A father’s music, jazz at 62 Kaori Takamatsu

   When I was still living back at the house, on lazy holiday mornings, the sound of trombones would suddenly erupt from the lower floors. As regular as an alarm clock,

Dad was practicing his music.

 

I’d be listening for tone and phrasing and then there would be a blaring burst of sound that literally knocked me out of bed. I’d find myself standing there without knowing how or why.

 

My father started playing the trombone at the age of 55. He had already taught himself to play the flute and gotten to performance level. When he was 53 he became a member of a jazz band that did regular live performances. But to start a new instrument, and at the age of 55... He said he wanted to play trombone at his band’s live concerts.

Really?!...great!!!

 

At live performances my father was the guy who was enjoying himself more than anybody. When he played, he beamed. They started calling him Smiley Takamatsu and the name still hasn’t quit.

 

It’s just exactly the smiling face that is in this Oyako photograph, right down to the double chin.

I have this little dream now,

“Dad, sometime I want to produce one of your live shows”

I guess it’s not going to happen right away, but let’s do it before “Dad” moves on to “Gramps”: promise me!

Comments

[dahuletam]

It sounds like that when you are looking