When we left off a few months ago Jake Masters ( have given him a name) was deciding if he should stay in New York or go back home to teach, play and make a decent living without the hassles of trying to get jazz gigs while playing club dates that he hated.
He thought long and hard about this. He called his old guitar teacher, as he always did, asking for advice. This time his teacher told him he had to decide on his own. The old adage “if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere…” doesn’t necessarily apply anymore.
Hanging up the phone, Jake was more confused than ever. He decided that he would try meditating and sleep on it. It was a restless night filled with all kinds of dreams. One of the dreams had him playing at the Vanguard with Mike Clark on drums, Herbie Hancock-piano, Wayne Shorter-tenor and soprano saxophones, and Dave Holland on bass. His dream-band playing his original music. He had such a feeling of joy and self-fulfillment. In another dream, he was old and gray and playing at a Bar Mitzvah. He was also married with two children, teaching eighth grade in a NYC school. He felt depressed and angry in the last dream before he woke up.
He woke up more confused than when he went to bed. Each day seemed longer and longer, he wasn’t practicing and he kept going deeper and deeper into depression. The only thing that ever worked was to practice himself out of depression, so he forced himself to practice even though it was difficult.
He decided to challenge himself. He went online and downloaded Beethoven’s Sonata No.8 for Violin and Piano. The Violin part was extremely hard, especially at that tempo. He went over it at a slower tempo, just to get the fingering and the feel of the music down. He thought he was a good reader, but this was another level.
It took him several weeks of practicing three hours a day to master it. Slowly he was coming out of his depression and feeling good about himself, but he still hadn’t made up his mind or what he should do. Stay in New York City or go home?
After a long practice session, he decided he would go home. It took him a month to get organized. He contacted his parents and told them he was moving back home and asked if he could stay with them till he found his own place. “Of course,” they said . He contacted a storage facility in his home town to rent a space. Then he hired a moving company to pick up his stuff on a certain date and deliver it to the storage facility and he would meet them there. He also contacted many of his friends to let them know he was moving back and to keep an eye opened for a place to live.
He started to contact schools and colleges about teaching,. He let them know he was moving back and he would be ready to start work in the fall semester. He gave his landlord notice and in a 2 weeks he would drive home to Liberty N.M ( a fictional town). As the time of departure got closer, Jake started to wonder if he made the right decision. He was nervous. This is a big step. The one good thing is that he would not have to move his car twice a week. In NYC there is alternate-side parking. Which means on certain days and times your car can’t be on the east or west side of the street because a garbage truck will come by to pick the garbage. If your cars isn’t moved you can get towed and get a ticket with a big fine..
Ending Number One On a bright Monday morning Jake packed his car with some clothes, two guitars and two amps and was about to leave, when two guys approached him. They had that typical New York- street look. Jeans, longhair, shirt out, sneakers and a bulge coming from their waistbands. They said to him, “we saw you put two guitar cases in your back seat. Can we take a look? Jake’s face had an astonished look upon it. No one ever asked to see his guitars before. He answered, “sorry guys I’m in a hurry and I gave to get on the road as soon as possible”. And he started to walk around to the front of the car on the driver’s side. The tall guy said,” I don’t think so “ and pulled out a gun. The other guy followed suite. Jake astonished by all this said, “guys, I am leaving NY and I need those guitars to make a living.” “Not anymore said one of them” and fired 2 shots into Jake’s chest. One bullet hit Jake in his heart. Jake fell dead to the street. The two guys took the guitars, Jay’s wallet, and ran off, never to be seen again.
All the TV News stations ran with the story. Jakes parents came to New York to identify and claim his body. How did the cops know Jakes name? Jake left the car’s registration in the glove department along with a medical info tag to call in case of an emergency.
Five days later there was a wake and memorial in Jakes honor. His parents spoke and so did some old friends and his guitar teacher who guided him most of his adult life. The next day he was buried in his home town’s cemetery. Because of the notoriety of Jake’s murder , his CD was selling like crazy on all outlets. It was getting radio play on all the jazz stations around the world. Within months Jake’s name became synonymous with jazz guitar. In life no one knew him, but in death he became a star. Ending Number Two On a bright Monday morning Jake packed his car with some clothes, two guitars and two amps and was about to leave, when two guys approached him. They had that typical New York- street look. Jeans, longhair, shirt out, and what looked like very expensive sneakers. “Hey man, are those guitars?” Jake smiled and said , “yes they are”. “Looks like you’re going on a trip”. Yes said Jake . “ Well safe journey” and they continued walking.
Jake got in the car and started the long drive home. It took him four days of driving 8 to10 hours a day only stopping for gas, bathroom and food. Along the way he found cheap motels to sleep in and would start early the next day. He reached Liberty and his parent’s home about 6 pm, New Mexico time.
Both parents were thrilled to see him and hugs and kisses went on for a few minutes. Jake’s mom made his favorite dinner. Home-cooked fried chicken with dumplings, gravy and peas. After dinner Jake and his father settled down in the living room. Mom brought over coffee and they spent most of the evening catching up.
The next day Jake met the moving van at the storage facility. Once everything was safely locked away. Jake went home. Later that evening he met up with some old friends at the local pub. He realized how much he missed them and it felt good to catch up. The next day he visited his old guitar teacher. This man was like a second father to him. They talked and an laughed a lot and after a while they picked up the guitars and jammed.
