It's with great sadness that I take this opportunity to pay tribute to my dear friend, the late, great, Ian Wallace. For those of you who knew or made music with the man, I'm sure you know how I'm feeling right now. If you weren't as fortunate to know him personally but are a fan of Ian's impeccable drumming with King Crimson as well as all the other legendary artists that he lent his incredible gifts to, I'm sure you can agree that we've lost a great musician and an even greater man.

Maybe you have become acquainted with Ian recently through his efforts here at the Crimson Jazz Trio, the project that he was so incredibly proud of. The trio was to serve as a portal back to his past and a springboard to his future. Sadly, Margie, Tim and I, Jeff & Nelly Neben, (and anyone else who jumped on board because they believed in this music, this band, and most importantly, Ian himself) will never get to see all that Ian knew it was capable of. This group was Ian's baby and his passion. He was so very excited about the chemistry between he, Tim and myself, and he was such a visionary in predicting the magic that we could make together, as evidenced by our first cd and even more by the second disc that we finished recording last June, shortly before we found out how sick Ian was. Can't wait for you all to hear that record! Boy, did he play his ass off!

It was such an honor to know that Ian considered me a close friend, and to know how much he believed in me as a musician. His confidence in me gave me great wings to fly, and much wind to sail over. It's ironic that we have lost him to cancer, the same disease that I lost my other great mentor and cheerleader, my dad, who passed away in the mid '90's at the ripe old age of 55.

It's been so hard to know that Ian had suffered the way that my father did. The irony is not lost on me that I have yet again, lost someone who helped me find my way in this crazy world and music business, especially after feeling like I "lost my compass" a bit after my dad died.

Ian, I thank you for your friendship, love and encouragement, for the music we made and the fun we had, but most importantly for being relentless in getting in my face, every time we were together, forcing me to believe in my music and my ability to carve out my own special artisitic place in this world...I just hoped that we would continue to be able to do it together. Knowing that someone as heavy as you believed in me was incredible praise that I did not take lightly.

Margie told me that just a day or two before Ian left us, he told her he was tired and "was needed elsewhere." I know that that "elsewhere" is a place called heaven, where he is hanging with his drumming brothers, Bonzo, Moonie, Philly Joe, Elvin and Tony, jamming with Jaco, Grolnick and Brecker, and putting together the Crimson Heavenly Duo with Boz right now as we speak!

Hell, John Lennon and George Harrison are probably organizing a benefit concert for underpaid guardian angels right now and Ian is preparing for his stint as the show's drummer, accompanying, Hendrix, Brian Jones, Buddy Holly, Billy Preston and Jeff Buckley.

And speaking of guardian angels, I always felt like I had one after my dad passed away. Now I know that I have another angel looking down on me, guiding and helping me find my way through this nutty world...and working a little magic for me now and then too!

Thank you Ian, I miss you terribly...say hello to my old man for me!

I love you, brother,

Jody