[Trombone-l] musical strength when ill -was: Michael

[Jeff Albert]

On 1/14/07, Bill Dinwiddie <billdin at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> He played with such intensity that it is
> hard to understand how he could have played a whole CD in what must have
> been a very weakened condition. Well, he was 100% music, and maybe that
> helped him through.



I had the honor of being present at Mel Lewis' last performance with his
orchestra.  It was at the IAJE in New Orleans in 1990.  I was a student
worker, checking credentials at the backstage door.  Mel's band was on the
program that night, and I saw some of the guys walking up (Mosca, Lovano,
etc) and I was wondering who the skinny cat in the wheelchair was.  As they
neared, I realized it was Mel. He only played a few tunes with the band,
Dennis Mackrel played the rest.  They had to pretty much pick him up and put
him behind the drums, but once he picked up the sticks, he was like a
different guy.  Strong and confident looking and sounding.  As soon as the
tune was over, he looked sick and weak again.  The music was like magic.  He
died a couple of weeks later.

Jeff


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