Reflections on Binghamton, Harpur Jazz Project, and Great 80s music

I lived for six years 1979-1985 in Binghamton NY attending SUNY and enjoying life listening to lots of music. There was a great radio station WHRW-FM on campus with an amazing music librarian named Ron Drumm. Mitch Goldman ( http://mitchgoldman.com/bio.htm) worked at the radio station and chaired a student group called Harpur Jazz Project. HJP brought so many excellent shows to campus, bringing many jazz giants up from NYC so happy to come up to Bing for the people.

Working with this group I was fortunate to meet and share meals with many legends of the jazz world. My wife Lori and I would often acted as hospitality hosts, cooking vegetarian meals for the musicians. Some complained about menu, but most graciously appreciated our offerings. I recall Vernon Reid of Living Colour being particularly appreciative of the veg-spread. Here are some of the folks we had the pleasure to meet:

Sonny Stitt, Jo Jones, Louis Hayes, Slam Stewart, Jane Ira Bloom, Doc Cheatham, Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake and Jump Up, Hamiet Bluiett, David Murray, Defunkt, James Blood Ulmer, Ronald Shannon Jackson, Billy Harper, Steve Turre, Jack DeJohnette, Harold Mabern, Ricky Ford and his Big Band, Jaki Byard, Vernon Reid and Living Colour, Rhys Chatham, Pat Metheny, and many, many others.

Recalling the good times and the great music of the 80s.....