RIP Jay Flippin. My heart is heavy today, as weve lost a fine musician, educator and mind. When I was to enter my 3rd year of college at Ohio State, I was burnt out, tired, insecure—yet, somehow still armed with a desire to create and raise the level of my raw, shapeless craft. Jay caught me at this (one of my many) musical crossroad and gently guided me to my own lane at such a pivotal time. Equally happy to discuss Hindemith as was talking Charlie Parker or Jerry Lee Lewis—simply put, Jay knew a lot about a lot of stuff. And he loved to share it. Wed practice sight-reading symphonies for four hands, play some be-bop and then promptly go a greasy spoon across the street in Morehead, KY to discuss Major League baseball, the washout from Iran-Contra gate, gig road stories/nightmares, Dick Cavett, religion, MLK, Nixon, Bush, Booker T and Teddy Roosevelt. My kinda guy. He could not believe my love for the Hammond Organ—this, at a time when most of the musos my age were salivating over the latest digital synths. I guess he saw a throwback. I saw a comrade. He helped me get a scholarship, and immediately put me to work subbing for him on his (he was a working musician, as well) many, many gig double-bookings—CLIENT: uh, are you Jay Flippin? ME: uh, yes. Yes, I am. Welcome to Showbiz 101, son. I have never returned to Morehead—always a gig to go to...he understood—but we certainly remained in touch as we both rode the rails of a business that we had no business making a living in. A well-adjusted eccentric. My kinda guy. Professor Flippin, thanks for your belief in me. Jay, thanks for keeping it real. So long, my friend. jk
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 16:42:13 +0000