Photo by Todd Boebel

At 88-years-old, the feisty jazz drummer Foreststorn “Chico” Hamilton has a long legacy behind him, performing with the likes of Lionel Hampton, Buddy Collette, Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne.  Interviewing Foreststorn–he likes to remind people of his real name–was no easy task.  His answers were short and to the point. Read carefully.

“You’ve been in the business for over 70 years.  It seems like an album every year. Don’t you ever get tired or want to take a break?” I asked.

“Why?” Foreststorn asked. “Why stop?”  He said it so bluntly; I felt stupid. But it’s a part of his charm—his way of getting one to think with common sense.  In the awkward silence while I tried to formulate another question, I thought, yeah, why stop? If I were a performing musician, I would keep playing until my hands fell off.  Ah, stupid question.

As the interview went on, I could sense an air of sadness.

“I look at that long list of people I played with and–they’re all gone,” Foreststorn said in reference to the legendary performers he once shared the stage with. He also lived through some of the greatest, worst and most cynical times in history: the Depression, World War II (he is a veteran) and the Civil Rights Movement.

And yet, Foreststorn can still say, “I am blessed to still be here doing what I am supposed to do.”

“Do you take all of those experiences, the emotions and apply it to music?” I asked. “I mean, what do you think about when making music?”

“Don’t think, just play,” He said.

“So, you don’t think about…” I started to say.

“No, just play,” He interrupted. “What do you play?”

“Violin.”

“Haven’t you just ever picked it up and played it?”

“Well, sometimes I fiddle around, but first I do scales and etudes.”

“Bulls***!” Foreststorn said. “Just play.  All you need to make music is creativity, patience and fortitude.”

Ummm, okay. I pondered over his response. Being a classically trained musician, I could never imagine not analyzing, due process and so forth.  But Foreststorn is a self-taught jazz musician, a great improviser.  His approach to music is completely different.

“Hear a sound that you like and go from there,” He said.

For 20 years, Foreststorn has taught at the New School University in Manhattan, NY.  He’s guided now professional and famous musicians.  So, his philosophy works and Foreststorn is a prime example of fortitude because despite obstacles in his life, creating music has continued to be his foremost ambition even into old age.

We went on to talk about how patience and fortitude especially applies to late starters.

Impatience is usually a trait in today’s music learners, wishing that the hard technique will come quick and easy amidst all the responsibilities of adulthood.  Foreststorn’s answer, “You gotta crawl before you can walk.” Short and to the point.

I wish I could have talked longer with this extraordinary man and musician, but…

“Arrivederci, you know what language that is?” Feisty Foreststorn asked, ending our conversation.

“Italian, right?” I stammered.

“Good.  Arrivederci.” Chico said.

Feeling rebellious, I said, “Ciao.”

He snickered and hung up the phone.

‘Tis the nature of legends, I guess.

February 27, 2010in Interviews by jasmine-reese 1 Comment »