After reading my sister Dana’s blog yesterday, Take Another Little Piece of My Heart, I thought it would be a wonderful idea to begin the middle of the week on a good note.

Seriously. Many good notes. Brilliant notes. Amazingly arranged and performed notes.

I had the good fortune last week of meeting a man who is simply delightful. And a music master. He was here in Cologne to conduct the WDR Big Band for a concert and told me that menopausebarbee uncle Quincy Jones insisted that he get in touch with me while he was in town.

Thank you Uncle Q! What a treat!

His Wikipedia page defines him as John Lee Clayton Jr., a distinguished American jazz and classical double bassist. He is also an educator, artistic director, composer, arranger and producer.

I would add to that list that he is one of the kindest people I’ve met.

He invited me to the rehearsal of his conducting the WDR Big Band and it was amazing. To watch those gifted musicians making magic under his direction was just finger snapping, head bobbing, rocking my torso from side-to-side in time to the beat from my seat – jaw-dropping.

Google and read all about him.

You’ll find out about many of his stellar achievements including his Grammy Award win, his collaboration with some of the greats in his industry as well as his marshaling the musical arrangement for Whitney Houston’s breathtaking rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” which she performed at the Tampa Stadium for Super Bowl XXV in 1991. Yes. THAT arrangement. And when you visit his web site, you can get bass tips and learn about all things bass – ically musical (I couldn’t resist that one) like Minor and Major Triads and The Interval of a 10th – for example.

Aside from all his accolades, what I found to be quite honorable and impressive about John is his manner. I made note listening to him address the band members he was conducting:

“The tempo will start at the left hand corner of the tune, please.”
“Never rehearse, we perform . . .”
“Please don’t forget to build up your friends – play together not off each other.”
“Diminuendo and then they’ll take over the melody.”
“Ad lib . . . make a wave of color.”
“I like that little breath.”
“Excellent, thank you.”

Just Beautiful!

What a pleasure to meet someone in this day and age who is accomplished, creative, intelligent and genuinely kind in spirit.

Take note everyone.

Thank you John. It was a pleasure!