indianapolis on tour. I could walk around the arena pre-show and chat with people in the audience, some of whom remembered me from the years we lived there, or from high school or college, or the years when I was on television every day on the Jim Gerard Show, or from when I had the house band at the Embers night club, or one of the jazz clubs around town. Plus, all the relatives. Lots of relatives.
It was also a joy to hear some of the up-and-coming young players who are carrying on the wonderful Indiana jazz tradition.
In this photo, I was at one of my favorite night spots, the Chatterbox, on Massachusetts Avenue, where I was privileged to sit in for a couple of tunes with saxophonist Sophie Faught.
The rise of fine female jazz musicians is the best thing that’s happened in my time. I mean, sure it was fun hanging out with all those guys back in the day, but the women take it to really interesting places now.
I was having too much fun on my Indy night off to take reliable notes, but I believe Sophie’s bandmates in the picture are Ben Lumsdaine and Nick Tucker. It was a great group to hear and a treat to play with them.