Saturday, August 18, 2012

Willie "The Lion" Smith and His "Son"


"We were on tour together. Willie opened the concerts playing solo piano, then the quartet went on. In Rotterdam we were backstage doing a television interview. When I signaled Willie that it was time for him to go on stage, he turned from the camera and walked towards me. But the commentator stopped him and asked, "Isn't it true, Mr. Willie 'the Lion' Smith, that no white man can play jazz? " Willie just kept coming towards me, then turned to the commentator, and said, "I want you to meet my son." - Dave Brubeck