[Dixielandjazz] Joe Ascione

[Steve Barbone]

on 12/8/06 4:13 PM, RICK KNITTEL at knittelsportland at juno.com wrote:
 
> Steve (& Listmates);
> 
> I think it was Frank Nissel that told me that Joe Ascione had been
> studying for the priesthood when his fellow musicians convinced him to
> try making music his living. I don't know if this is true or not.

Rick & List mates:

Couple of thing about Joe Ascione.

I'm not sure if it was his fellow musicians who talked him out of it or not,
however Joe spent at least a year in seminary studying for the priesthood
back about 1988 or 89. He decided to leave and concentrate on music.

His primary drum influences were Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich.

He started to feel numbness in his fingertips about 10 years ago and the
Doctors said it was nothing to worry about. They finally diagnosed it about
the turn of the century as a slowly progressive form of Multiple Sclerosis.
It will never get better, just slowly worse unless the Doctors get a
breakthrough. 

He therefore cannot feel relaxed like he used to when he plays. He does not
take drugs for it, doesn't want to become drug dependant in any way. He does
take 60 to 90 food supplements a day. He can't feel the sticks in his hands,
has trouble with simple things like buttoning a collar that we all take for
granted. And, of course, gigging is more difficult than it used to be.

But most people wouldn't know that because he is very good at masking all of
his physical problems. And he plays the hell out of his drum kit. He is a
very funny guy to talk with, who will make you laugh. And he is a fighter.
He tried steroids on the advice of his doctor a few years ago which bloated
him and I believe he stopped doing that. But the weight is hard to lose even
though you stop.

Anyway, he is just superb, both as a man and as a musician.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone