b"the best person to carry Whats New the torch. Afterbeingap-Review proachedbytheGil-lespie family, Lee began tofusehisextensive Inside Home knowledgeofDizzys Rob White music with his own re-411 Ridgewood Road cording and production Maplewood work that had begun in Tues - Fri, 12 - 5 p.m. the 1970s. I conceived Saturday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. of a college multimedia 614-312-2554 program where a bunch insidehomenj.com of us who played with himwouldgotocol-Rob White had a 40-year career as a designer in Ohio. But when helegesandwedshow moved to Maplewood, he decided to use his knowledge and backgroundslides and talk about his to open a home decor store, first in Millburn and, now, as of November,approach. I called it the on Ridgewood Row. With its tin ceilings and leaded glass windows, WhiteDizzy Gillespie Alumni says it's exactly what he always envisioned for a store.All-Stars. Lee produced Previously a salon, White transformed the space to include a highlya record with the same curated selection of home decor items. Somehow he's able to take eclecticJohn Lee, at home in South Orange, with his Rob Allennameand the requests fretless bass. Photo by Julia Maloof Verderosa.pieces from disparate styles and periods and make them work together for live bookings started it's what he calls the art of the mix. He explains that it's all about the con- to flow in.nection between balance, scale and color. That, and there's nothing in theon the bed and hed get a groove go- Dizzy had a love for what he called store he wouldn't own. The store is open Tuesday through Saturday. Whiteing. He did that every day; came to mymusic from south of the border and also offers in-home consultations. room and talked about his repertoirehe pioneered what was called Afro-Cu-Whats New Review showcases new businesses in Maplewood and South Orange. and how he wanted to play it. ban fusion, says Lee. He actually was For details, please contact info@mattersmagazine.com. Although Roach would eventuallythe first to fuse Brazilian music with hire his previous bassist back, Lees op-portunities continued with other jazz masters. After a recommendation from keyboard great Herbie Hancock, Lee and drummer Gerry Brown were hired by Dutch flute player Chris Hinze and moved to the Netherlands where they cultivated a relationship with a cadre of European musicians. Lee would later go on to tour and play with luminaries such as McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins, Larry Coryell, and Paquito DRivera.LeestimewithDizzyGillespie started out with a last-minute phone Whats Important to You? callfromhisfriendandfellowbass player, Bob Cranshaw. Dizzy fired his Istarteveryclientrelationshipwithadiscussionaboutwhatisbass player, Cranshaw told Lee. He important to you.It is your path, based on your goals and needs. needs a bass player next Friday night inA poster for the McCoy Tyner Quintet Memphis. And so Lee headed downwhen John Lee was a member.Lets talk about how to get there. to Memphis for his first gig with the famed trumpeter. But that was just thejazz.StanGetzgetsthecreditfrom beginning. The Girl from Ipanemathe world-Lees relationship with Dizzy wentrenowned bossa nova jazz song from Gary T. Jones far deeper than his onstage musician- 1963 written by Antnio Carlos Jobim Financial Advisor (973) 821-4900 ship. He served as the straw boss forand performed with guitarist Joo Gil-the band as wellan old-school termbertobut Dizzy was there earlier. for someone who handles finances andGillespie had released another Antnio payroll. With all of Dizzys band incar- CarlosJobimbossanovajazztune nations, that turned into a large respon- called Desafinado in 1961. It was ar-1611 Spring\x1feld Ave.Suite 1 Maplewood, N J 07040 g.jones@edwardjones.com sibility. And after Dizzys death, the Gil- ranged by Argentine pianist Lalo Schi-lespie family knew that Lee would befrin, who would later go on to write 12/ matters magazine / summer 2021"