Did you start to learn Thelonious Monks compositions at that time, and Bud Powells compositions?
Bud Powell’s, but not Thelonious’. I didn’t start learning Thelonious’ compositions until after I came out of the Army at the end of 1953. Monk came to Chicago. I wasn’t working then, and was at home, looking at television or something, when either Wilbur Ware or Wilbur Campbell called and said, “Johnny, come on over to the Beehive. Thelonious is in town, and we need a saxophone player.” So I immediately put on some clothes and ran over there, and jumped right into Monk’s music. No rehearsals. That must have been exciting.
