To Vonski

This story is not unique.

I had just graduated high school. We thought our school was pretty hip, since we had an extra-cirruclar Jazz band. No other schools in our district had one. A few people took interest in me and encouraged me. Most notably Georgia Boyer, my Mother's best friend. For my graduation, Aunt Georgia offered to take me on a tour of Chicago Jazz clubs. Georgia knew where I could get in and not be hassled about my age, so long as I didn't try to order a beer, or do anything stupid.

One of the places we went was Andy's. I liked it there and continued to come back on my own that summer. You couldn't hang out at Andy's long and not meet Von Freeman.

Von insisted that I sit in. I was so green, I had the turn-around for Bb blues written across my thumb as a cheat sheet. I didn't even know my way through a blues form yet, but Von had me get up there. I had never played with anyone past the group of cats in my high school band.

This story is not unique.

Many years have passed, but Von never said a harsh word. Yet that's not the same thing as just being encouraging just to boost someone's self-esteem. I should have had a ride cymbal thrown at me those early years, but that never happened. As months and years rolled by, Von would say "Yeah baby, you're growing! I can hear it".

Von became very important to me. Often, we'd have dinner at Gold coast hot dogs a few doors down from Andy's after the set, and I'd happily take him home to the south side, before driving out to Elmhurst, or worse, Naperville.

I never made it to the Apartment, I regret never doing that. However, I've played with Vonski more times than I can count. I never got a check to do it, but wouldn't change it.

There are two ways of inviting cats to sit in and jam. One way was the way Vonski did it. Most people don't make it about inclusion and passing knowledge on the bandstand. Von was always able to make everyone welcome. Even a green suburban white kid, who had no idea who he was about to play with a guy who turned down Miles Davis.

This story is not unique.

The last time I saw Von was after a set at Millennium Park. I picked up his latest side, and he signed it "With Love, Vonski". I'm sure that's not unique either. Von probably signed every disc that way, it's who he was.

This story is not unique. Earl LaVon Freeman was.

With Love,

Matt