Submitted by Stutz Wimmer, Sep 7, 2008 08:53

It is thrilling for me to read this article. Tivon Pennicott, the tenor saxophonist you mention fondly in the Kenny Burrell article, was my band student at The Lovett School in Atlanta. There, he spent a great deal of time studying the music of Duke Ellington, among many others. He was also in our band the years we participated in Jazz at Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington program there in NY. In preparation, we immersed ourselves in Duke's music and the subtleties of his great soloists. Tivon's saxophone heroes mostly included contemporary saxophonists Chris Potter and Josh Redman. (Michael Brecker was not among his favorites.) It was difficult for me to get him to listen much to Coltrane. But his years at the University of Miami forced that exposure. If you heard him play, you should know that his personality is at least as beautiful as his playing. A gentler, more loving human being does not exist on this planet. Thanks for offering him up in such a beautiful light.

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