EPISODE with JASON "SWINGO" JONAS
January, 2009
Mexican Federal Highway 85, North of CIUDAD VICTORIA, TAMAULIPAS PROVINCE, MEXICO
The charcoal-grey Humvee speeds along a highway through flat territory. A range of mountains rises in the distance.
Jason Jonas speaks. "You know, they say a young jazz musician was going through some hard times. He was a real good, natural musician who was working in a band. He was ear-trained, and everybody was trying to get him to go to school and learn how to read music. He came up to Louis Armstrong and said, 'Do I really have to learn to read music?'
"Armstrong takes a look at him and says, 'You play that horn?'
"'I do, sir,' he says.
"'You take that horn,' says Armstrong. 'You play that note.'
"Kid does. 'Toot!' (Jonas comically and quickly fakes the sound of a horn-bleat.)
"'Sounds good,' says Armstrong. 'Play it again.'"