Final One

One last jazz story:

Back in the early 1980’s, Dizzy Gillespie played a concert on Yale’s campus. Thomas Duffy, who now runs all of Yale University’s bands, and who previously served as Dean of the Yale School of Music, was then a young professor. And, at the time, he was teaching an undergrad class on jazz. So, after the concert, he approached Dizzy.

“Mr. Gillespie! Mr. Gillespie!” he said. “I know you’re very busy, but I’m teaching a jazz class tomorrow, and I wanted to see if there was any way you might be willing to come by to talk to the students. I’m sure it would mean so much to them.”

“Sure,” said Dizzy. “What time the class?”

“Ten o’clock,” Duffy replied.

To which Dizzy responded, “Ten o’clock? In the morning? Sheeeeeit. I ain’t even finished throwing up by then.”