Odrich I Remember Buddy: A Remembrance of Buddy Defranco

I remember Buddy. I first met him when he was playing with the George Shearing quintet at the Clique Club, (soon to become Birdland), in New York. As a youngster, I had been following in my father's footsteps, studying cello for several years but found the sound of the clarinet irresistible. Dad was a studio musician "doubler", with several horns always accessible in our home. One day he found me playing his clarinet, working hard while taking off Buddy's solo on the Metronome All-Star recording of Perdido. He told me whatever it was I was doing reminded him of this young clarinetist who was an occasional guest star on a radio show my father played. At Buddy's next appearance on the show Dad spoke with him and I soon went to the Clique Club to hear him play. It was with mixed emotions, when after the first set, I went backstage and introduced myself. I was appropriately congratulatory, (of course, he blew me away)...but expressed my disappointment at my not being the first bebop clarinetist. I clearly possessed the rich fantasy life of a naïve young teenager who had not yet even learned the names or correct fingerings for the notes on this new instrument on which he was forever playing Buddy's Perdido solo. As a tribute to Buddy and an indication of the kind of man he was, his answer was a gentle: "Don't be silly, there is plenty of room for another bebop clarinetist. I'll help you if you like." That started it. I had a lesson very time he came to New York. We became fast friends and got together whenever he was in town. He was my mentor and role model in music and in life for all the years to follow. I could not have chosen better. He taught me how to play musically as a jazz clarinetist and started me off on my path. He was a clean living, kind man, who always had a smile and good things to say about others in his own gentle way. He was the major influence in my life. These ballads are dedicated to him. I shall always remember Buddy.