Ray, he hoped one day to own the Lucifer Club
himself.

VI. The 1968 Affair

The reunion did indeed come
to pass. The Yule Bash of 1968 was something to see at the Lucifer
Club, still owned by Javier but managed by Black Torpedo Ray. Times
had changed. The drugs were more mind-altering, the music more wild
and free, the women baring more than ever before (in other words
everything). Flicker Street pulsated with the orgiastic energy that
flowed in and out of Javier's “pleasure palace”. The Ulysses Real
6 reunited for an amazing set. Colburne and Mercer were solo artists
by this time, and each led their bands to the utmost heights of free
jazz. Ulysses was still something of a hard bopper, and some of his
newer arrangements, mixing R&B and rock influences with his
wife's bewitching voice, blew awaythe teeming throng at the club.
Ondine Jackson was back on bass and cracking wise. His wife Geneva,
who danced and sang back up to Emmaretta, had blessed him with a son
Ondine Jr. in 1945 andOndine Jr.'s wife, Violetta Amadeus, had given
birth to their son Amadeus “Amajack” Jackson mere weeks before the bash.

Henry Colter was more
straight ahead bop than funk, but he could still mix it up on the
drums a bit. Of his family, his wife, Mary Rudisill (b. 1920; a
relative of the Palmers of Hallmark) and two sons (Radley Colter, b.
1940 and Milburne b. 1950) attended the party, though it was a bit
much for Mary. Young Milburne had a great time. Of the “Others”,
Octavius Flay made the party, flanked by a stable of his finest
ladies of the evening. Black