Track 10: Green Dolphin Street
I’ve known about this song since I was a kid getting into jazz. It didn’t really attract my attention in any particular way. It has just always been there. There have been a couple of pivotal friends that have indirectly encouraged me to make this song mine.
Who’s Responsible: John Clayton
Instrument: Bass
The Connection: John has been a mentor of mine for many years. He has opened doors for me… probably more than I even know. He is the consummate educator, composer, arranger, and encourager of young talent. He gave me an assignment years ago to transcribe Oscar Peterson’s solo on this song. I didn’t think so much about it at the time, but the seed was certainly planted.
Who’s Responsible: Sara Leib
Instrument: Vocal
The Connection: I first met Sara when she came back to Los Angeles after she was done with her education in Boston. I was her bass player. Later, she was a student of mine at USC. She’s a great talent. We pushed each other and it was fun. She’s now doing her own thing in Los Angeles and I’m so proud of her. It was in a combo rehearsal that we started playing around with harmonics and sounds that would work with this song. I couldn’t stop playing the song after that rehearsal.