Jade Visions: The Life and Music of Scott LaFaro

Appendix I. Remembering Scott LaFaro

225 •฀ appendIx I • rememBerIng scott laFaro by Robert Wooley Scott LaFaro and I went to school in Geneva, NewYork, a small city of about 15,000 in the heart of the Finger Lakes. Although small, the school had a very strong music program.The high school band director,Godfrey Brown,had worked hard,particularly in the elementary levels, to build his program.The lead trombonist when Scott was a sophomore went directly from high school to the Tommy Dorsey Band. It was possible to graduate from Geneva High School well prepared to go to music school, and many did. Scott and I first met in 1950, and because of our musical interests became friends.The band director,who was Scotty’s private teacher for clarinet and saxophone, recognized Scott’s talent and made him a student band director. This meant Scott conducted rehearsals for the concert and jazz bands,and directed certain numbers in concerts. His rehearsals were very intense. Scotty was a perfectionist with perfect pitch. He was also a stickler on rhythm—I accused him of having a metronome built into his head.Whenever I listen to Scott’s recordings, I’m certain of it. 226  JadeVisions:The Life and Music of Scott LaFaro Scotty was headstrong when it came to music. On more than one occasion, he argued so vehemently with the band director over the interpretation of a particular number that he was kicked out of the band for a couple of weeks. I’d say, “Why don’t you apologize to Brownie (our director’s nickname), what difference does it make?”Then I’d get the lecture of how you had to be true to your music, etc. It was interesting that before the annual band competition Scott was always “allowed” to return. Despite these disagreements, Brownie was Scott’s, and all the other music majors ’, mentor. If someone asked me which teacher had the greatest impact on Scott (and me), I’d say without hesitation Godfrey Brown, and I know Scott would agree. An advanced theory course was available for those going on to music school. During dictation, the instructor played a melody on the piano once to familiarize us with it, and then she played the individual parts for us to transcribe.While most of us were trying to decipher a particular interval,Scott was writing as fast as he could and finished long before the bass line had been played. Scott practiced several hours every day.He earned anA in grade six clarinet and sax solos in competition,and played in the All State Band. He bought reeds by the box and used a device to shave the reeds,but usually threw away about half because he would only use the best.The only times Scott played bass during our high school years, however, was in breaks during practice with the jazz band. Brownie’s attractive daughter was the bassist and I always thought he was more interested in her than in her bass. He would have her show him various finger positions,and sometimes he would do the positions and have me play rhythms on the strings. He told her he hoped someday to have the time to learn how to play the instrument . It looks like he found the time. We formed a dance band—the Rhythm Aires—and played everything from the Elks Club to YMCA dances. Many of our Remembering Scott LaFaro  227 arrangements were written by Scott. He transcribed the parts from a record, and then made his own modifications. Because I lived in the country, we often practiced at my home. My elderly aunt, who was a classical pianist, lived with my family and let us use her Steinway grand piano for band practice.It drove her crazy when Scott would improvise one of his jazz solos on either his sax or clarinet. She’d say,“He can play so well when he wants to, but I don’t know where he gets those other notes!” Scott’s father was a very accomplished classical violinist who was a child prodigy. Scott’s sister, Helene, had a beautiful voice and sang with several of the vocal groups and with the jazz band in high school. She told me she took piano lessons, but Scott wouldn’t even stay in the house when she practiced. I understand he also continually told her what he thought of...