Trumpeter Ivan Nagy Serenades Dizzy at Oops! the Wrong Door
Dizzy Gillespie and Ivan Nagy, Sweden 1976
The year is 1976. Dad, Ivan Nagy is away. He’s on a European tour across Scandinavia for three months. We won’t get to see him for awhile, but that’s something my brother, Ivan, Jr. and I were already used to.
At the time, dad was a trumpeter in the horn section of the Scarabeus Orchestra, an eight piece dance band. The band played nightly, entertaining hotel guests at prestigious casinos and hotels.
On one of these nights, in a hotel in Goteborg, Sweden, Dad experienced something that would forever change his life. It began as just another night, another show — the typical routine of a working musician. In the dressing room, Dad was about to put on an iconic 1970s three-piece suit, bright green satin shirt, a long pointy collar, white skin-tight bell bottoms and a matching custom-fitted vest and jacket. His fellow musicians were joking around. They were just killing time before hitting the stage. Out of the blue, someone said
“Dizzy Gillespie and his orchestra are performing in town tonight”.
Dad froze. The man he had loved and cherished since he was a kid in Brezno, Slovakia, the legendary Dizzy Gillespie, was playing right next door! And dad wouldn’t be able to see the concert — he had his own gig responsibilities.
“No time to dwell on it,” he thought as he hit the stage to do his job. But before the night was over, he found out where the famous trumpeter and his orchestra were staying. Dad was determined to meet Dizzy Gillespie. This was an opportunity he had to seize. He had to meet this amazing musician. He didn’t know if there ever would be another chance.
A Once In A Life Time Opportunity
After the show, Dad rushed to the dressing room. Quickly, he changed his gaudy stage clothes and rushed out of the club and hailed a waiting cab. Some minutes later he was entering a luxurious hotel lobby. Clutching his cornet case close to his chest, he walked through the lobby looking cool and composed. There was hardly anyone up and about at that hour — it was close to 2 A.M. Dad proceeded to the elevator. He soon stood in front of the suite where Dizzy slept. Now, there was only a door separating him from the famous bebopper.
Dad took out his cornet and started wailing one of Dizzy’s solos that he had recently transcribed and learned to play. The sound pierced the neon-lit hallway. Soon the door swung open and there stood an agitated man in striped pajama with a look of shock and disbelief on his groggy face. Dad, just as shocked, stared back at the man, his cornet resting on his hand. Before he could utter a word, the man started yelling furiously in an unrecognizable language. His wife, along with their two young children, stood behind the angry man, looking frightened and disoriented. Down the hall doors opened. Some people came out curious to see what was happening. One of them was Dizzy Gillespie.
As Dad apologized to the family — explaining why he had chosen to play his cornet outside their room — they became not only tolerant, but quite amused. So did Dizzy.
The two trumpet players greeted each other. Dizzy invited Dad to join him in his private suite. Soon after, the two musicians were engaged in lively conversation. It was as if they had been long lost friends.
Meeting and Befriending an Idol
Dad’s heart was beating fast, even if his face showed no trace of nervousness. The two trumpeters took keen interest in each other’s instruments — Dad’s little cornet and Dizzy’s legendary bent trumpet. As Dad gazed lovingly at Dizzy’s unique trumpet, he asked, “Can I just touch it?” “No!!” screamed Dizzy loudly. And before Dad could even slump in embarrassment, Dizzy continued,
“You’re gonna play it, man!”
The rest is history.
Dizzy Gillespie and Ivan Nagy became friends after this memorable first time meeting. They kept in touch whenever they could, whether in Europe or in Canadian Vancouver. This is how my Dad got to befriend the legendary musician.
Can I kiss your Cheek?
My Dad introduced me to jazz even before I was born. He had placed headphones on my mother’s pregnant belly and wanting me to listen. When I was 13 years old, Dad took the entire family to a Dizzy Gillespie concert at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1981. That was the first time I’d seen Dizzy Gillespie and his orchestra perform live. I was already been familiar with many of his recordings.
