Was Far Out, now is Gone

Last month I mentioned using the phrase "far out" to describe something at a gig.

Well, the situation was when a sax player was invited to play a couple numbers in a band he used to play with.

I should mention he's had problems with alcohol.

He eagerly brought up his horn, but was confused and delusional, generally not being able to follow where in a tune the band was, but playing with considerable enthusiasm and volume.

As he took a vocal on a number that used to be a specialty of his, his arms started shaking severely.

He waundered away with his horn, then back to the band, playing things that didn't go with the music.

He wouldn't stop playing, so we ended the set a early.

He said he was glad to play with us. I told him "It was far out."

Afterwards, one band member wondered if he was having strokes right there on stage. I guessed it was Delirium tremens. It sounds like we were both close, I hear it was likely Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.

This past week the poor fellow went into a coma. And now he's dead.

Bye, Frank.

It turns out Doc had supplied me with something nice to say to Frank the very last time he played.