Jeff Healey 1966-2008: Buddy has a new pal... (Bill King)

Jeff singing John Hiatt's Angel Eyes...

From ejazz.com
Some people are fortunate to recognize the passion of their lives and live every moment in pursuit. Jeff knew exactly why he was here and stayed true to the chase right to the end. I remember reading about the late night calls of Glenn Gould to friends and associates and how crafted and pointed the exchanges were. I had a brief period of dialogue with Jeff about music and the business after interviewing for the cover of the Jazz Report. For days Jeff would call with additional observations. He was an Indie artist through and through!

I tried arguing him back to the guitar and he replied that that chapter of his life was behind. I tried every angle to find a clue to the mystery. Jeff heard something in his head that excluded the blues based romps. It was music stripped of conceit and false intentions. It was the rustic morning that gave birth to jazz that seduced. It was the turn of the century when Buddy Bolden was stinging the ears of parishioners without amplification or false pretenses.It was music from the soul, the soil, the heart, the air all coming to a new day. I'm sure Jeff wanted to be there to breathe this music with all those who had shared the notes - all arranged in new positions all telling a different story. It was the story of jazz - the marriage of blues, rhythm, folk, conversation, memories, slavery, suffering, good times, starvation, drought, brothels, long-legged women, dapper men, and the long grinding road. Jeff could be there every moment he raised the trumpet to his lips. For the next three and a half minutes he could be in Davenport, Iowa, then count the band in at a brisk tempo and be on a riverboat cruising the Mississippi. The music he played had destinations each one with a travel order - a train schedule and departing time. Jeff caught the last train and we know where it's going. The band has a seat all ready and Buddy has a new pal.

Bill King