My first sensei, Gregory Jaco Transitioned today.

I was trying to call my old sensei, Gregory Jaco the past three weeks, I called his ex-wife and found out he was in the hospital again. He was in a coma last week. This morning I got a call and she told me he passed early this morning.

Jaco is a good part of my youth. I met him through Clarence and Marshall Jordan who had moved to Maywood from Henry Horner projects. Jaco was not always present but he was an impactful presence at every meeting. We went to war together in Maywood one night against some guys who thought being Explorer. Scouts was funny. Nobody touched Jaco, he was a compact muscular dude, soft spoken, he looked dangerous when he wanted to. I would say we turned the place out if my ego would let me. Unfortunately, a young woman was badly injured by one of the bottles thrown by the Maywood ruffians. They all ran. we emptied the joint. These days we would have been shot most likely. I am kind of surprised we did not that night.

Jaco went into the military and came out to embrace Islam and to reclaim his heritage. I was surprised to learn that he had formed his children into an African percussion group. His son, Wasalu has gone on to become Lupe Fiasco.

Last time Jaco and I talked, he was complaining that he was not speaking to Wasalu. Signature Jaco. Wasalu was obviously trying to get Jaco to do something Jaco did not want to do. Wasalu is an observant Muslim and tries to reflect the influence of his father from what I have observed in his music. Jaco has two beautiful daughters as well, late additions to the family. Really smart young women. He wanted to raise them, even as sick as he knew he was. Illness did not make him any less bullheaded.

My son Djibril got to meet Jaco when I went out to interview him in Kankakee about Count Dante. We talked about Robert Tobias also. Robert was with us the night of our "Explorer War." Robert was studying with Dante as well. Jaco did not mind, Robert was always bringing something back new to pass on.

Gregory Jaco will have an Islamic Funeral. It will be held at the Mosque Foundation of Chicago, 7260 W 93rd St - (708) 430-3832. Viewing is at 9:00 am to 12:00 am. The Prayer will be from 12 to 1:00pm and from there the congregation will go to the cemetary.

You get to thinking about those times. Impermanence. How quickly it all happens. How quickly it comes to pass. As is usual with iconoclastic guys like Jaco, he continued to be controversial, bold and audacious, he was married again twice in the last 6 months. Don't ask me to explain. It is just signature Jaco.

I am still in shock. I was hoping he would pull through. Last year the doctors gave him until May of 2006 or something. He was a warrior. This last time he gave orders not be resuscitated. Jaco was one of my life's teachers. He gave me good and bad advice at times. Oh well. We loved him in all his bullheadedness, kindness and madness. I got stories about him and his federal gun license as well. My life has been full of wonderful characters.

My generation is transitioning, as is the natural order of things. There is loss nonetheless. I don't know how to talk about this yet. I will put up some of his video interview this week.