God I miss these guys !

 

Benny Goodman - Clarinet

John Bunch - Piano

Lenny Bush - Bass

Cal Collins - Guitar

Barrett Deems - Drums

Buddy Tate - Tenor Saxophone

Peter Appleyard - Vibraphone

Warren Vaché - Cornet

 

This was my first trip abroad. I had been working on and off with Benny for a year or so while also playing in the house band at Eddie Condon's Club on 54th Street. I was basically just frightened for this entire tour, and Buddy, John, Lenny and Cal took care of me and made me feel accepted. It was a wonderful experience working with these guys, and having to play up to their level was both frightening and rewarding. To give you an example of just how green I was, I remember taking a jar of peanut butter in my carry on! Can you eat over there? Experiences like this tour cannot be bought or planned, and I look at the great gentlemen I was so fortunate to know and learn from now, and think myself a very lucky guy indeed. It's a shame I wasn't able to learn more. Buddy Tate took me under his wing as if I were his son, and I watched him like a hawk. I survived on that bandstand by learning from Buddy. He was an extremely kind, generous and warm man, and he went out of his way to take care of me. I will never be able to thank him enough.