In the Heart of Wilmington

My friend Debbie, her son, and I attended the Dupont Clifford Brown Wilmington Jazz Festival. Renowned jazz trumpeter Clifford Brown was born in Wilmington in 1930. He started playing at the age of 12. He obtained a music scholarship from the University of Delaware, which at the time, had no music program. He attended Maryland State College, wrote and played with their jazz band. He started sitting in with Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Navarro, and Charlie Parker. In 1952 he had his recording debut, and then formed his famous duo Roach and Brownie. However, he died at the age of 25, in 1956 in the wee hours he was travelling to a gig to meet Roach. His wife drove the car off a wet Pennsylvania highway.

The festival is held outdoors in the heart of Wilmington in Rodney Park (named after Caesar Rodney). It is the only free jazz festival that lasts for seven days. I was so happy to finally have the opportunity to go.

My friend and past classmate Debbie is a rockin' bass player. She invited me to see Marcus Miller with his band perform this past Friday evening on 6/18/10. He is a musician, composer and producer of many works of music. His proficiency on the bass is world and well-regarded.

He has continued the developing and refining the technique known as "slapping" by using his thumb. Also his fretless bass, has inspired many musicians by taking the electric guitar music and bending it into many musical situations. He has written for many of the greats: David Sanborn, Luther Vandross, Spike Lee's movies, Grover Washington Jr. and the great Miles Davis.

After the concert was over, we waited in line until midnight to buy CDs which he signed. He shook our hands and thanked us for coming to see him play. It was nice to meet Marcus and his band members. Another amazing evening which I will never forget.