The death of jazz great George Duke still weighs heavily on the heart of sax player Everette Harp.

Harp was a member of a dream band that Shaun LaBelle, my friend and Minneapolis multi-instrumentalist, put together for shows last week at the Dakota to promote his new CD, "I'm Back." LaBelle's longtime friends Jeff Lorber, a father of fusion and smooth jazz innovator, and Stokley, the drummer, vocalist and Twin Cities native, rounded out the quartet.

All four of them had connections with Duke, but Harp's may have been the strongest based on his reaction to news of the composer and keyboard pioneer's death at 67 on Aug. 5.

"I was in an airport with Jeff Lorber getting ready to board a flight to Racine, Wis., when [Duke's] son called and told me he died," said Harp. "It was not a pretty sight. Jeff had to sit and watch me inconsolably sob for two flights."

A smile came to Harp's face when he recalled his first phone call from Duke, which Everette couldn't believe was happening, as you'll see on my startribune.com/video.

"He says, Hey man, Anita Baker needs a sax player. Do you want to do that? I said 'Yeah, of course.' And that's how we met."

Everette Harp

Q: I hear that Anita Baker is difficult.

A: For me she wasn't. She has a reputation with sound men. She has things that she wants to hear. She's had her fill of sound men, that's for sure. But as far as the musicians, no. The people [who were] in the band never really had problems.

Q: What's your favorite Kenny Loggins story?

A: [Laugh] We were playing in Park City, Utah. Kenny is one of those who goes for it every show — 100 percent. I've also been known for that as well. I just remember after we did this one song "Celebrate Me Home," one of the highlights of his show, we both ran backstage and were sucking on oxygen canisters together. [Laughs, covers mouth, makes wheezing/inhaling sounds.] And he goes, Are you OK? And said, "Yeah, are you?" It was pretty funny. I played with him for 14 years on and off.

Q: What makes your production relationship with Shaun unique?

A: Shaun and I have worked together for so many years — since my first record. We spend a lot of time together. Shaun is like a little brother to me. We spend so much time together, we kind of can predict what each other is going to do or think or play. Sometimes I think we actually surprise each other with something a little new. It's always a little special. We have a tendency to write well together.

Q: If I got a permit for you to be a street musician, how much money do you think you would make on Nicollet Mall in two hours?

A: I would have no idea. As hot as it is right now, I wouldn't do it.

Q: Did you catch Miley Cyrus' act during the VMAs? I wonder if Robin Thicke's image could have been enhanced by him backing away from Miley when she acted inappropriately.

A: I never watch those things.

Q: Have you been to Little Rock to see your sax, which is in President Clinton's library?

A: No. They asked me for it about a year ago.

Q: Do you always stake out the horn section of the stage so nobody knocks over your instruments?

A: Only when I set up my horns. I don't like people around them. The guys who are setting up equipment and wires are not cognizant of what they're doing. I try to kind of wait until they're done. They can knock them over, and if they knock them over, it's just really difficult to get things fixed. I generally, ask "Are you guys done in this area? Can I have it?" And once I have it, I ask them not to go back in that area. You are picking up on my persnickety stuff. [Laughs. He later told me he thought this next question was prompted by something he did. No. It was inspired by Prince's behavior.]

Q: Should the personality quirks of genius musicians be tolerated on the same level as those of scientific savants?

A: Personality quirks are personality quirks. People need to check themselves so their quirks aren't on a consistent, rude basis and obnoxious. Creative minds can be a little disjointed sometimes. There some allowances that you give creative people, but they should never be borderline rude or obnoxious.

Q: By whom are you star struck?

A: Umm. Interesting question. He died a few weeks ago.

Interviews are edited. C.J. can be reached at cj@startribune.com and see on Fox 9.