Beloved teacher, clarinetist, and bandleader Don Cantwell celebrated his 100th birthday with 100 friends, family, and past and current students at Unity Hall in Barneveld, New York. His jazz band, the Clef Dwellers (a group including his alumni students and other prominent local musicians), accompanied Don on the clarinet as they performed traditional jazz tunes and other old favorites. Don was featured soloist on “Memories of You” and “When You’re Smiling.” He introduced “Memories of You” with a personal story about hearing Benny Goodman play the tune in New York in 1942. It was a life changing experience for him. Ever the teacher, Don couldn’t help giving those assembled a lesson in “Diaphragmatic Breathing,” his key to being a top musician and performer.
Don Cantwell’s studio is filled with signed photos of many great jazz musicians including Clark Terry, Herb Pomeroy, and Phil Wilson to name a few. Over the years he has brought many top performers into the Whitesboro High School for music clinics with his students. As music director for Whitesboro, he was responsible for a continuous series of award-winning Stage/Jazz big bands, which in turn inspired many students to become professional musicians and educators. His accomplishments have been widely acknowledged: Don was chosen as the John LaPorta Jazz Educator of the year awarded by Berklee School of music in 2008, the Herbert L. & Jean Schultz Mentor Ideal award 2012, along with many other accolades.
The Sunday following his 100th birthday bash, Don Cantwell accepted a gig with his Clef Dwellers at Arrowhead Park in Inlet, New York, for “Arts in the Park,” a gig Don and his group have been playing yearly since 1995. While unsure if Don would be able to attend in person, banjoist/guitarist Cosmo Castellano organized the musicians. True to form, Don arrived with his caretakers. He was expected to play just a couple of tunes, however he sat with the band and played the entire job.
Near the end of the concert, Don concluded a tune with a cadenza that ended on a high A, (that’s four ledger lines above the staff). Clearly his method of Diaphragmatic Breathing works! In his usual style, he greeted past students in the audience by name, reminding them of the years that they were his students. More than one jaw dropped. Don concluded the concert by thanking the audience for listening and added “We will see you all back here next year!”
