You boys been up the hill?

Back in the late 70's, after graduating from High School, The Orange Room was my solitude. It was a time of new beginnings. My girlfriend of the past 3 1/2 years had moved and married, and I was now in a new environment. A new group of people from different high schools and different backgrounds. Illinois Central College. I was pretty well liked among my peers at Limestone... I had a band and was respected. But now what? I was entering a much different scene. I contemplated my new life in the Orange Room!

Once I became accustomed to the circular layout of the classrooms and sat in a few classes, I began to enjoy this new life at College. I quickly met new friends and loved to hang out in the cafeteria between classes. I'm not sure if ICC is as cool as it was back in 1977, but back then, huge Video Tape machines were constantly playing underground movies and concerts. I remember the latest Fleetwood Mac concert being played often. I was taken with Linsey Buckinghams Blue Satin robe he wore. So much so that I had my Grandmother Make me a similar one.

I eventually tried out for Chamber Singers and ICC Jazz band which I passed!!! I loved Jazz band and met many cool cats in the music program. Many are still close friends. Marc Keefer, Roger Baysinger to name a few. Never a reader, I had to listen to the chart a few times before I could find a part to play. We always had a better guitar player than me who could read but I was a pretty good rhythm player with a good sense of timing. I always enjoyed the camaraderie between musicians and actually learned a lot from them. Defiantly broaden my musical pallet.

The other guy I really admired was Rich Richardson, the ICC JAZZ BAND director. He was a real cat!!! He had played in Germany with some top shelf musicians and was the real deal. He taught to earn a living but he was really most happy playing Jazz.

At ICC, There was a road that winded down closer to the Music Department and we had to drive our cars down there to unload our amplifiers, guitars and such. Winding up further from the parking lot was a hill that led to the woods. It was in these woods that many of us musicians would have a doobie to catch the right mood. To help get the attitude straight. To find the groove. To tune into the jam. All that JAZZ!!!

One day after lunch, and after all the gear was set up in the band rehearsal room, under the sign that warned ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING, Rich began to kick off the first chart...filterless cigarette dangling from his lips. He counted us off....Ah one...ah two...ah three...and with that, the band including Roger Baysinger on bass and me on guitar, began to run down this particular jazz chart. Within seconds, Rich was yelling STOP, STOP, STOP...waiving his hands and giving us that half smile and said "lets try that again"!!! Ah one , ah two,,ah three..again, we tore into the chart feeling pleased that we had overcome the quirkiness of the first attempt. STOP!!!! STOP!!! again, waiving his arms and this time there was no smile.

Now Rich was a Musician, heart and soul. Marijuania was part of the lifestyle and he certainly knew of the HILL and what went on there. I'm certain we smoked with him once there. On the third attempt to run down the chart, Rich waited a few seconds...put his butt in the ashtray and counted off again. " Ok band lets get this right" Ah one... ah two..ah three...we all felt like it was sounding MUCH better!!!! We were finally locked in and beginning to FLY!!!

STOP!!!! STOP!!!! STOP!!! arms waiving and now an accusing grin appeared on his face. He looked directly at us in the rhythm section and asked in front of the whole band..."Rhythm section? did you guys go up the hill before practice today or what?" We all sheepishly looked around at each other and began mumbling, ah no, did you? no! And we hadn't!!! He asked again, did you guys go up the hill before practice?" "no" we confidently responed as a group!!!!

Rich gave us a sly look back and said, " SOUNDS LIKE YOU SHOULD HAVE!!!!!" ah one...ah two...ah three!!!!!