Eddie Dean’s piece about Bill Potts and other D.C. jazz musicians (“Swing, or I’ll Kill You,” 8/8) is the best I’ve ever read about the local jazz scene. As a native bass-picking contemporary of all the players mentioned, I was gratified to see credit given to Potts and others from this area who grew up on the premise that jazz is supposed to swing, goddammit. I was fortunate to have worked with drummers Joe Theimer in the Eliot Lawrence band and Jim Lucht at assorted local club dates. Dean should have mentioned the two great bassmen of that era: Mert Oliver, who was in the Orchestra, and Jimmy Middleton, who went on to play in a few of the big bands. Also the pre-Basie influence on us, as youngsters, of Jimmie Lunceford. Anyway, kudos to Dean.

Bethesda