On September 13, 2003, the general public, including myself, got a second chance to say good-bye to Robert Tate, managing editor of Jazz Now Magazine, and to enjoy a party on his behalf.
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Bob's birthday party at the Jazz Now building in 1995From left to right: Jim Radke, photographer, Sherry Hall, writer; Bob Hershon, writer; Stella (Brandt) Houston; Haybert Houston; Nina Hodgson; Al Wardlaw, trombone; Bob Tate (in stripe shirt); Mary Lucas, writer; Scotty Wright, singer/writer; Tup Lohse, writer; (unkown); Mrs. Wardlaw |
Bob, as we knew him, was very special to us. He was dedicated and loyal.
He had volunteered his time to edit Jazz Now since 1991, when we
had the magazine in print form, until we published our last hard copy of
the magazine in March of 2000. We were in bad editing shape in the beginning.
Bob read the magazine and decided to help. With his significant other, Nina
Hodgson, the articles were read at least six times each month. Then I formatted
the magazine and they came to the office to read it again, making sure the
articles continued where they ought to and that names in captions were spelled
correctly. Then they gave a final read-through before it went to the printer.
Bob attended Reed College in Portland, Oregon, (you know, the Mensa college)
and was in the navy for twenty-two years. When we met him, he was an editor
for Presidio Press, a publishing company that published military novels,
until he was laid off.
He volunteered for Jazz Now, and in 1995, he started volunteering
for Yoshi's (the premier Jazz club in the Bay Area), transporting musicians
to and from the airport, to hotels, and to Yoshi's. In 2000, he became the
coordinator of transportation volunteers for Yoshi's. Just as he was for
us, he was available anytime for Yoshi's and the musicians. He had to go
to the airport at some ungodly hours at times, when nobody else would do
the chore. Bob never complained. He was still doing his job, worrying about
the musicians, when he had to go to the hospital. As soon as he was back
and able, you'd see him around in Yoshi's, apparently just come back from
another taxying job. Bob lost his battle to cancer on July 10. He was one
of the most generous persons I know.
There were two things that Bob enjoyed most: books and Jazz. He loved bookstores,
especially used bookstores. They attracted him like shoestores attract women.
He always found bargains in those stores and came out smiling, "See
what I found!" he'd say.
Bob talked Jazz unlike most Jazz cats. He could fill in sentences for Haybert,
our publisher. "That sounded like..." "Sonny Stitt,"
he'd finish. Haybert and Bob had bets when they tried to identify sounds
of certain musicians and couldn't agree. Bob mostly won. He was as much
a book of Jazz history as Haybert, but you'd never know until you talked
Jazz with him. Bob never bragged about what he knew. Few of Haybert's family
and close friends know enough about Jazz history and events to have a good
Jazz conversation, but Bob did. We would sit around and rap after editing
the magazine. We went to shows and festivals together, and we had a great
time.
So we had a great time once more, in Bob's honor, on September 13, 2003,
at Yoshi's. The event was organized by Haybert Houston
and Nina Hodgson and musically directed by Walter Savage. Each musician
knew Bob personally and turned out to honor his memory. "All it took
was a phone call or an e-mail," Nina says, "and they were there
without hesitation."
The jam was led by Walter Savage on bass, Yancy Taylor on vibes, Myron Cohen
on drums, Glenn Pearson on piano, and Craig Browning on organ (photo at
left). They started up with a feisty "I Mean You" by Thelonious
Monk, which lasted twenty minutes. Bobby Hutcherson then came on stage,
cool-looking all in white on this very hot day, gave everybody a hug and
handshake, and played "Cherokee," one of Bob's favorite tunes,
with Harley White alternating with Walter on bass. Myron Cohen's imaginative
and creative drumming kept an exciting piece exceptionally exciting. Bobby
jumped in, literally, after Walter's long, bowed solo so as not to miss
a beat, everyone having fun. Bobby filled the slow melody of "It's
Magic" with rippling notes. When Harley took over the bass in the middle
of the piece, he gave a different "oomph" to the performance.
Walter Savage
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Bobby Hutcherson and Walter Savage |
John Handy, Yancy Taylor and Walter Savage |
Mel Martin and Bobby Hutcherson |
Then E.W. Wainwright took over the drums and offered his usual thunderous
but tasteful support to Bobby and the group. Frank Jackson came on stage
and sang "All the Things You Are" with added flute from Nika Rejto.
Kevin Gibbs took over the piano, and then Yehudit added the violin. Kevin
interjected his classical excerpts to his "Blow Top Blues" solo,
giving the blues a different twist. Doug Arrington sang "All Blues"
to follow. Jamie Davis and Clairdee then joined
in with their vocals, adding to Anton Swartz's tenor, and Michael Handler
jumped in soulfully with his harmonica. We haven't heard Michael for a long,
long time. He has matured with his harmonica playing, and who is Jamie Davis?
He has a voice like Johnny Hartman, and he even sang "My One and Only
Love." Nika's flute was beautiful on "I Thought about You."
I heard that she landed a gig at Yoshi's because of this performance!
Clairdee and Anton Swartz |
Frank Jackson
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Kent French and Jamie Davies |
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Myron Cohen |
Nika Rejto |
Glenn Pearson with Bob Tate's photo on wall |
Raymond "Ned" Turner, and Eric Swinderman, guitar. |
Glenn Pearson, Mel Martin, Bobby Hutcherson, Harley
White, and E. W. Wainwright. |
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