Went to the Alabama Jazz Hall Of Fame and had a spectacular time. We were really lucky to be guided by Frank "Doc"Adams, the first inductee into the Hall of Fame. Doc Adams has played with some of the greats including Duke Ellington, Lucky Millinder, Tiny Bradshaw and Sun Ra. (He learned to play the clarinet from his older brother, Oscar Adams, Jr., who was Alabama's first Black Supreme Court Justice and his father, Oscar Adams, Sr., who played trombone with W. C. Handy, the Father of the Blues). This was a most inspiring tour and "Doc" played us a number of classical jazz pieces on his clarinet, even making up a song for Sharon on the spot that is now officially called "Sharon's Be Bop Blues". It was fascinating to hear a first hand account of some of the major jazz influences and he shared a whole heap of stories about some of these famous people. We also visited the 16th Street Baptist Church and saw a film with historical footage of the famous bombing which gained the Civil Rights movement world wide recognition and sympathy. Finally we had some real down south home cooking at Mrs B's on 4th - the best meal we have had in ages. All in all, a brilliant day. (Press the play button on the video below to hear Sharon's Be Bop Blues)
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