Thanks so much for posting this and all the other interviews. Paul was a wonderful, wonderful cat and of course a monster player! He and I shared great laughs on a few occasions. Ron Mills Glenn Miller Orch.
I'm just getting into (looking at) these jazz archive interviews, and good, bad, or indifferent they're great. Some of the interviewees -- all well known in the jazz world -- are happy like Paul Smith and some are bitter (names withheld) about the public, making money, and trends in music. What a pleasure it is to be reminded that as I enter old age I was lucky enough to see many of these cats play (or sing) live at festivals, clubs, and a few private homes in southern California. As of the end of 2021 there are 425 interviews 99.9% conducted by Monk and I hope to watch half of them in the next year or so.
I am so lucky I met Paul somewhere in Hollywood in the sixties and then again in the seventies when he played at the Velvet Turtle in Redondo Beach. He played solo and could say Hi and talk to you while ripping off an incredible riff. I would see him two, three maybe four nights a week for about an hour. Notice how large his hands were. I always wondered how they didn't run into each other. What a great man and as Steve Allen said, I paraphrase, "There are three great jazz pianists, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson and Paul Smith, and not necessarily in that order" Paul was the one most people didn't know about. I'm proud he knew me by name.
Still kicking myself that I did not get with him, I listened to him a lot during high school. And I just read that he play the flute solo on California Dreamin', and that it was an alto flute!
@@filliusjazzarchive I met him when I was 16 at the Lighthouse in 1953. I went there the first time in late 1952 and met shorty, Shelly, Jimmy, Milt, Bob and Howard. They called me "the kid" and I was given free reign of the club including the upstairs band room. One time Bud and Bob were practicing with the flute and oboe before they took it on stage. I met them all. I remet Bud here in Tucson about 8 months before he died and had lunch at his house and at a Mexican restaurant. He was something else.
Thanks so much for posting this and all the other interviews. Paul was a wonderful, wonderful cat and of course a monster player! He and I shared great laughs on a few occasions.
Ron Mills
Glenn Miller Orch.
rmo52 Hi Ron, thank you for sharing those nice words about Paul Smith! It would be wonderful to speak with you about those stories!
I'm just getting into (looking at) these jazz archive interviews, and good, bad, or indifferent they're great. Some of the interviewees -- all well known in the jazz world -- are happy like Paul Smith and some are bitter (names withheld) about the public, making money, and trends in music. What a pleasure it is to be reminded that as I enter old age I was lucky enough to see many of these cats play (or sing) live at festivals, clubs, and a few private homes in southern California. As of the end of 2021 there are 425 interviews 99.9% conducted by Monk and I hope to watch half of them in the next year or so.
this guy Paul Smith is America, and GOD Bless America!!!!
I am so lucky I met Paul somewhere in Hollywood in the sixties and then again in the seventies when he played at the Velvet Turtle in Redondo Beach. He played solo and could say Hi and talk to you while ripping off an incredible riff. I would see him two, three maybe four nights a week for about an hour. Notice how large his hands were. I always wondered how they didn't run into each other. What a great man and as Steve Allen said, I paraphrase, "There are three great jazz pianists, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson and Paul Smith, and not necessarily in that order" Paul was the one most people didn't know about. I'm proud he knew me by name.
Thanks for the anecdote. And you are correct, when we shook hands mine disappeared. Monk
It's really cool you replied, thanks. Did you ever interview Bud Shank?@@filliusjazzarchive
Still kicking myself that I did not get with him, I listened to him a lot during high school. And I just read that he play the flute solo on California Dreamin', and that it was an alto flute!
@@filliusjazzarchive I met him when I was 16 at the Lighthouse in 1953. I went there the first time in late 1952 and met shorty, Shelly, Jimmy, Milt, Bob and Howard. They called me "the kid" and I was given free reign of the club including the upstairs band room. One time Bud and Bob were practicing with the flute and oboe before they took it on stage. I met them all. I remet Bud here in Tucson about 8 months before he died and had lunch at his house and at a Mexican restaurant. He was something else.