[Dixielandjazz] Jerry Heermans, R.I.P.

[Rick Campbell]

Jazz community loses Portland piano player Jerry Heermans

by Rick Campbell

Portland, Oregon traditional jazz pianist Donald Jerome "Jerry"  
Heermans died of cancer on Oct. 21st, 2010 at the age of 84.

A group of Portland-area musicians reverently played some of his  
favorite songs at his funeral, including "Saints" and "The Pink  
Panther Theme."

Jerry served four tours of duty during World World II for the US  
Merchant Marine. He earned the Merchant Marine Emblem, Pacific War  
Zone Bar, Victory Medal, Honorable Service Button, and a Presidential  
Testimonial Letter. Jerry also served two tours of duty during the  
Korean War.

Jerry was a piano tuner by profession, and always showed up at every  
jazz gig with his tool kit and attempted to tune the piano, or as he  
always said, "make it less bad." This was not always met with  
enthusiasm by the bandsmen and crowd waiting for the performance, but  
in nearly every case, the tuning was needed and Jerry was sensitive to  
any note that was out of tune.

Jerry was also the regular pianist in many top traditional jazz bands  
in the Pacific Northwest. He often lamented that he had to learn the  
"barrelhouse" tricks of the trade on the job, and that there were few  
younger players waiting to learn his skills. When confronted with a  
new tune, he always said it was no problem-- "I play by smell."

In the early 1960s he had a regular gig in the Roaring 20's Room at  
the Hoyt Hotel with Monte Ballou and the Castle Jazz Band. Ed  
Zimbrick's 10th Avenue Jazz Band had regular gigs at Orleans Alley  
around 1970. Jerry played with John McKinley's Gas Lighters. In the  
mid-1970s Jerry had played regularly with Don Kinch and The Conductors  
at Strutters Hall in downtown Portland. This group also put out an  
album. In the late 1990s, the 10th Avenue Jazz Band played a gig in  
Puerto Vallarta and put out an album, and performed on a Mediterranean  
cruise ship.

For the last 20 years Jerry performed regularly with the Puddin' River  
Jazz Band and Dr. Jazz and the Interns. In addition, he was a first  
call sub for almost every other notable trad jazz band in the Northwest.

On June 14, 2009, the Willamette Valley Jazz Society held King Jerry  
Heermans Day, honoring him for his lifetime contribution to  
traditional jazz music.

He was a sweet and gentle man who will be missed by all who knew him.  
And we will always hear Jerry's opening chords to "Pink Panther" at  
the end of every set.

Rick Campbell
MIlneburg Jazz Band
Portland, Oregon USA
(503) 234-9440
ricksax at comcast.net