I'm sure that none of us will forget the first time we saw Maynard perform and recall it as a magical experience. For me it was back in 1976 at Lake Compounce in Bristol, Ct. which has quite an interesting history in itself (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Compounce) that has continued to be eery and interesting even since then with happenings due to what some say are related to an old native American curse. The then owner, Stretch Norton was a big band lover and hosted many great performers like Maynard and Stan Kenton. Walking into that place felt like taking a trip back in time.

Combining the spiritual aura of that venue with seeing Maynard for the first time when he IMHO was in his prime with Mark, Noday, Mosello, and Tooley in the section was an experience that words simply can not describe. In my mind it is the greatest performance of any kind that I have ever seen in my life. Hearing Doc Severinsen's Brass Roots album when in middle school might have been the first event to get me hooked on playing the trumpet, but Maynard's '76 concert certainly reinforced it in spades. That was it.

And Maynard has done the same thing for millions of others, inspiring them to play music and reach for the highest heights possible. That's one of the things for which we are all most fortunate--Maynard's accessibility and approachability, his tradition of staying around for those passionate enough to wait in order to get a handshake, an autograph, a few words, and a brief hang with some of the guys on the band. And his willingness to do performances and clinics at high schools where youngsters can get to know him better and benefit from his teachings--that was a real gift.

I think that one of the best ways that all of us could honor Maynard would be to do all that we possibly can to reverse this trend of declining support of music education in public schools and of the public's appreciation of live music in general. That would be the greatest tribute anyone could pay him.

We were all blessed to have known and heard Maynard, but Ed you're right, you are extremely lucky and a deserving guy. You must have had some good karma left over from a past life or somethin'.

I hope that some day soon that there will be an annual event where all of the people whom Maynard touched so profoundly can hang out and celebrate Maynard's contributions and effects on our lives, either on August 23rd or May 4th.