Fast-forward to 1993 — My boyfriend and I went to Dizzy’s concert at the Vancouver Orpheum. Dad couldn’t attend, he had to work that night.
After the concert, clutching the precious photo of Dad and Dizzy jamming on each other’s trumpets, I headed straight to the posted security guard. Fighting myself through the enthusiastic fan crowd, I finally got to him. I showed him the legendary photo, and said “I need to see Mr. Gillespie.” He asked me to wait. My boyfriend was losing his patience and wanted us to go home. But I kept up my persistence and it proved to be right — we were both invited backstage.
There were many people there, including local celebrities and the press. I spotted Dizzy immediately. He looked happy and relaxed as he chatted with eager fans enjoying complimentary sandwiches. I headed toward the man who, obviously, was the center of everyone’s attention. I stood silently next to Dizzy for quite a while. I finally gained enough courage to approach him — I handed him the photo and asked “Do you remember?” Dizzy just gave me a wide and joyful smile. He remembered. He asked about dad. They had met a few times since that legendary faux pas in Sweden in 1976.
I don’t recall what made me ask the next question. Perhaps it was the unpretentious ease and sincerity that exuded from Dizzy that made me feel like a child about to do mischief.
“Can I kiss you on one of those famous cheeks of yours?”
The word blurted out of me without warning. Dizzy just looked at me with those relaxed smiling eyes, and replied,
“Baby, you can kiss me anywhere!”
A Reunion of sorts
That night became never-ending and it still seems like a dream today. A few people were invited to drive in a limo to the Westin Bayshore hotel to attend a private reception with Dizzy and members of his band. My boyfriend and I were among them. I was thrilled and simultaneously devastated that my dad couldn’t have been part of this. But, Dizzy came to the rescue. He said
“Let’s call dad.”
I dialed the number to Valentino’s, an Italian family-owned restaurant, where Dad was playing seven nights a week, often after-hours.
I got Alberto, the owner, on the line. He sounded irritated. He was unable to hear my voice because of the loud background noise. He yelled in his Milanese accent,
“Daddy’s busy, what is it? The place is packed, he gotta work!”
I convinced him that it was very important. Under normal circumstances, Dad would have been furious with me for disturbing him at work, on his gig, and, this time was no exception. Dad took the phone and he began yelling. I passed the receiver to Dizzy. He yelled,
“Surprise!”
After a short while, Dad showed up at Dizzy’s suite, overjoyed and humble, hugging me first, then Dizzy. Once again, the two musicians exchanged their trumpets and started jamming together, like the first time in Sweden. I was in awe, sleepy, yet so happy for my Dad. Grateful for the moment and for the music and for the love it brought.
Nina Michelle live at Rotary Jazz Night“ des Rotary Clubs Bad Tölz with Musicians:
Daniel Eppinger – piano
Stephan Eppinger – drums
Hugo Siegmeth – saxophone, flute, clarinet
Karsten Gnettner – bass
Nina Michelle is a Canadian vocalist living in Munich, Germany. She has been touring mostly Europe for over 20 years, feeling equally at home on big and small stages, like the renowned jazz festival Ascona in Switzerland or The Metropol jazz club in Vienna.
Nina recorded several albums with acclaimed musicians and ensembles. She has recently released the album “Love Confessions” which debuts her own compositions.
Her appearance tall and slender…her voice powerful and distinct, moving through musical landscape with rhythmical confidence and flawless intonation. Nina Michelle makes the well-known jazz standards appear unconventionally new through her unique interpretation. Her own compositions are intimate tales to be told.
Wonderful and very unique…impressive 🍀😘
I know Ivan Nagy years, listened to his playing many eveninngs. He was a great jazzman. With him we put together many evenings of jazz and poetry (mine) with a great success. I will remember Ivan forever.
Vladimir