“Five years later it was still Indiana.”

Abstract

When I played my first job with Louis after being out of the band for so long I asked him, “What are you going to open up with Pops?” “Back home again in Indiana” he said. Five years later it was still Indiana. Nothing had changed too much; the front line was just as good but the rhythm section wasn’t as good by a long stroke. I didn’t like the rhythm section so much on account of the new drummer Danny Barcelona. Billy Kyle was his old spirited self and Mort Herbert, the new bass player, was all right but Danny was the one. He was flashy, he could excite the people because he was so small and they thought he was a little boy. He was about forty years old at the time I came back but those kind of people just don’t mature; they don’t get old looking. I couldn’t see anything special about his playing but I just didn’t pay much attention. He was a real nice guy though. Trummy and Louis were as good as ever and it felt like old times to be back playing with them again.