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Pay It Forward

This last week I had the chance to see one of my all-time favorite artists ever perform, the incredible jazz vocalist/pianist Diana Krall. I remember being in grade school as a young budding musician and I would watch her DVD's on rotation continuously. I was floored by her performance, and that of her band. Joe Lovano on saxophone, Anthony Wilson on guitar, Kareem Riggins on drums, and John Clayton on bass. All talented musicians, but I want to take a minute to talk about John. He was also the bassist on those DVD's I watched as a kid and I was enamored by his skills on the bass, and his teaming with Jeff Hamilton on drums, another hero of mine. I would watch these masters perform on my TV and imagine how amazing it would be to perform with those great players.

Fast-forward, I am in college studying jazz music. I have a scholarship and am working extremely hard to become the best jazz drummer I can be. By some misfortune, the adjunct professor at the college that taught me drums could no longer work at the university. That placed me in a weird position without a teacher to guide my growth. One of the professors at my school who was not a drummer, but felt he understood enough to teach me some new concepts, decided to take me on for a semester. It started slowly, but over the months of study with this individual I started to second guess my ability and my lessons we pure torture. Despite my efforts to grow and do as I was taught, that professor went on to belittle my abilities, even stating that I would never succeed as jazz drummer, and likely not as a musician at all. I was at the verge of stopping music for good. Then, I heard about an opportunity to audition and perform with the Lionel Hampton Big Band. I auditioned and made it. Little did I know, but I was then asked to do some prep work a month before the gig and do a weekend mentorship with John Clayton! I could not believe it!! When I got the chance to first meet him that weekend, I was floored. Not only was I going to meet one of my heroes, BUT GET TO PLAY WITH HIM!?

We worked through some material over the weekend and got to know each other as well, planting the seeds of our friendship. He asked me about my college experience and I told him some of what I had encountered. He told me some touching things about my playing and ability that resonate in me to this day, in a way that no one can take away. He also told me that there was so much negativity in the world, why pay an educator for more that is not needed. After I returned from that weekend with John, I gave the college back their scholarship and dropped my lessons and groups associated with that teacher. I got a lot of backlash from other professors, telling me I would never "make it" if I went on this route. But I went forward, never looking back but only to remember the lessons learned, good and bad.

This is not a story about how college is damaging, or even hating on a bitter professor that for some reason needed to attack me. I forgive him and I am glad for the experience. I share this story so as we work with people in life, we can be mindful of our fingerprint on others. I try and be like John, building others up, finding potential, and not adding to the negativity. I am not the biggest or best musician, I am not perfect. However, I tell anyone reading this that what you have to offer and work towards has value, and never let the haters have more power over you than you deserve.

After the Diana Krall show, I went back stage and talked with John a bit. Even though we don't hang out all the time, I can still see and feel that he believes in me.

Be like John; build, don't destroy!

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