As you know Joe Pass is my one of favorite jazz guitarist. I love Joe Pass 's solo line and his solo guitar playing.
This was around 1990-1991.... My best friend Neal Itzler from Berklee, we used to practice and play together as a duet. We found out Joe Pass was playing in Boston. We went to see him. (1st night) I told Neal that we should ask Joe to teach us his master class in private lesson,
So after his show, I saw him at the bar. So asked him kindly " Could you teach us in private lesson? " Joe said " No..." (1st time). Then I asked one more time very kindly... Then he replied " I just don't do those things " I was so disappointed. Neal said to me. "Let's go Tomo" I said to "Neal, I want to ask Joe just one more time! (with my deep passion 3rd time).
Finally Joe said to us, " Okay I will do it. Please call me at the Hotel tomorrow morning "
So we called and we asked Joe... "How much do you charge?" He said "I don't know"
Then he said like this... "Bring me at the best cigar store in Boston and buy me a box of cigar" So we picked Joe at his hotel and Neal drove his car... we brought Joe to the cigar store in Harvard Square and we bought a box of cigars! About $50 back then.
That afternoon, Joe taught us about over 2 hours. Just in case we brought Neal's cassette recorder and we recorded. Yes! Joe said "Please make sure record it"
This is PART 1. I have more story after this!
Thanks for reading this. Leave me your thought.
Better to ask 3 times! You never know!
Tomo
Holy cow, what a story!! A testament to perseverance and thinking outside the box (in this case, the cigar box). Hopefully you still have that cassette. Looking forward to the next installment in this story.
Thank you Linda! Never give up! Keep thinking, keep pushing!
More to come!
Tomo
That was amazing Tomo. Thank you for sharing! I love that you had the confidence to be yourself and didn't give up too quickly.
So cool he let you record too!
Kurt
What a great moment in your life, a testament to your passion, which I think Joe clearly saw by the third time! It’s so awesome that he finally gave in and said yes!
Thank you Kurt! You're very welcome!
I didn't have my confidence but I had my passion (Once my Karate teacher said that "You have a good amount of rudeness that you ask anything to people!)
First time = simple rejection
2nd time = rejection with a little meaning
3rd time = Joe understood how serious we are! (He surprised by our passion!)
Actually same thing happened with Rittor Music in Japan.
1) First time I offer blues instructional video = Rejected because they are already working on..
2) 2nd time I offer funk instructional video - Rejected because they are working with Al AcKay!
3) 3rd time, I called casually on Christmas time just to say hello.. then I told them that I was working on foundation (exercises) for Berklee students who did not have a strong foundation. So my producer loved that idea and asked me to Fax these lesson materials. I started faxing my materials and they could not catch up with papers!
Pure hard work, consistency and well preparation.
Tomo