Related story: The jazz world's late bloomer

By M.J. Andersen
Journal Editorial Writer

When the pianist Tommy Flanagan died, I thought of writing a short editorial tribute.

But I decided he was too obscure, so it was a column or nothing. Basically, I had two things to work with: 1) the guy was gone, and 2) I saw him perform once and this really weird thing happened. Where do you go from that?

First, I got out the Tommy Flanagan CDs I had, and listened. I tried to think about what he sounded like. I read all the obituary information I could find and then looked at liner notes on the CDs. I also consulted a recent jazz history book.

But I still felt I didn't know much about this guy, so it seemed to me I was stuck with rehashing standard obituary stuff, and then working in my experience, which had stayed with me in the way that makes you feel you want to tell about something.

Some journalists say to always lead with your best material, which I think in this case was the episode from the concert.

But I decided to put it at the end, because I wasn't sure, after leading with it, where I'd go.

The column felt to me like two different animal halves fused together (the career assessment, and the personal anecdote). I still have this feeling there was a better way to do it, but I don't know what it is.

I'm glad the piece appealed to readers in spite of its structural limitations.