NOW, A JAZZ MOMENT...

MUSIC: Double Feature  (Sonny Rollins)

Peter Keepnews:  I was 10 years old, I believe. My father, I think was taking me clothes shopping, maybe. We were walking along Upper Broadway and I saw out of the corner of my eye...a guy with a rolled up newspaper was sneaking up in back of my father to hit him on the head and I was really scared because I thought some random guy on the street was about to attack him. It turned out to be Miles Davis.

PETER KEEPNEWS DID NOT HAVE AN ORDINARY CHILDHOOD.  HIS FATHER, NEA JAZZ MASTER ORRIN KEEPNEWS, KEPT COMPANY WITH SOME OF THE GREATEST JAZZ LUMINARIES IN HISTORY ? MILES DAVIS, SONNY ROLLINS, THELONIOUS MONK, AND CANNONBALL ADDERLY, AMONG OTHERS. ORRIN KEEPNEWS IS ONE OF THE MOST NOTED RECORD PRODUCERS IN THE BUSINESS.

Peter Keepnews:  I think the secret, or one of the secrets, of my father?s success is that he really knows how to make musicians feel comfortable and he knows how to create an atmosphere where there?s nothing, or almost nothing, standing in the way of their creativity.  He creates an atmosphere in the studio that?s almost like a nightclub, but maybe it?s even a little bit more like somebody?s living room. It?s almost like he?s throwing a party and he?s invited some friends to bring their instruments.  That?s an oversimplification, but I think musicians are comfortable with him because they know that he?s not some suit from the record company.  He?s also not some kid who thinks he has the formula for making a hit.  He?s always been motivated by his love of the music, his appreciation of the music, and his desire to get the music out to the people in as pure a form as possible.

MUSIC: up for punctuation, then fades under and out

THIS JAZZ MOMENT WITH PETER KEEPNEWS ON HIS FATHER, PRODUCER ORRIN KEEPNEWS, WAS CREATED BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.  I?M CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE.