The first I ever heard of Jack Bell was when my brother said, … “you’ve gotta hear this little guy, Jack, play snare drum!” Well, little did I know that just a few years later I would have the distinct honor of working with him for all these years! You know, I watch Jack all the time and I still don’t know how he plays so smoothly and so fast!! How do you do that?
Jack’s always been a teacher, so what he’ll be doing now is nothing new for him. I’ve been pretty fortunate to have learned a lot from him just by observing …
For instance…
I’ve learned how to use just one snare drum for an entire career. (l used 3+!)
I’ve learned how to use just one triangle for every piece. (l used 3+!)
I’ve learned how to get to work right on time (and not a minute too early…).(Pretty much true. 5 minutes early- coming from GSU or recording sessions, etc.)
And I’ve learned how to organize my time and set-up an office. (true!)
When I was still teaching at Georgia State, occasionally I would use Jack’s office to teach a lesson. I’d sit at his desk and would marvel at the detail of his desk-top layout. As a test, I would move something, like a picture of son’s nickname Quilo, just a few inches, or to a different angle. Then I would watch Jack return, sit down and without apparently thinking about it, move whatever it was, back to its proper location. Just Amazing! Of course, I always wondered if the joke was on him or on me. The students seemed to enjoy it all. (Even paperclips, etc.!)
Speaking of offices … And he has many, like the one on the stairs, or the one on the bus (when we used to tour!)
Anyway, we all know that Jack’s office behind the Bass Drum will never be the same again. No matter who takes over, they may be a great player, but there’s no way they will be able to simultaneously work on lesson plans, write a book, do their taxes, study for a captain’s certification, give advice to the extras, be accurate counting rests, and still play the vibe part to West Side Story flawlessly!!
And here’s another thing: I’ve always marveled at how relaxed Jack is during concerts. When he isn’t playing, he is the absolute picture of ‘calm’. It’s only recently that I realized he wasn’t wrapped up in the music … he was asleep! (part true)
In fact, I told Jack the other day that I had hoped to get a photo of him this week (while he was sleeping, by the way … ), blow it up, and prop it in position so that the rest of us could look over once in a while to see that everything was still OK in the percussion section.
You know that Jack is meticulous and neat. What you don’t know is that he used to be an incredible SLOB – a totally messy person.
(false!). It’s just that when Shaw hired jack, he said, “I expect you to get things organized back there!” And that’s all Jack’s been trying to do all these years!
Well, never mind all that …
As the principal, he never let Mr. Shaw down! He never let his section down! And he never let the orchestra down! (close)
At the end of the concert tonight, Jack Bell, took his bows with the rest of his orchestra colleagues just as he has done countless times for almost 32 years. Then he packed up his sticks, closed his folder, and walked off stage for the last time as our principal percussionist.
Now that his last concert is over, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will never be the same! (yes)
In future concerts, the orchestra won’t look much different, and the audience probably won’t notice anything out of the ordinary … unless they look to the back! Then they just may notice that somethingis different.
Jack, I am so proud to have played with you.
Congratulations on a great career with a great group of musicians!
I guess that we may miss you more than you will miss us, but be assured that when we talk about you in the future, and I’m sure that we will, we’ll be saying something like … “You should’ve heard that little guy, Jack, play snare drum.”
Thanks Mark, this was great!
J. Bell
11/29/14
See I told you I would read it!(May 1999 — Dec. 2014)