[Dixielandjazz] Tony Scott

[Stephen G Barbone]

> "Jim Kashishian" <jim at kashprod.com> wrotre:
>
> It was more than that!  I worked nitely with him (7 nites a week)  
> for at
> least a month, must have been around 1970.  He played anything  
> called up.
> He was the strongest clarinet I have ever heard.
>
> He lived at my house for about a week while trying to get a place to  
> stay.
> Took him to my dentist, as his teeth hurt him.  No wonder, the  
> volume he
> used on that horn!  Dentist said it was from his heavy bite.
>
> He had his head shaved completely, clean shaven, & dressed  
> completely in
> black, turtle neck shirt, long sleeves, black slacks...including a  
> floor
> length black leather coat.
>
> Was nothing more than completely weird!  I gather he was going for  
> an image.
> Something that can be seen in his opposite attire & clothing in this  
> video.
> Showmanship (in his presence) along with talent.
>
> I've had no contact with him since.

Dear Jim:

The following link circa 1970s shows the shaven headed Tony Scott you  
describe. He is on baritone sax with Ellington's Sophisticated Lady.  
You will no doubt recognize him from this you tube. He had a goatee  
back then also.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDM4Gem_hoY

He is/was my all time favorite reed player and I was devastated when  
he passed away a few years ago. Quite an inquisitive and inventive  
musician with  huge repertoire. He was idolized by jazz and classical  
musicians alike in Italy.

As an aside, clarinetist Evan Christopher made a pilgrimage to his  
house in Rome while touring in Italy, just to talk with the old  
master. He claims Scott as one of his mentors. Christopher originally  
played sax and envisioned himself as playing Alto with Art Blakey.  
Then he decided to play New Orleans music and concentrated on  
clarinet. But he still plays songs like Lonely Woman (Ornette Coleman)  
and After the Rain (John Coltrane)
Like Scott, Christopher is one inquisitive and inventive musician.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband