Over the years, who have been the most influential teachers you’ve had?
Neil Slater who now runs the jazz department at North Texas was a mentor of mine in my early musical life. He was very encouraging and a good role model. He’s a great musician, composer, player and teacher. He was in there, on the scene in New York, writing and playing with all the great cats. He also was a dedicated educator, initially in the town next to where I grew up. I attended a little jazz workshop he taught after school to junior high kids. After that I went to Westchester Music and Arts Camp in 66 and 67 and Neil was there as well. He later taught at the University of Bridgeport and I was going to Hartt College in Hartford. I would come down and play with his big band. We’ve kept in touch over the years. He’s a good friend and a great musician. I got to hang with Jackie Mc Lean at Hart College of Music. Jackie was a beautiful human being, and someone who was right in the middle of jazz history, having played with Monk, Miles, Trane, and Charlie Parker. His inspiration and pre
