Several years ago I was playing a couple of nights a week at the Renaissance Harbor Place Hotel here in Baltimore. They had piano players on the week nights and trios on the weekend. On the roster were several of the best jazz players in town. One day we all got a letter from the manager that said to please tone down the improv and play songs people could recognize. Some of you would say he had no taste, but he was the guy who signed the paychecks.

Joe