[Dixielandjazz] Jazz photographer/pianist Duncan Schiedt died Mar 13, 20014

[Norman Vickers]

To:  DJML and some jazz friends

From: Norman Vickers, Jazz Society of Pensacola

 

 

 

http://jazzlives.wordpress.com/2014/03/13/duncan-p-schiedt-1921-2014-living-
and-dying-gracefully/

 

 

Jazz photographer and pianist Duncan Schiedt died Mar 13, 2014 at age 92.
Michael Steinman's excellent blog:  JAZZ LIVES has a sensitive, moving
narrative about his friendship and communication with Duncan.  I post this
link.

There are also connecting links-background  and some others where Michael
has posted videos of Duncan at the piano.

 

My own history with Duncan, though not as extensive as others, is similar.
My first encounter with Duncan was in 1989 for our first Pensacola Jazz
Party.  Jazz record producer Gus Statiras helped us with planning and
scheduling of the musicians.  Duncan came down with his photo exhibit and
sold some of his iconic jazz photographs.  Although he was not

Featured as a performing musician, he would play piano during  periods
during the day when no music was scheduled.

If you watch Michael's videos, you will appreciate his sensitivity.

 

Duncan and I would cross paths at other jazz parties and festivals across
the country.  He was a regular attendee to the Arbors Jazz Parties in
Clearwater, FL and we'd have opportunity to swap jazz stories .

 

Most recently, in March of last year, Duncan had a photographic exhibit at
the Pensacola Museum of Art.  He drove down from home in Pittsboro, IN  with
framed photographs in his SUV.  He was helpful to museum staff when photos
were being mounted for the show.  The photo exhibit, a few weeks before our
30th Pensacola JazzFest, opened with a gala reception sponsored by the Jazz
Society of Pensacola and Pensacola Museum of Art.  The party was at two
levels-ground level had the photo exhibit and Duncan gave a gallery-talk
explaining the significance of the photographs, circumstances in which each
was taken  and some vignettes of the jazz artists.  During other times, we
had Greg Lyon playing solo guitar on the ground level.  Bar and refreshments
were on upper level where jazz pianist Al Martin played on the grand piano.
Later in the evening, Mr. Schiedt played some jazz tunes for the audience.

 

It was my pleasure to act as host for Duncan and renew our friendship.
Ellen and Roger Vinson were hosts for his lodging at their condo on
Pensacola Beach.  

 

Duncan returned about three weeks later when the exhibit closed and
retrieved the photos.  This was another opportunity for the two of us to
renew acquaintances.  He presented me with a photograph of Duke Ellington-it
hangs in my study-which he had taken during an interview with Ellington for
research on his book about Fats Waller.

 

Duncan will be missed.  Yes, I feel, as Duncan does,  that we shall meet in
a later time. 

 

"Til then, Duncan.

 
--End--