Photography and Drummer Jack DeJohnette

Dear Photographers: How to Expand Your Creativity

Take Uber, Lift, or Waymo. You get to photograph amazing scenery whizzing by the window while someone else does the driving. 

Carnochan Wins #1 Reader Award

Gitta Carnochan comments on my blog posts almost every time. So at a recent dinner, we awarded her this #1 Oscar trophy for her loyalty.  She was moved to tears and thanked her family and her 9th grade drama teacher.

Jazz Drummer Jack DeJohnette Dead at 83

I photographed  Jack DeJohnette at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 2004. Then in 2012 I met him at a fundraiser and gave him the photo.  See the story below. 

As a “stringer” for several Bay Area newspapers in 2004, I scored a backstage pass to photograph Monterey Jazz Festival performers. My favorite shot of that concert was of Jack DeJohnette – a drummer for Miles Davis, 1969-1972. Shot from just 10 feet away, facing the audience, I loved his array of small cymbals.

Eight years later DeJohnette was being honored at Monterey. I printed a copy of this photo in the hopes of presenting it to him at the “invitation only” fund raiser on Thursday evening before the concert.

A huge jazz fan and resident of Carmel, Clint Eastwood is on the MJF Board and attends all their events. Sure enough, there he was at the fund raiser. That August he had delivered the controversial “empty chair” keynote at the Republican convention. I had to talk to him about that speech. I introduced myself and asked how he came up with the empty chair idea. He said, “I made it up backstage just before I went on.” Talk about improv.

At the dinner, DeJohnette was sitting next to Eastwood. I took my 11X14, matted photo and presented to him. He acknowledged me and excitedly showed it to Eastwood, explaining about the cymbals.

As I knelt next to DeJohnette, I thought, “What a hell of an evening. I got to meet Clint Eastwood and one of Miles Davis’ drummers.” Unforgettable. Amazing where photography can take you.