While researching a story, I just had the chance to speak with trumpeter Terell Stafford, who runs the jazz program at Temple U. in Philly. As a member of Matt Wilson’s group Arts & Crafts, Terell also played extensively with bassist Dennis Irwin, whose tragic death is still being mourned by the jazz community. Terell recalls:
[Dennis] came down to work with some students here at Temple. We didn’t talk about fee or anything like that. So he spent a good amount of time, more than most people would want to put in, giving lessons and doing things way above the call of duty. I gave him his check, and then he gets home and he calls me and he says, “Uh, I just want to talk to you about this check.” I said, “Well, Dennis, I’m sorry, I really did the best I could for you.” And he says, “No, I need to give you most of it back, or we need to set up another visit for me to come down and earn the rest of the money.”
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