25th
Miles Away, by Brandon Tucker / Hill Street Jazz Club
Thank you for supporting our live jazz events—contributing your funds as well as delicious things for the table and bar—and for coming to enjoy the Manhattan Beach Jazz Quartet. We are delighted and heartened to hear excellent jazz being performed by these young and very talented musicians.
I am including below the complete text of Brandon Tucker’s memories of our friend Alex Miles, which Brandon wrote and sent from Afghanistan. Please start again at the beginning and read it through. It’s a lovely and fitting tribute.
The music Lawrence played: Alex’s jazz theme: Jimmy Smith, The Sermon. The memorial song: Shirley Horn, Here’s to Life.
We enjoyed having Helene Miles play a jazz number on the keyboard, and hope she will come over again and perform for us. Helene, age 12, is one of Alex Miles’ granddaughters. Grandpa Alex was very proud of her musical skills—we can see why!
Venice artist Jean Edelstein made a series of sketches of the musicians during their performance. I will send a link to you, later, so you can enjoy her work, too.
Please tell other jazz lovers you know to send an email request to be put on our invitation list: jazz@hillstreetstudios.co m
We would love to have any photos or videos you made at the party, so we can post them on the event website: http://hillstreetstudios.pingg.com/Jan2010LiveJazz. I believe you can post them yourself using Flickr, at the bottom of the webpage—or get them to us and we will figure it out. Thanks!
Thank you for making our jazz nights fun and festive—full of memories, good food, interesting conversations and great music! Couldn’t do it without you.
Betty & Lawrence
betty@hillstreetstudios.c om
For invite list:
jazz@hillstreetstudios.co m
___
——-Original Message——-
From: Brandon Tucker moab58@hotmail.com
To: Lawrence Manning lawrence@hillstreetstudio s.com
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:55:17 -0800
Subject: Here is something
Hey Lawrence,
This is what i came up with. Thank you for pushing me. I should have written something for our friend Alex a long time ago.
Take Care and God Bless
Your Friend and Brother
Brandon Tucker
P.S. Please send photos from the event. I wish i could be there, brother. Tell everyone of the Hill Street crew I said hello and let them know that I miss them dearly.
____
Miles Away
by Brandon Tucker
Miles away is my friend Alex, but the beautiful memories of his Life will always remain with me.
Truly am I grateful God has blessed me with the presence of Alex Miles.
His charm and charisma went unparalleled amongst the “Hill Street” crew and immediately his respect was gained by me. Times the crew got together, whether it be a Friday night at the museum for some after-work jazz, or a random Thursday dining at Sangria’s to catch an hour or two of Lorca [Hart], or over the turn-table teaching Lawrence about the essence of jazz, Alex’s effervescent personality and fascinating stories kept me always wanting to stay just an extra few minutes longer. His knowledge of musicians, composers, and arrangers was impeccable.
What intrigued many of us was his gift to recognize an artist within a song from only listening to a few phrases from their instrument. In fact, one of my early memories of Alex is when he recognized organist Jimmy Smith on a piece Lawrence played on the table; he’d only heard but a few keys on the organ.
Astonished by such respect and immersion of the art of jazz, I immediately found myself inquiring about his connection to music and the stories which followed.
“Who is Alex Miles?” I asked myself.
When looking back on the numerous conversations Alex and I had, it did not take long to realize that I was speaking to a modern “Renaissance Man.” He wasn’t only a father, or a grandfather; he was a teacher, a musician, a lover of music, a world traveler, but most important of all he was a man of faith. Miles away, in Heaven, is my friend Alex.
Until then, when the sun shall set on my years, shall we meet again. No more tears, no more pain, and never ending joy and good jazz. Goodbye Alex, rest in peace, and thank you for choosing me to enjoy your Life with you.
Your Friend and brother in Christ,
Brandon Wayne Tucker
