Brooklyn Memorial to Billy Kaye

A musical memorial to post-Bebop-era drummer Billy Kaye, who made his transition in August at the age of 89, took place on September 1 at Ornithology Jazz Club in Brooklyn, the NYC borough where Willie King Seaberry Wilson (AKA Billy Kaye) grew up after his family relocated from North Carolina. The event was organized by longtime proteges and former members of Billy’s working group, led by pianist Jack Glottman who spoke glowingly of the musical and life experience that he gained from his fifteen years playing with Billy. Other core members of the ensemble were Asaf Yuria, tenor sax, Ben Meighners, bass, and Phillip Stewart, drums.

Billy had a rich history of discovering struggling young musicians arriving in New York City from different parts of the world hoping to build solid careers as Jazz artists.  Billy worked with them to hone their talents, teaching valuable skills and perfecting enduring mind-sets of professionalism and respect for the music and its history. They developed invaluable job skills and learned to listen to each other through lessons doled out affably by a seasoned veteran and “pro” whose street “creds” as a top-tier professional Jazz drummer for a generation were as impeccable a standard as the Brooks Brother’s herringbone jackets he stylishly sported to shows and gigs. Their skills were on full display in this performance. The evening’s highlights were songs reminiscent of Billy’s love of Jazz and the genuine affection and appreciation expressed by these young musicians for their octogenarian leader’s steady mentorship.

Over the years hundreds of musicians, including myself, have experienced making music with Billy Kaye. Six decades as a first-call drummer is a lot of beats, many sets, and abundant stories. Billy Kaye’s story is part of a changing Jazz demographic; one that continues to welcome and embrace those who love and respect the music and culture of Jazz and treat the art form with the respect and dignity it deserves. I believe those principles remained integral to who Billy Kaye was until his very last heartbeat.

Compact, energetic, athletic (he competed in track and field in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics), Billy Kaye always remained focused as a musician. His taste, style, and nuance when at the helm of New York’s Jazz clubs and venues were impeccable. His career spanned post-war Be-bop decades, and included stents with Billie Holiday, Lou Donaldson, George Benson , Stanley Turrentine, and Thelonious Monk to name a few. For nearly twenty years, Billy Kaye and his group hosted weekly Jazz shows and jam sessions at Fat Cats in New York City’s West Village, a popular late-night magnet for working musicians, artists, and jazz lovers. Fat Cat is a space where the “who’s who” among Jazz’s premier players would often stop by when they were in town to sit in with Billy and his group.

Here is the song Goodbye Blue Love, Adieu from the memorial performance at Ornithology Jazz Club. This is one of the songs that Billy introduced to the band.

And here is my recording of Goodbye Blue Love, Adieu from my album Bossa, Blues, and Ballads featuring Harold Mabern, piano, Billy Kaye, drums, Paul Beaudry, bass, and James Zeller, trombone. Music: Milt Sealy, Lyrics: Dennis Llewellyn Day