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104 | CadenCe Magazine | april May June 2013<br />
Interview Dennis Mackrel<br />
lot of radio exposure. and americans of course, jimi hendrix and like that.<br />
CAD: This was still your high school years?<br />
dm: Yes, that’s it.<br />
CAD: But things changed in university?<br />
dm: not right away, but yes, because in unlv (university of nevada, las vegas), i<br />
was learning under frank Gagliano, and that’s when my interest really took off. he<br />
had such a wide knowledge and experience and really encouraged anyone who was<br />
keen to learn, which i was.<br />
CAD: And this was your first formal training?<br />
dm: i guess so, because up till then, written music wasn’t so important, and then<br />
it suddenly was, and the answers to questions i’d been thinking of were all there.<br />
frank really changed my directions. he covered all the styles and techniques and i<br />
felt i was really progressing.<br />
CAD: You mean on drums?<br />
dm: Yes, and also bass and theory. it was all part of his teaching approach. and<br />
not only playing, but also studying arranging and composition. it all pumped my<br />
enthusiasm.<br />
CAD: You were written up in something called Who’s Who in Music in 1979, at<br />
age seventeen – what was that?<br />
dm: oh, that was an annual publication sort of introducing promising students<br />
and new people on the scene. i don’t know for sure how that happened, as the<br />
information and recommendations were sent in without my knowledge.<br />
CAD: Then the UNLV Jazz Ensemble was the next progressive step?<br />
dm: Well yes, but frank had us working on all kinds of groups, we covered<br />
everything. Those of us who were drawn to composition and arranging could have<br />
our music played and hear for ourselves what worked and what didn’t.<br />
CAD: So most of your experience was at UNLV? You didn’t get offered any<br />
chance with road bands?<br />
dm: That’s right, but of course while i was in unlv, most of, in fact nearly all of the<br />
touring bands had almost run their courses and although we were playing a lot of<br />
that music in college, there was not a lot being played on the road. Quite often, top<br />
las vegas musicians and performers would drop by at band rehearsals to keep an<br />
eye on developments.<br />
CAD: And was this how you came into contact with Joe Williams?<br />
dm: joe Williams lived in las vegas and often dropped by. That’s how that<br />
happened. i had worked my way up to the unlv jazz ensemble, and joe Williams<br />
came in to a rehearsal and stayed for a while. he didn’t participate, just sat and<br />
listened, then he left.<br />
CAD: No personal contact?<br />
dm: not at that time, but he must have heard something he liked.<br />
CAD: How did the outside experience get going?<br />
dm: Well we were lucky to have a big area where everyone could relax, with a bar<br />
and pool tables, plus a stage, and this had become a popular after-hours blowing
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