“That was so Lyle”

[ TIGER OKOSHI ]

In 1982 or 1983 Lyle led a Sextet performing his music on the stage at Willow Jazz Club in Somerville, MA. The set was broadcast on the radio and luckily captured (the full set is available in our Bootlegs area). The trumpeter featured was Tiger Okoshi along with Joe Lovano, Billy Drewes, Bill Frisell, Marc Johnson and Mike DiPasqua.

How did you get the gig?

Since I worked with Gary Burton through Ted Kurland Associates, I met Pat Metheny. Pat and I used to play at Ryles when his band was not on the road.  I have some cassette tapes with Dave Holland on bass and Paul Wertico (Pat Metheny Group) on drum. Incredible! Also I used to play with Joe Lovano and Billy Drewes a lot back then. 

What did you think of Lyle’s compositions for that date?

He reflected the era extremely well understanding where jazz music came from and where it was heading towards with his own original, innovative, powerful, direct yet romantic various ideas to lead the listeners to the next steps. I always felt I can play anything I wanted in this group.

On some tunes you are using effects on your horn.  Whose idea was it to use those?  

When I was in Gary Burton’s band in 1977~79 (after I left Buddy Rich Orchestra), I was using multiple effects. I started to explore those in 1976 when I started the fusion group called Tiger’s Baku with Bill Frisell on guitar. Nobody else was doing that especially on trumpet. 

In listening to the music now, what are your thoughts about the set?

We all were not afraid of making mistakes, believing that if it’s coming out from our heart, there is no mistakes. We were so spontaneous like juggling 10 balls between us. We were all carrying some kind of responsibilities to become next jazz generations after all giants in the jazz history.

Also, Lyle and I did the radio interview together, I don’t remember the name of radio station, but it was located in Somerville close to Tufts University and Steve Cantor interviewed us. Steve asked Lyle “How do you come up with such unique titles for you compositions” he answered, “I look for and find many hip words in the dictionary before I compose any songs, and I keep them in my notebook, then I pick …” Hahaha. That was so Lyle.

What impressed you about Lyle’s musical gifts?

He was an advanced human being in many ways (he even looked like an alien creature ☺ ) not only musically gifted.  Musically: he had amazing relationships between ears in mind and hands/fingers/feet. His fingers were moving like Sergei Horowitz., individual fingers could create different expressions and dynamics.  He didn’t need to look at the keys, he had a clear imaginary piano in his mind.  He was an excellent basketball player that showed his eyes and body coordination was at high level with super quick reflective nerves. Also his photographic memories on maps.