Jerron Paxton

One of my heroes is Fats Waller, and even a bigger hero than him is someone who's still alive, which is Mr. Dick Hyman. I kind of got drawn to New York because I heard, oh, there's a jazz school. I later found out this wasn't true, and Mr. Dick Hyman had moved to Florida at the time, I say. But I got...

One of my heroes is Fats Waller, and even a bigger hero than him is someone who's still alive, which is Mr. Dick Hyman. I kind of got drawn to New York because I heard, oh, there's a jazz school. I later found out this wasn't true, and Mr. Dick Hyman had moved to Florida at the time, I say. But I got...

One of my heroes is Fats Waller, and even a bigger hero than him is someone who's still alive, which is Mr. Dick Hyman. I kind of got drawn to New York because I heard, oh, there's a jazz school. I later found out this wasn't true, and Mr. Dick Hyman had moved to Florida at the time, I say. But I got...

New York got on my radar because I heard there were some schools out here, some jazz schools, where they'll find somebody who plays a style you love and get them to teach you. And I was like, oh, well, if I could study with Dick Hyman, I'd be great. Because I don't know if you know Dick Hyman, but he's... He's just a master of all the great styles of jazz piano.

New York got on my radar because I heard there were some schools out here, some jazz schools, where they'll find somebody who plays a style you love and get them to teach you. And I was like, oh, well, if I could study with Dick Hyman, I'd be great. Because I don't know if you know Dick Hyman, but he's... He's just a master of all the great styles of jazz piano.

New York got on my radar because I heard there were some schools out here, some jazz schools, where they'll find somebody who plays a style you love and get them to teach you. And I was like, oh, well, if I could study with Dick Hyman, I'd be great. Because I don't know if you know Dick Hyman, but he's... He's just a master of all the great styles of jazz piano.

And, you know, I was casually listening to an Art Tatum interview, and he was talking about all the great musicians he'd sit and listen to. And he'd say, oh, have you heard this young cat called Dick Hyman? He's just a fantastic musician. Now, when Art Tatum is singing your praises. You know you the cat's pajamas, you understand.

And, you know, I was casually listening to an Art Tatum interview, and he was talking about all the great musicians he'd sit and listen to. And he'd say, oh, have you heard this young cat called Dick Hyman? He's just a fantastic musician. Now, when Art Tatum is singing your praises. You know you the cat's pajamas, you understand.

And, you know, I was casually listening to an Art Tatum interview, and he was talking about all the great musicians he'd sit and listen to. And he'd say, oh, have you heard this young cat called Dick Hyman? He's just a fantastic musician. Now, when Art Tatum is singing your praises. You know you the cat's pajamas, you understand.

And so I'd say even more so than Fats Waller, who is, I'd say he's pretty low on my list of my favorite stride pianos. I think the first one I noticed was Willie Lyon Smith. I think my most favorite is probably Lucky Roberts. And then right after him would be James P. Johnson because James is just a master at a piano. And, you know, Fats Waller sounds like a human version of James P. Johnson.

And so I'd say even more so than Fats Waller, who is, I'd say he's pretty low on my list of my favorite stride pianos. I think the first one I noticed was Willie Lyon Smith. I think my most favorite is probably Lucky Roberts. And then right after him would be James P. Johnson because James is just a master at a piano. And, you know, Fats Waller sounds like a human version of James P. Johnson.

And so I'd say even more so than Fats Waller, who is, I'd say he's pretty low on my list of my favorite stride pianos. I think the first one I noticed was Willie Lyon Smith. I think my most favorite is probably Lucky Roberts. And then right after him would be James P. Johnson because James is just a master at a piano. And, you know, Fats Waller sounds like a human version of James P. Johnson.

So I figured if I wanted to sound like James P. Johnson and I, you know, shooting for the moon and missing, I'd land amongst Fats Waller and be able to write a handful of keys and ain't misbehaving and things like that.

So I figured if I wanted to sound like James P. Johnson and I, you know, shooting for the moon and missing, I'd land amongst Fats Waller and be able to write a handful of keys and ain't misbehaving and things like that.

So I figured if I wanted to sound like James P. Johnson and I, you know, shooting for the moon and missing, I'd land amongst Fats Waller and be able to write a handful of keys and ain't misbehaving and things like that.

Ain't that pretty good? He did better than his mentor, as a matter of fact. In certain ways, he was more famous and more known today than James P. Johnson, although I think James P. 's royalty checks outdoes anybody's.

Ain't that pretty good? He did better than his mentor, as a matter of fact. In certain ways, he was more famous and more known today than James P. Johnson, although I think James P. 's royalty checks outdoes anybody's.

Ain't that pretty good? He did better than his mentor, as a matter of fact. In certain ways, he was more famous and more known today than James P. Johnson, although I think James P. 's royalty checks outdoes anybody's.

Oh, yes. New York was a good town for the music I was getting into at that time, which was jazz. You know, there were some great musicians in Los Angeles, but very clearly not enough action down there for a person who, like I said, couldn't drive around town to support a livelihood. But when I got to New York City, boy, I... The culture for traditional jazz around here was absolutely amazing.

Oh, yes. New York was a good town for the music I was getting into at that time, which was jazz. You know, there were some great musicians in Los Angeles, but very clearly not enough action down there for a person who, like I said, couldn't drive around town to support a livelihood. But when I got to New York City, boy, I... The culture for traditional jazz around here was absolutely amazing.