I had the good fortune to interview Dizzy Gillespie during his last engagement at the Blue Note in NYC. It was an extended, all-star affair to celebrate his 75th birthday. When I asked him who he had been playing with, he said, “Oh man, Bob Cranshaw!”
Thanks for this piece on Bob! I can't add anything that others haven't said, but I can tell you this story: I had a quartet I called The Special Band with Bob, Vic Juris, and Steve Johns on drums. We were rehearsing for an upcoming gig in Hartford, which is about a 3 hour drive from NYC. Bob didn't drive. Normally it would have been a drag for the Jersey guys to have to detour out of the way to pick someone up in the city. (I was living in PA at the time so I couldn't do it.) Vic and Steve started arguing about who would pick up Bob! The conversation was something like "Well Vic, I'm closer so I should pick him up...."
"Yeah Steve, but I actually have to do something in town so it's actually easier for ME to pick him up....". It was hysterical listening to them fight over who would get to hear Bob's stories on the way to and from Hartford, without admitting it.
I had the good fortune to interview Dizzy Gillespie during his last engagement at the Blue Note in NYC. It was an extended, all-star affair to celebrate his 75th birthday. When I asked him who he had been playing with, he said, “Oh man, Bob Cranshaw!”
Thanks Bret! I needed this dose of brightness today!
Great piece on a great cat.
Great profile
Incredible tribute. Thank you
Thanks for this piece on Bob! I can't add anything that others haven't said, but I can tell you this story: I had a quartet I called The Special Band with Bob, Vic Juris, and Steve Johns on drums. We were rehearsing for an upcoming gig in Hartford, which is about a 3 hour drive from NYC. Bob didn't drive. Normally it would have been a drag for the Jersey guys to have to detour out of the way to pick someone up in the city. (I was living in PA at the time so I couldn't do it.) Vic and Steve started arguing about who would pick up Bob! The conversation was something like "Well Vic, I'm closer so I should pick him up...."
"Yeah Steve, but I actually have to do something in town so it's actually easier for ME to pick him up....". It was hysterical listening to them fight over who would get to hear Bob's stories on the way to and from Hartford, without admitting it.
Thanks for introducing me to another jazz great.