Jake was no longer the young student who fumbled through chord changes. He had developed into a strong improvisor and his teacher told him so. This made Jake very happy. Later, after exhausting their energy playing, the teacher took out two glasses and poured each of them a half-filled glass of Bourbon. Jake was surprised. This had never happened before. Jake thought to himself, ‘wow I guess I am finally an adult in his eyes.’
They talked about his plans and the teacher said. “if there is anything I can do for you, let me know.” He left that night feeling fulfilled and happy, but he knew the road ahead would be iffy.
The next day he got on the phone and called some of the colleges he had written to. All but one told him they couldn’t help him. The one college set up and interview for the following week. Jake prepared himself by getting all his transcripts, letters of recommendations, and his current CD. The following week Jake was invited into Dr. Raymond Blake’s office for his interview. Dr. Blake carefully looked over Jake’s transcripts and his teaching qualifications. He asked some questions and stated they were looking for someone willing to work hard and get the guitar department up-to-speed. He ended by saying “you seem like you can be the one, but I have a few more interviews and I will be in touch, either way, in two weeks.”
Jake left the campus feeling positive. His next move was to find some gigs. He went home and started a google-search for clubs or even solo gigs at some restaurants. He found some clubs that were nearby. He decided to record few solo tunes for the solo restaurant jobs. It took him 15 minutes. He transferred the recording to a blank CD, designed a cover and was ready to go. He also uploaded his solo recording to You tube.
Later that night he hit the clubs and spoke to managers and gave them a copy of his CD and a resume. All the managers were cordial and polite and said they would let him know. The next day in the early evening he visited about ten restaurants. Again, all the managers were friendly and told him they would let him know. This was not like New York City at all.
The next day he took ten CDs with him and started to visit the local colleges and radio stations. Again, everyone was polite and thankful. All promised to listen and if the music suited their public, they would put the recording in rotation . Jake thought to himself, home for such a little while and I feel so much better and positive. The next day he worked on putting together a new trio. Finding the right musicians who can read and play his music would be a challenge, but he knew if he stayed positive, things may just work out.
The following day, while driving to the supermarket with the radio on a local jazz station, the DJ says “here’s a new recording from a local homeboy Jake Masters”, and lo & behold there was Jake’s original tune being played! Jake practically jumped through the roof. Maybe things will be much better.
While he was at the supermarket Jake ran into his old girlfriend, Nancy. Nancy was shocked to see him as was Jake to see her. They had a polite conversation and Jake found out that since their breakup she met someone and was getting married in a few weeks. Jake tried to hide his disappointment, but Nancy could see it. Later that night Jake stayed home, watched TV and went to bed. Since coming back home he hadn’t practiced but the next morning he started his day with coffee and practicing. Around 11am his cell phone rang, and to his surprise, it was Dr. Blake. He hadn’t expected his call for at least another week, but there he was on the phone.
“Hello, Hello Jake, I wanted you to know..” (Jake thought, here it comes the big let-down) “I thought it over and decided I really don’t want to interview anyone else. The job is yours if you want it.” Jake was stunned and couldn’t believe his ears. “Jake! Are you there?” Jake answered “Yes! Thank you.” “OK we are set. Come by the office tomorrow and sign the contracts. One thing though, we usually hire teachers who have their doctorates, so in order for you to become a professor, you will have to eventually get your doctorate.” Jake agreed and said “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Jake was thrilled. He couldn’t wait to tell someone. He called his old teacher and told him. He was practically jumping with joy when his father came home for his lunch break and saw the excitement in Jake’s face. “What happened” ?” “I got the job at the college. I start in the fall”. His father congratulated him and said,” let’s go out with your mother tonight for a special dinner” Jake thought, ‘wow, he never goes out to dinner’.
That night at dinner, Jake’s father proposed a toast and told Jake how proud he was of him. This brought a tear to Jake’s eye. His father never-ever said anything like that before. While eating dinner the manager of the restaurant came by their table. “Aren’t you the guy who dropped off the CD of you playing solo guitar?” ‘Yes’ said Jake. “I listened and really liked it, so I played it for my boss and he liked it. Can you play here two nights a week starting next week?” Stunned again Jake said ‘yes I can’. The Manager told him it would be Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5pm to 8pm . He explained weekends were very busy and they needed the space for tables. Then he whispered in Jake’s ear that it would pay $100 per night plus any tips, and a suit and tie were required. Jake immediately agreed.
Jake really didn’t want to play background music but he needed to make money and at least he would be playing and it left his weekends open for any jazz gigs that may come along.
Jake knew there was a long road ahead, but at least he was able to be a musician. It wasn’t the Jazz Life he wanted, but who knows what could happen in the future. For now, he was content. He was off to a good start in a new life. A slower life but a good life. He found an apartment he could afford near the college. He had to report to school two weeks before the fall semester began. He was assigned courses he would teach and when the school actually started he would be getting private students too. He would be there three days a week, which gave him time to play his gigs, do some private teaching and get into a part-time doctorate program which he could take at the college with no cost at all. It would be a lot of work, but he knew he could handle it. And so, the story ends…… or has it?
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