To Mr. Maurizio Caldura
A great musician who has left us too soon. Even though he is no longer with us his music will live on. I met him in Perugia in 1983 at the Umbria Jazz Festival. I was very impressed with his sound and his musical ideas. A friend-ship developed between us and every year I looked forward to seeing him at the festival. In 1987 he invited me to perform in a concert in Dolo, a tribute to Dizzy Gillespie. The musicians also were playing Thelonious Monk’s music. I suggested that it woul’d be a good idea to start a school in the name of Thelonious Monk. Which he and Marcello Tonolo did. The next year he organized a Jazz seminar in Dolo. With many of the leading American and Italian jazz musicians. He also came to the United States. He played atBirdland in New Jork City. We recorded together with Curtis Fuller in 1992, in Amerca. He invited me to play all over Italy, he was always so happy about playing and listening to music. I had the pleasure to write liner notes for his (CD) Static Energy. He taught Clinics and played for many american students in the Public Schools. The students at Duke University all lovedhis playing and his wonderful personality. He was one of my most cherished friends. Many times I feel his presence for I know that he is always in the minds of his Musical friends. Let’s keep his music alive. May God be with you always Maurizio.
Paul H. Jeffrey. Dir of Jazz Studies.
Duke University Dept. Of Music. – 1998