Jumping Bean

[L. Bird]

>I think he was more athletic at the time than is realised.  To this day 
>there isn't much information I'm aware of that indicates how and when he 
>started to do this.  Up until about '68 he seemed gangly and unathletic, 
>then everything changed.  Was this a conscious attempt to create a stage 
>act, a "routine" as he called it?  Or did it emerge organically from his 
>style of playing?  Was he doing it in '67 in England?  I don't think so.  
>I've asked these questions on other lists and maybe the predecessor of this 
>one but never got the full story.  And he's still doing it at 61, as we see 
>from Ross Halfin's photos.  Amazing!

Well, no one but Pete would know the full story.  I do recall we've 
discussed this before.  Pete had ballet lessons as a kid--I'll bet his 
teacher was really unhappy that Pete seems to have no interest in that type 
of dance, because he's a natural jumper.  Possibly the ballet lessons gave 
him an idea of the physics of jumping, but the shape of his hips and thighs 
gives him the musculature.

When we discussed this the last time, I think folks brought in recollections 
of seeing him jump fairly early on, as in '67 or '68.  However, I'm sure it 
didn't look quite like it did at the height of the stage show.  I'm sure he 
developed it as a "routine" for the show, and apparently he does a bit of 
damage from time to time, as fans have observed him limping a bit after this 
show or that.

As for still doing it at 61--he amazingly talented at it.  He's not quite 
getting the height he needs these days for the full split, but he's managing 
it with a bit of a stumble on landing.  That was a truly amazing shot that 
Ross Halfin caught last week end.


keets