Woody Shaw was an intense person and that’s why his music had that intensity. He believed in what he believed in and wasn’t scared to say it. He was 100% focused!
I saw the Tijuana Brass TV specials and thought the trombone player was really cool. He was in the background and then he would jump out and play a solo. I thought that would fit my personality.
It was interesting being part of the Teamsters union. You learned how to say ’What the . . .’
We have that saying that studio/orchestra work is 95 percent boredom and 5 percent sheer terror for brass players.
I gave my notice to Buddy and he said to me, ‘Kid . . . I’ll make sure you never work another day in your life.’ I made more money that first night in Vegas than I did for a week on Buddy’s band.
If you want to play small group you better start playing in a big band.
Mike got stuck with the clarinet. After we had been playing for a couple years, we used to get together in the bathroom ‘cause we liked the echo. We would just play free . . . we didn't know much about chord changes at that age.
I did 15 albums with Henry Mancini and always had something beautiful to play. He was a monumental gift to the world.
The head went by in about 4 seconds, they pushed me up to the microphone and the rhythm section stopped!
