THE MUSICIAN THEY CALL" BAT"
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| Photos provided by Upsplash |
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| Photos provided by Upsplash |
Most of us in the jazz world know the name,Batiste.We listen to the cool sounds of the entertainer Jon Batiste who is associated with the young music lions coming out of New Orleans today.You know the ones,Trombone Shorty,Kermit Ruffin,Ivan Neville,Kent Jordan,the Dirty Dozen Brass Band,Christian Scott,and the famed Marsalis Brothers. What do these family of players have in common you ask? Well,other than their approximation to a close knit and very closed unit of musicians from Nawlins' as we say down South ,the proverbial answer is one man they call "Bat". Alvin Batiste,jazz clarinet player virtuoso and the inventor of the "Cosmic Hipness". Alvin "Bat" Batiste was an educator, bandleader, composer and a mentor to hundreds of maybe thousands young musicians around the world.
“Bat" won the Downbeat Jazz Poll Clarinetist of the Year so many times. And rightfully so I might add that most woodwind player switch from clarinet to the saxophone or even the flute not to be in competition with the "Bat". This was also not a bad thing because necessity fuels invention. This point is moot and the question of Alvin Batiste's undying dedication to his craft and the pupils he taught, including yours truly would forever be unstoppable and omnipresent to this day. Mr.Batiste taught me about sound and how to hear a phrase. He taught his students how to create music out of non-musical materials such as stringing together aluminum can tops to make a percussion instruments. How to improvise in a full ensemble setting by listening to all the sounds and instruments around you! This was unheard of in a time of Miles,Coltrane,and modal jazz expression. AThis was the coming of the New sounds of Ornettte Coleman, Eric Dolphy, Art Ensemble Of Chicago, Archie Shepp, Cecil Taylor, and the Avant-garde. Everyone knew 'Bat". He was relaxed and a no-nonsense human being and this reflected in his teaching style as well as his playing. How else could he play so fast and ferocious. Everyone can tell you that his motto was practise, practise,practise. Get familiar with the instrument.
My most memorable moment was as a student of the Southern University Jazz Band Ensemble ,The Jazztronauts . We played a gig opening for Cannonball Adderley and premiering a piece of music called "Fatima". On that day I had to catch a bus to New Orleans out of Baton Rouge to show up for the performance. I walked from the downtown Greyhound bus station headed to Southern University in New Orleans not knowing how far I had to walk there. Hey,I was a kid then and nothing seemed impossible. Making my way down North Claiborne Avenue with horn in tow along pulls up a late model station wagon and stops. It was Mr.Batiste driving and recognizing me said "hey, you need a ride to the gig?" I was surprised he'd noticed it was me walking and the biggest surprise was that inside the car there seated on the passenger side was Cannonball Adderley himself. As we drove to the gig I can only remember Mr.Batiste and Cannonbal laughing in the front seat with Mr.Adderley eating a shrimp plate of food. When I said that is all that I can recall of the entire trip to Southern University Of The South, that was about it. I remember our performance turn out great and I was walking on a cloud for days!
Mr.Alvin Batiste was a regular guy,a family man; professor of music; a teacher ; and giant spirit. He taught me that being a musician was about being a good human being first and to always know your audience. Playing in his ensemble was life-changing for me as was for so many young musicians that had the pleasure knowing him and learning from him. The great Barry Harris,who I would meet later as an adult musician in New York said something to the effect that "all the good teachers retire, move to Florida to quietly fade into the sunset as just regular people living life in solitude." I can really understand the logic of it all with so many students and sessions,and rehearsals ,and practising hours under their belt.
Music can be a daunting and challenging task for the life of an instructor. I digress. But for the man they called "Bat",it(music) was his armor and shield that made him the master musician/teacher he would become known as to this day. Music was the life and window to his soul. I can still hear him saying in that clarinetist voice of his(yes, his voice sounded as if it was his clarinet). Telling us(students)to seek the Cosmic Hipness. Only a Zen Master could understand this kind of Spirit. Thanks "Bat". And also thanks to you guys for letting me share this moment in time with you all.
(This story is based on real life events as told by it"s author,R.Diamond Cole)
Musicians and Artist: Please share this link for music submissions and learning purposes.o: https://rdiamondnewsletter.droptrack.com/submit/
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