IndependentNEPA.com 45
He’d done alright once he got off the sauce.Got steady work in
the oil fields of Oklahomaand had risen up in the ranks. He sent
moneyhome for a while, but never heard a word fromJulie, despite
his asking about their daughterevery time he wrote. The last time
was aboutfour years ago, and the letter was returned tohim with an
official-looking stamp on it–“Addressee Unknown.”
He retired a year ago with a pretty goodpension. He never spent
much money and hefigured he could get by alright. But he got
boredand, on a whim, decided to go on the road andsee a little of
the country. Inevitably, he foundhimself back home, and in Vinyl
Dreams, the oldrecord shop where he encountered an oldfriend– Bix
Beiderbecke.
The album was In A Mist and featured suchfavorites as “Royal
Garden Blues”, “Jazz MeBlue”, and, best of all,“Clementine.” Cal
hadgrown up listening to this music and regrettedthat he had never
danced to Bix with his babygirl, Clementine.
He paid for the album, poured himself a cupof the free coffee,
and sat down to read the linernotes. After a few moments he noticed
a womanof perhaps 30 years of age at the cash register,and the
young man who waited on her said, loudenough for him to
overhear,“It’s not often I sell aBix, but this is the second one
today.”He pointedout Cal to the young woman and, when
thetransaction had been completed, she came overto him and asked if
he minded if she sat down.He said,“Anyone who likes Bix is a friend
ofmine.”She smiled and sat down.
“Well, my mom played him a lot toward theend, but this one
wasn’t in her collection–which is now my collection.”
They chatted for a few minutes about theirfavorite Bix tracks
until a young man stuck hishead in the door and shouted,“Hey
beautiful,c’mon or we’re gonna miss the beginning ofthe movie!”
She shouted back,“Hey handsome, comeover here and meet my new
friend!”
“Can’t. I’m double-parked!”
She said her goodbye to Cal and headedfor the door, where the
young man urged herto hurry.
“Hurry up, Clemmie, we’re gonna be late!”And they were out the
door before Cal hadtime to react.“Clemmie!”
He ran to the door, but they had already spedaway. Cal went over
to the young man behindthe counter and asked about her, but he
hadlittle information.
“She comes in now and then, doesn’t alwaysbuy. Don’t know
anything about her, really.Why do you ask?”
Cal hesitated for only a moment, then replied,“No reason,
really. I thought I might know her.But how could I? I’ve been away
for so long.”
CREATIVITY | CULTURE | CHANGE
Bix Beiderbecke was one of the greatest jazz musicians of the
1920s. His beautiful tone on the cornet made him alegend among
musicians during his life. Few could equal his purity of tone and
his unique method of expression.Bix died in 1931 at the age of 28.
Learn more about this phenomenal artist at:
www.bixbeiderbecke.com.