Letters to the Editor November 2021

Remembering Ralph Sutton To the Editor: What a great surprise and delight to see the photo and read the article by Jeff Barnhart about Jeff, the sadly late John Sheridan, and myself playing two pianos with Ralph Sutton. Besides that wonderful memory with those great pianists, it reminded me of other experiences and some Colorado jazz history. My first steady paying gig in Denver was in 1975 at a place called Herby’s Bar in the Executive Tower Inn downtown. It was heady for me as I was making $20/hour playing Sunday brunch and Monday nights—$160/week, which was all my wife and I needed to live on at the time. It allowed me to work (for no pay) as music director in a community theater with friends who I am still in touch with. The Monday night slot at Herby’s was available because it was Ralph Sutton’s night off...so it was also my first encounter with the great pianist. We didn’t see each other much, but I would go in to hear him play during his five nights. The hotel bar was mostly filled with traveling businessmen who couldn’t care less about the piano player, which allowed Ralph, as he told me, to play what he damn well pleased and also to have a steady job “at home” after his world travels. He was living near Bailey, a little mountain town about an hour