Jazz legends share their experience
Friday, July 21, 2006
By DONALD V. ADDERTON
HERALD NEWS
Always, at this time of year, jazz gets into a summertime groove on the William Paterson University campus, when the legends share the creative nuances of America's classical music.
For one week beginning on Sunday, about 75 high school students will immerse themselves in the history, culture and creative influences of jazz music during the Summer Improvisation Workshop and 13th annual Summer Jazz Week.
The students will have an up-close, hands-on exposure to the likes of pianist Dr. Billy Taylor; trumpeter Clark Terry, who also is an adjunct professor at WPU; percussionist Bernard "Pretty" Purdy; accordionist Eddie Monteiro and guitarist Lenny Argese, among many others.
All the concerts will take place at the Shea Center for the Performing Arts, with the first high note on Monday at 7:30 p.m. with a WPU faculty concert.
Meanwhile, from morning to night, the improvisation workshop students will live and breathe jazz, the bandstand their working laboratory.
"What makes this so special is that 14-years-olds will be elbow-to-elbow with local legendary players for a week," said David Demsey , professor of music and coordinator of jazz studies at WPU. "You can change people's lives by being exposed to these great players."
Around the nation, WPU is noted for its world class jazz curriculum, having produced critically-acclaimed tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander. Legendary pianist Mulgrew Miller was tapped earlier this year as director of jazz studies.
"Being selected is not by audition," Demsey said of the workshop's selection process "All that we ask is that you have some experience and play."
Over a distinguished career that has spanned more than a half century as a musician, composer, educator, broadcaster, author and all-around goodwill ambassador for jazz, the 85-year-old Taylor still has a keen ear for the fresh sound of young musicians.
"I try to pass on what my mentor gave to me: a history of the music and how I should move forward with the music," Taylor said during a break at the Jazz in July series at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. "I get excited when the talent these young people have."
Taylor, who cut his teeth with Ben Webster in 1944, and later played with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Billie Holiday, said that with the latest wave of young musicians, jazz will remain a healthy art form.
When Taylor, who penned the seminal song "I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel To Be Free" during the height of the American civil rights movement, wants to share his bandstand experiences and help nurture young talent. He said he'll also bring clips from his appearances as arts correspondent on CBS Sunday Morning and host of Taylor Made Jazz on National Public Radio.
"While I am going to play for them, but most important, I am going to listen," said Taylor who will close out Summer Jazz Week with a performance with his trio on July 28.
And from Taylor's vantage point, young people are unfairly being painted in unsavory colors with a broad brush. But it is forums like the WPU improvisation workshop and jazz week, Taylor said that display wholesome images for the nation's youth.
"The kids are really down today," Taylor said. "If we really treat them properly because these kids can do so much more. They have so much talent."
Reach Donald V. Adderton at 973-569-7105 or
adderton@northjersey.com
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