NYC Memories- Shout out to the Early Days: Monte Croft
Back when I first moved to NYC, there were a couple point of entry venues into the jazz scene. One of them was the club Visiones at 125 MacDougal St. in the heart of the Village. They had a knowledgeable musician who booked there-Gust Tsilis. And they were open to new acts. Plus it was a good place to hear music. Maria Schneider's big band got their start with a Monday night residency there. Pretty much every band I played with worked there at some point.
My first gig under my own name at Visiones must have been about 1988. I had been in NY maybe around a year. It was before I got the gig with Betty Carter and it was a big deal. I had a quartet, I believe it was with Troy Davis on drums and Wayne Robers on bass, and I hired Monte Croft to play vibes with me.
A year or so later Monte and I both wound up getting our first record deals. His on Columbia, mine with my group Current Events on Verve/Forecast.
The reason I've never forgotten this gig, is because Monte showed up without any music. Not because he had forgotten it. But because he had memorized my book. Let me repeat that. We had never played together. This gig couldn't have paid more than $75.00 and he memorized my 2 sets worth of music- originals, arrangements what have you. I hadn't even done that!.
To this day, every aspiring young musician in any class I've taught has heard me tell this story. You want to make an impression on someone? Care. Care beyond what is reasonable. They will never forget it. Guaranteed!
Thank you Monte for that gift, and for providing me an example I'm still trying to live up to.
