Bard of Bebop: Lawrence P. Wheatley, RIP
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I'M BEHIND IN REPORTING this because my jazz-world associations have fallen off the map, but I heard over the weekend that jazz pianist and composer Lawrence P. Wheatley died on Oct. 19.
"Who?" you might ask.
Wheatley was something of a mysterious character who led jam sessions in D.C. clubs in the 1970s, '80s and '90s, most of them long gone, such as the One Step Down. He was a local institution, with emphasis on the local.
As far as I know, he never recorded an album, but Larry Appelbaum, a jazz specialist with the Library of Congress, played some rare Wheatley recordings on his most recent WPFW program, "Sound of Surprise" (Sundays, 5-7 p.m.). He also interviewed Wheatley's son Lorenz, as well as Andrew White, Lincoln Ross and others who knew him. Appelbaum also told me there will be a musical memorial at Westminster Church on Nov. 8 from 2-4 p.m. It has to be a jam session; there would be no better way to honor Wheatley.
There has been next to nothing written about the self-proclaimed Bard of Bebop — and I can't find any photographs — so allow me to be indulgent and quote from a feature I wrote on Wheatley in 1997 for the Washington City Paper:
Merchant, minstrel and musician.
A bizarre bazaar, where throngs
Gather to bargain, barter and buy
Tapestries of time, woven on looms of life.
— Lawrence P. WheatleyIt's Saturday, 3:35 p.m., just five minutes after the start of One Step Down's weekend jazz workshop, and the Bald Guy is already at the bar. He's always at the bar, week after week. A George "the Animal" Steel look-alike (minus the green tongue), he takes his shot and chases it with a beer, as his eyes scan the club. The workshop's impresario, Lawrence Wheatley, still hasn't shown. The pickup band has already started, and the crowd of four seems indifferent when the trio finishes its series of songs. His drink routine complete, the Bald Guy stands up and walks directly to the door and out of the club. It's another 15 minutes before Wheatley shows, but when he arrives there is no doubt who he is: Wheatley looks eerily like Thelonious Sphere Monk.
The jam's ringleader greets a semiregular patron and the substitute piano man each with a slight nod. He scopes the room and we lock eyes, though actually I can't see Wheatley's lamps through his ever-present sunglasses. "Christopher!" he says and walks over, his semilegendary reputation as a Monklike character arriving just before his extended hand. He sits down across from me on one of One Step's warped wood pews, digs around in his briefcase, and produces a small pile of papers, mostly poetry and a few bons mots. "I sit here alone/Counting answers to questions/Nobody asked me," reads "Haiku." I think the mystery man is ready to talk.
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Addison Road
Anyone associated with the jazz scene in Washington DC over the past half century or more would likely be familiar with the name Lawrence Wheatley. Certainly among players and serious fans of straight - ahead jazz the name has reach legendary status in the nation’s capital. Although awareness of his work has yet to reach national and international levels it’s just a matter of time especially in today’s internet world. Virtuosic, compelling, and fiercely original might be just a few reasons why this broader recognition is sure to come about at some point in the future.
As a mentor to many a young jazz player Lawrence was almost a one man conservatory of be-bop as well as earlier jazz styles. From stride piano to avante-garde he could do it all and from his piano bench he directed many a jam session or ‘jazz workshop’, as he preferred to call them, that covered a broad span of jazz history. It would surely be fair to say that few jazz players in the city (or just passing through) did not attend or at least hear about those sessions. Lawrence knew the music plain and simple and jazz players like fans were attracted to him like bees to honey.
Not only was Lawrence a great player but he also created a considerable body of original work that demonstrated his stature as a jazz composer of the highest order. Although his music has yet to be recorded and released commercially, Lawrence indeed scored it, and as he would say, ‘by hand, from scratch, with love’. His original repertoire encompasses a wide variety of jazz and blues pieces that reflect his distinctive and unique compositional style. Even among the few non-professional recordings circulating that style comes through clear and unmistakable.
Aside from his music Lawrence wrote quite a bit of prose and poetry. Again most of these works remain unpublished but here again the quality and uniqueness speaks for itself. “Musing of a Mammal in the Milky Way” is the title of one such collection and underscores his mastery of words along with his ability to convey profound concepts and ideas in very precise and intriguing ways.
On top of all of this Lawrence was a gentleman. He carried himself with a certain dignity, grace, and courtesy that is almost unheard of these days. And although at times he spoke very eloquently and even mysteriously he also had a great sense of humor and was not pretentious in the least. He lived the life he loved on his own terms and at times in spite of the greatest of obstacles. Lawrence was a true artist and his contribution to the worlds of jazz and literature will be treasured by many.
By Lincoln Ross , Posted November 7, 2008 7:01 AMSleep well, dear Bard. I remember Lawrence from when he used to play chess at the Dupont Circle chess tables. He was pretty darn good at the game. He'd wander over to a table, shades, looking like Monk, smoking a cigarette, bopping his head...looking for a game. You could tell he had music in his head as he watched and played!
By Gregory Kearse , Posted November 7, 2008 11:35 AMLarry Appelbaum:
By Fernando Sandoval , Posted November 7, 2008 5:40 PMI do have shots of Lawrence Wheatley jammin ' w/ Bobby Sanchez at Twins Lounge on Colorado Ave on 3/1989. Offered them to Dick Smith for 11/8 jam at W. Church but have not heard back. I wouldn't mind sharing so if you know of a venue - please let me know. Thanks!
Fernando
202-329-1935