The Marlowsphere Blog (#119)
On April 2, 2015, The Milt Hinton Jazz Perspectives concert series (of which I am honored to serve as co-chair) at Baruch College (City University of New York) will present a quartet led by twenty-something jazz pianist Justin Kauflin. The concert will take place in Baruch’s Engelman Recital Hall, part of the college’s Performing Arts Center.
There are certainly many young, talented jazz pianists being educated and nurtured in high school and college jazz programs across the country (around the world, for that matter). But what makes Kauflin stand a little taller than the rest is the fact that he was mentored by the very recently departed, great trumpeter and educator Clark Terry.
I became familiar with Kauflin and his relationship with Terry through a showing of the award-winning film “Keep On Keepin’ On.” I reviewed this film in a previous blog.
To quote from this review:
Clark Terry became acquainted with Kauflin when he was studying at William Patterson College. The relationship between these two musicians—an age difference of over 60 years—evolved into more than just a professional exchange. It became a friendship founded on the mutual respect and, yes, love, between these two artists.
But there’s more to this story. During the course of the documentary we learn of Justin’s eyesight problems at a very young age and ultimate loss of all his sight at age 11. We also learn—and see first-hand—of Clark Terry’s battle with diabetes and the ultimate loss of both his legs late in life (around age 90). Here, then, are two musical artists with serious physical challenges who share their pain with each other, but encourage each other to “Keep on Keepin’ On.” (Click to read full review.)
The documentary has earned an armful of awards.
Clark Terry, one of the most popular and influential jazz trumpeters of his generation and an enthusiastic advocate of jazz education, died on Saturday, February 21, 2015 in Pine Bluff, Ark. He was 94. (Read New York Times obituary.)
Justin Kauflin is also keepin’ on.
But the pain that these two artists have dealt with—Terry with diabetes, and Kauflin with his loss of eyesight at the age of 11—begs the question: how do some people deal with physical adversity given their creative impulses? In particular, how do people with musical genes overcome their lack of sight to express their sonic visions?
At first blush, the perception is that the vast majority of musicians do not have to deal with “sight“ issues. But even a cursory look at the musicians who have achieved success in the music world gives one pause. The number and quality of blind American musicians who have battled past a lack of sight to become successful at making sounds is impressive. Here are a few examples of the many blind musicians in the jazz/pop genres, courtesy of http://blindamericanmusicians.blogspot.com/:
RAY CHARLES (1930 – 2004) – Ray began life with sight but was blind due to Glaucoma by age 7. He attended the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. It was here he received a formal education in classical music. With this base and his growing interest in Jazz and Blues he began to develop his musical style. He listened to Country, Blues, Gospel, Pop and Jazz on the radio. His 1955 hit “I Got A Woman” was the beginning of finding his unique musical voice. He loved how music allowed him complete freedom of expression.
SAMMY DAVIS Jr. (1925 – 1990) – His dad, Sammy Davis Sr. was a well-known vaudeville entertainer. Davis never attended school and was self-taught through the school of hard knocks. In 1955 he lost his left eye in a car accident. His music was very traditional in Broadway, Light Jazz and Pop Standard vein. Davis was famous for his stage presence, acting ability and singing style. He had more than a hand full of big hit songs, “Love Me Or Leave Me”, “The Candy Man”, “That Old Black Magic”, and “What Kind Of Fool Am I” to name just a few.
JOSE FELICIANO – a Puerto Rican/American born blind, Jose has become one of America’s best known entertainers internationally. He belongs in the upper echelon of the great guitarist of our time. His version of the national anthem performed at Tiger Stadium in Detroit in the late 1960’s was controversial at the time but has become recognized as one of great interpretations of the song. In the United States he is best known for his million selling hit “Light My Fire” and the Christmas classic “Feliz Navidad” He helped to mainstream Latin music influence on Rock ‘n’ Roll.
TERRI GIBBS – Terri was born in Florida in 1954 and the family moved to Augusta, Georgia. She comes from a family steeped in Gospel music. She began playing the piano at age three and began performing at an early age. She did take music lessons to help improve her understanding of the art. Like Ray Charles, Ronnie Milsap and other great artists from the South, she grew up listening to Country, R&B, Rock ‘n’ Roll and Gospel. Her debut single “Somebody’s Knockin’” became a huge hit and a crossover success.
RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK (1935 – 1977) – He performed as a multiple instrumental artist. Jazz was what he performed and was famous for his stage antics and the ability to play more than one instrument at a time. He left a legacy of over a dozen albums.
MARCUS ROBERTS – He is one of America’s great jazz musicians who happens to be blind since age five. His mother also was blind and a gospel singer
who helped him to learn to play the piano. He attended the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, the Alma Matter for two other great musicians, Ray Charles and Charles Atkins. He went on to college at Florida State University. He believes strongly in the traditions of the great Jazz artists. Marcus is a perfectionist and very tradition minded when it comes to his art. Yet, he believes the artist needs to play for the audience and not for themselves. He is an Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at Florida State University.
DIANE SCHUUR – Two-time Grammy award-winning jazz singer. While she was self-taught on the piano, she did attend Washington State School for the Blind for formal education in music and piano. She was influenced by the great Sarah Vaughn, Dinah Washington and Ray Charles to name a few. She has had several hit albums in the Jazz genre. While Jazz is her forte, she has performed in nearly every popular genre.
SIR GEORGE SHEARING, OBE (1919 – 2011) – was a world-renowned
British-born jazz composer and musician. Shearing became involved in the jazz scene in the greater London area. When he immigrated to the United States in 1947 he was swept into the New York jazz world. He melded the two worlds of classical orchestra music with jazz. He has over 300 songs to his credit as a composer, as well ass two Grammy’s and 100+ albums. His music has been heard in more than a dozen films and TV shows. In 2007 he was Knighted by the British Crown and given the official title of “Sir.
ART TATUM (1909 – 1956) – Tatum was not totally blind. His vision was little more than light perception. At a very early age he taught himself to play the piano. Both parents were skilled musicians. During his high school years he attended the Ohio School for the Blind. He studied braille and music. He has over four dozen albums to his credit. His piano styling has had a lasting impact on jazz musicians. Great musicians he influenced are Oscar Peterson, Lionel Hampton, Charlie Parker, and Herbie Hancock. He is noted for his impressive speed playing of the piano. He was posthumously honored with the prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
LENNIE TRISTANO (1919 – 1978) – He was born in Chicago and was one of the nation’s leading jazz educators. He acknowledged fellow brother in blindness, Art Tatum, as influential in his music. He also credited Charlie Parker and Nat King Cole. He had more than a hand full of recordings to his credit.
STEVIE WONDER – a world famous singer/songwriter, was 
born blind in 1950. At a very early age he began to master the piano. Later he mastered the harmonica, drums and bass. He attended the Michigan School for the Blind where he studied classical music. Perhaps, what might have been more important were the impromptu jam sessions in the dorms at the school. Ronnie White of the Miracles discovered Stevie which led to him being signed by Berry Gordy of Motown and Tamla records. He has two dozen Grammys (including the Grammys is the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award), a Golden Globe, and an Oscar for best song in a film.
There is truth to the observation that when one loses, either partially or totally, one of his/her senses, the other senses compensate by becoming more sensitive. Perhaps there’s truth also in the observation that the jazz/pop musicians presented above achieved their artistic success, in strong part, because of their loss of sight. Their loss of vision accentuated their musical vision.
But the other significant thread among all these musicians is that they did not let their sensory handicaps to deter them. They kept on keepin’ on.
If you have any questions or comments about this or any other of my blogs, please write to me at
meiienterprises@aol.com.
Eugene Marlow, Ph.D.
March 30, 2015
© Eugene Marlow, March 30, 2015
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Marlowsphere Blog (#142)
Among this group of stride piano virtuosos, however, there are three women, perhaps I should say only three women—Dorothy Donegan (no longer living), Stephanie Trick (very much living), and Judy Carmichael!
United States Department of State sponsored tour to China in the early 1990s, to her initiation of “Jazz Inspired” on NPR. And like all memorable autobiographies, her book is full of personal travails, from her difficult relationship with her parents and her brother, to other musicians, to friends and lovers. She also delves unequivocally and unabashedly into her bouts with cancer.
