Tom, Well said brother! Larry was sui generis; player, composer, arranger, teacher, storyteller. He had an amazing amount of first-hand anecdotes, about folks like Red Rodney, Billy Bean, and more. I was in his Jazz Musicianship class at the old PMA, [now U of A], circa 1978[!], along with luminaries like Sumi Tonooka, Willie Williams, Joe Sudler & Ted Greenberg. Larry would go to the board and write out the melody and changes to a standard, and then write out a slammin' solo chorus. [I still have my manuscript book from the class]! Larry's solos were perfect, miniature Mozart symphonies, never a note out of place, a consummate story teller, who played from the heart, always. He showed us how it was done with humility & effortless grace.
Hello and thank you very much for these Insights. I am a Clarinettist and saxophonist from Germany and i would Love to know more about Larry McKenna s way of Teaching. Can i contact you reagarding this? Best, Konstantin
Hi Tom, Thanks for some great memories about Larry McKenna. Such a cherished part of the jazz scene in Philly. Best to you and keep up the good work Cheers, my friend. Brad In Big Bear.
I too, am one of those (almost) 60-somethings who had the good fortune to have Larry as my teacher in college, UArts, ‘89. He was a wealth of knowledge and experience even then. Philadelphia is full of Talents Deserving Wider Recognition, but the word ‘talent’ does not do Larry justice. Can there be a Legend Deserving Wider Recognition? We idolized him and went to every jaw-dropping gig we could get in to. There could not be a more unassuming idol. In my experience, he was not the kind of teacher that would lay out a step by step program for his students, but I realized quickly that if I came into a lesson with the right question (like the lesson goals you mentioned for yourself, Tom) I could leave the lesson with a lifetime’s worth of insight and direction. Thank you, Larry! And thanks, Tom, for writing such an insightful and meaningful tribute.
Tom, Well said brother! Larry was sui generis; player, composer, arranger, teacher, storyteller. He had an amazing amount of first-hand anecdotes, about folks like Red Rodney, Billy Bean, and more. I was in his Jazz Musicianship class at the old PMA, [now U of A], circa 1978[!], along with luminaries like Sumi Tonooka, Willie Williams, Joe Sudler & Ted Greenberg. Larry would go to the board and write out the melody and changes to a standard, and then write out a slammin' solo chorus. [I still have my manuscript book from the class]! Larry's solos were perfect, miniature Mozart symphonies, never a note out of place, a consummate story teller, who played from the heart, always. He showed us how it was done with humility & effortless grace.
Hello and thank you very much for these Insights. I am a Clarinettist and saxophonist from Germany and i would Love to know more about Larry McKenna s way of Teaching. Can i contact you reagarding this? Best, Konstantin
sure....email is: echolocatormusic@gmail.com
thanks for reading
Beautiful, Tom!
Hi Tom, Thanks for some great memories about Larry McKenna. Such a cherished part of the jazz scene in Philly. Best to you and keep up the good work Cheers, my friend. Brad In Big Bear.
I too, am one of those (almost) 60-somethings who had the good fortune to have Larry as my teacher in college, UArts, ‘89. He was a wealth of knowledge and experience even then. Philadelphia is full of Talents Deserving Wider Recognition, but the word ‘talent’ does not do Larry justice. Can there be a Legend Deserving Wider Recognition? We idolized him and went to every jaw-dropping gig we could get in to. There could not be a more unassuming idol. In my experience, he was not the kind of teacher that would lay out a step by step program for his students, but I realized quickly that if I came into a lesson with the right question (like the lesson goals you mentioned for yourself, Tom) I could leave the lesson with a lifetime’s worth of insight and direction. Thank you, Larry! And thanks, Tom, for writing such an insightful and meaningful tribute.
Thanks for this...was just listening and he was the REAL deal.
Beautiful, Tom. Just beautiful.
A stunning reflection, Tom. Thank you.