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Pete Jacobsen, Francois Pare'(Drummer)and myself were on our way to a Chris Fletcher Function gig in Francois Transit van, I think the gig was somewhere west country but anyway the thing was Francois is a country freak and the band "In joke" was if you travel in his van you have to listen to endless country music,so if you take into account that Pete was known for being a world class Jazz player and master of harmony but also a real gentleman (one could only feel for him!).
Anyway at one point Francois produces a Cassette of a country artist named Brad Paisley and said excitedly "Hey man you gotta listen to this" and puts the cassette on, Well I don't know what Pete was thinking at the time but I was gobsmacked at the ability speed and agility of Brad Paisley! and to put it mildly as a guitarist "Got my ass kicked" but Pete being himself didn't say much and when the piano solo came in just went "mmm" nothing else.
So we arrived at the gig miles early as you always did with Francois! and started to unload our gear.We helped Pete into the venue and he sat on the stage while we set up our gear.
I noticed that Pete was particularly quiet and drumming more on his knees than normal and shouted over "All right Pete" he answered "Yes Thanks"and so I carried on setting up my Guitar,When I eventually came to finishing and started tuning up Pete called over "Give us some of those country licks then"I Quickly replied "I can't play like that" and wearing my Guitar joined Pete on the edge of the stage He then thought for a minute and said in a kind of quiet troubled manner"It's that country music I can't (expletive) play like that either did you hear that piano player"!!The point of this story is that I have spent years listening to many Musicians slag down Country Musicians yet the great man himself Pete not only listened to but respected and was man enough to acknowledge a fine player of an idiom a lot of musicians treat as a laugh!Truly the mark of a great man and Musician.
There was I do believe a lot of musicians that had the Idea that Pete played other idioms besides Jazz because he had to I would argue this point to the end Pete was a world class allrounder a special breed of musician,And through many conversations with him found that if I ever stepped out of line as in putting some form of music down or a certain artist Pete would question my reasons and ask me to explain in more detail,I then found myself in a corner and realising that my reasons were founded more on prejudice or my eagerness to impress him rather than true belief,ultimately I learned from Pete before putting anything down first learn to play it and master it!! http://www.petejacobsen.com
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