Thomas Chapin, The Healing Forceby Tony Overwater, Holland musician

I met Thomas in 1995, the year my son Kaili was born. I was asked to do a concert at the Jazzmarathon in Groningen, a carte blanche. I selected a group with some of my best friends in it. And as usual I had to look for a special guest. The guest I had in mind was not available so I asked the organiser of the festival, Kees van Boven, for advice. He advised to me Thomas Chapin. I didn’t know him at all, but I trusted Kees’ opinion. That’s how Thomas ended up in my group. But first I have to tell you about my group and it’s first rehearsals before Thomas arrived.

I usually like to put people together in my group that are not likely to work together easily. I like the tension and it puts everybody on his toes. But I guess I pushed my luck this time. The rehearsals were horrible, lack of mutual respect, distrust and pure unsocial behaviour put an enourmous strain on my already very weak nerve system. Not only did I just have a child, but I also had the nerve to leave the mother a few months later and was in the middle of an emotional crisis. The fact that my “American special guest” was arriving only for the last two rehearsals only added up to the dissatisfaction of the other bandmembers. This is the situation that Thomas came into when he arrived.

I hadn’t met Thomas before so I didn’t know what would happen either. But he turned out to be the right medicine at the right time. Here was this happy-go-lucky guy with this enormous energy and complete lack of attitude normally related to “American Special Guests.” Within half a rehearsal he put everybody in the right direction. Since he was both a modern free player and a well-accomplished traditional jazz player, he impressed both sides of my band and he showed his interest and enthousiam in all players. He valued everyone.

That was my first impression and that is why I named one of my compositions for that concert, The Healing Force. To thank him for his great contribution.

I’ll thank him again when I meet him someday, and recall the other moments of friendship we shared since then.