RUFFIN: Now, a Jazz Moment

In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning up, under

NEA JAZZ MASTER LORRAINE GORDON RECOUNTS A TYPICAL DAY MANAGING THE FAMED CLUB, THE VILLAGE VANGUARD.

GORDON: I go to the club by 2:30, 3:00. 3:00 is when the club opens for the day for us. So there I am. And the phones ring, the phones, the phones. No wonder I'm deaf because all I do is answer telephones. I don't have to do that, I could hire someone to answer the phones, but it's not the same because I like to hear what people have to say on the other end. I encourage them or I discourage them. Musicians come down to rehearse if it's a Tuesday night they want to come down.

Anyways, I leave the club I would generally say around 6:00. And if nobody's there, I just lock it up ‘cause someone comes at 7:00. And I come home. Course I come home ‘cause I have to take a little nap because I gotta go back at night. 9:00 is the first show. I go for my reward to hear the music. If I like what I'm hearing, I'm happy.

Once you get down those stairs, you're in heaven. You're away from the world, you're in your womb. It's lovely.

In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning up, hot, under

THIS JAZZ MOMENT WITH JAZZ ADVOCATE LORRAINE GORDON WAS PRODUCED BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.

Excerpt of "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning” composed by David Mann and performed by Fred Herschfrom his album, Alone at the Vanguard, used by permission of Palmetto Records and used by permission of MPL Communications.