June 23-25
Music writer David Ritz pays tribute to legendary producer Tommy LiPuma, a centerpiece of the 37th annual Tri-C JazzFest.
I was in Cleveland, working on a biography of Little Jimmy Scott, that most soulful of singers, when Jimmy said, “You can’t write this book without meeting Tommy LiPuma.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Cause he’s the only producer with the soul to understand what I’m all about.”
A week later, I was sitting across from LiPuma in his New York office. A half-hour into our conversation, I knew exactly what Jimmy meant.
If soul signifies sweetness, Tommy has soul in abundance. If soul signifies sincerity, Tommy has a double dose. And if soul signifies sensitivity, Tommy is a paragon of soul.
As we became fast friends, I soon cherished the man for a litany of good reasons.
In the cold-blooded business of music, Tommy is all warmth, all heart. He embodies the good grooves of the bluesy jazz and jazzy blues that he loves so deeply.
In a world of egocentric bores, Tommy is an endlessly fascinating character and master raconteur. His stories swing with hot-blooded rhythm and quick wit. Like the creative giants he has produced — Miles Davis or George Benson or Diana Krall — he himself is a creative dynamo, his speech punctuated with the wily timing of a seasoned improviser. His voice is his own, whip smart and funny as hell.
In a culture where pretense runs rampant, Tommy is guileless. While, for example, his taste in art is impeccable and his knowledge vast, he never flaunts his sophistication. He approaches paintings with child-like wonder and open delight.
And then there’s his enthusiasm. He brims with life. He exudes positive energy. At 80, he has the stamina of hipsters half his age. If the phone rings and Tommy’s on the line, your day is suddenly brightened and your spirit renewed. There’s no more loyal friend.
It isn’t enough for Tommy to pursue his lifelong passions — great music, paintings, books, wine and food — he’s compelled to share those passions with you. He lures you into his orbit of high energy, and you’re overjoyed to be in his company.
I’m overjoyed to sing his praises because I know Tommy is a man who has made my life — and the lives of his family, cronies and countless friends — that much brighter.
I view him as a jazz man, a blues man, a brilliant cat with the chops to navigate life with a sweet-and-salty combination of finesse and funk.
When I think of Tommy LiPuma, I get happy.
When I think of Tommy LiPuma, the word love springs to mind.
Like virtually everyone in his universe, I love the man inordinately and thank God Little Jimmy Scott told me what to do.
–David Ritz
Photos by Hollis King
The 37th annual Tri-C JazzFest, presented by KeyBank, is June 23-25 in and around Playhouse Square.
Cleveland, OH 44115