Jazz drummer Joe Morello passed away over the weekend. Morello first gained notoreity for his work with Dave Brubeck and went on to become a band leader and music educator. One of his latter day students was Jon Fishman and the Phish drummer shared his memories of the experience via Facebook.

Fishman writes, “I had three drum lessons when I was 13 to learn how to read from a guy named Dave Hanlon in Syracuse. The only other lessons I’ve ever had were from Joe and they were 15 years apart. I went to him in ’09 for the second one. I kind of knew this was coming after leaving that lesson. I’m very sad about this. My entire rudimentary practice routine has come from him. The last lesson I had with him was basically a confirmation that everything he had told me 15 years earlier was right and that I should stay on that track. What he taught me was literally the foundation of everything I will ever do on the drums and the value of having the confidence of knowing the instruction I received from him is as sound as it is can not be over stated. I owe him for correcting my mistakes, putting me on a right path and keeping me on it. Amazing. I am so grateful!”