Wynton Marsalis

Now in 6th grade and middle school, Cayla is in the school band, and has chosen to play the trumpet. As a good parent, I went down and signed up to rent a nice shiny new trumpet for $26.95 a month. She practices every day, and even with her door shut, it sounds like something is bellowing in pain. I have patiently encouraged her and suffered in silence. That all changed last Wednesday night, September 13, 2006. I became my daughter's greatest champion.

My boss and I were invited to attend the Wynton Marsalis private dinner and concert, taking place in the famed Rainbow Room on the 64th floor of the Rockefeller Center. Tickets were $400 each, so this was quite a treat. After the hourlong dinner, Mr. Marsalis took the stage with about 5 others, and for the next 40 minutes, thoroughly entertained and uplifted. I forgot how truly joyous jazz can be...and the humor. It was great.

After the show, I introduced myself to his manager, who had been sitting at our table of 10 (but I had not had the chance to speak to him during dinner). I asked if Marsalis would mind if I asked him for an autograph...that my daughter was just learning trumpet and she'd be inspired by some encouragement. He told me that Marsalis loves to sign autographs for kids, and then asked me what city I lived in. When I told him San Diego, he told me that they would be at the CA Center for the Arts in Escondido in October! I told him that we'd definitely be there...at which point he whipped out his business card, wrote a woman's name on the back, and said, "Call ___ and tell her you're coming - have your daughter bring her trumpet and we'll get her some time with Wynton."

I think I gushed and profusely thanked him, shook his hand, and wandered dazed off to find Marsalis. He was in the green room taking pictures with the sponsors, so when there was a lull, I headed over, introduced myself once again, thanked him for an amazing concert, and asked him for an autograph for Cayla. I told him that we'd come and see him when he came out to San Diego...and get ready...he says to me, the world famous jazz trumpet player Wynton Marsalis says to me, "Have Cayla prepare something for me, and bring her trumpet, and I'll give her some tips."

It's one thing for a manager to "chat pure fart" as they say in Jamaica, but completely different for a world class musician to echo said manager, and follow up with how important it is for children to learn music and how he loves to work with youngsters. Unbelievable.

October 28, 2006. We'll be there, Mr. Marsalis, we'll be there.