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JAZZ ME NEWS FOR FEBRUARY 2002
To find out more about the Jim Cullum Jazz Band (JCJB), the
Landing, and the Riverwalk Public Radio series, visit our websites
at
http://www.riverwalk.org
http://www.landing.com
THE NEWS:
VERNEL BAGNERIS ON BROADWAY
Frequent Riverwalk guest vocalist and narrator Vernel Bagneris
tells us that he is currently working on a new Broadway production
of his international hit revue, "One Mo' Time," opening
at the Longacre Theater (220 W 48th Street New York, NY) on March
6th, beginning previews Feb. 21st.
Previously, "One Mo' Time" ran for three and a half
years at the Village Gate in New York, and branched out into seven
touring companies, in addition to runs in Australia and London's
West End. The show was honored with a Royal Command performance
for Queen Elizabeth, nominated for several Olivier Awards, as
well as a Grammy Award nomination for its cast album. Vernel is
the writer, director and star of the show.
For more on Vernel Bagneris, visit his Riverwalk profile page
at:
http://www.riverwalk.org/profiles/vernel.htm
NEW JOHN SHERIDAN/DICK HYMAN DUO PIANO ARBORS CD RELEASE
Arbors Records has released a new duo piano CD by JCJB pianist
John Sheridan and his long-time Riverwalk collaborator, pianist
Dick Hyman. The CD is called "Dick Hyman & John Sheridan:
Forgotten Dreams" and is available for purchase now through
our online retailer Jazz By Mail at
http://www.jazzbymail.com/albums_piano/arb19248.html
The new CD includes many of the songs Hyman and Sheridan perform
on an upcoming Riverwalk show to be broadcast in March, "The
Further Adventures of the Dynamic Duo." Here are the liner
notes for the Arbors CD, written by Jim Cullum:
FORGOTTEN DREAMS
By Jim Cullum
These beautiful, often haunting piano pieces come to us like
a forgotten dream we may struggle to recall. They were once at
the center of American popular culture, but memories of this anomaly
now barely flicker on a horizon blurred by the passing years.
Gyrations in tastes and standards would make it seem impossible
to predict down which avenue popular music might turn. But in
1921 it did surge in a pleasing direction, for in that year the
brilliant pianist Zez Confrey burst on the scene. Zez had several
catchy piano compositions and everything else needed to grab the
public's fancy. He was young, handsome--and even his first name
was unique; musicians would quip, "Zez who?" Soon, his
portrait adorning hundreds of thousands of copies of sheet music,
Zez was famous and wealthy.
Throughout the 1920s and '30s many others followed in Confrey's
wake. The new genre became known as "Novelty Ragtime"
or "Novelty Piano." A wide variety of piano music was
placed in this category, for, as time went along, the label "Novelty
Piano" was applied, often loosely and often just to keep
the craze alive.
This new music was like Ragtime in that it was intended to
be played straight through as written, and, while it easily qualified
as popular music, it had no lyrics and was not intended to be
sung. Most importantly, Novelty Piano music was filled with individualistic
piano "licks" that had happened to fall easily under
the fingers of the pianists who created them. Usually this involved
tricky rhythms and pianistic technical devices such as sliding
the fingers from black to white keys. It was all intended to be
attention-getting, so in this the "Novelty" name was
a fit.
Fanning the flames of the huge success of Novelty Piano was
the overall popularity at the time of the piano in America. During
the early 20th century, pianos were everywhere in almost every
home and in many public places. Millions of amateur pianists went
at it. The piano brought life to the staid American parlor where
it had no competition as the family entertainment center.
The program presented here fascinates me in two ways: often
it evokes an emotional mood, a romance that is dreamlike. This
emotional connection is much of what music is about--one may step
inside the head and heart of the composer or performer. Secondly,
this is a performance marked by craftsmanship.
Our craftsmen are veteran sages who have been drawn together
over and over to perform duo piano programs, and their abilities
to play two pianos as one have been steadily refined over a period
of twenty years. Dick Hyman, the consummate musician, composer,
historian--and always the pianist--is clearly dedicated to what
he can do with a piano. Throughout his life Dick has had a passion
to play the piano many hours every day, one way or the other.
His friend and protégé, John Sheridan, holds
a similar hand of cards. John's capacity for detail and variation
and memory seem endless. He is a kind of genius, as is Hyman.
Individually, both Hyman and Sheridan are famous in a world
of musicians and careful listeners who are captivated and, in
some ways, even addicted to early 20th century American music.
Many, so inspired, see this music as powerfully compelling and
spiritual. It drives them through life and often controls their
decisions. Revered by this group of aficionados, Hyman and Sheridan
are also a part of it.
The Program
Willie "The Lion" Smith was one of the greatest Harlem
stride pianists. Here on four distinctive pieces, including the
famous "Fingerbuster" (really a romp of piano dexterity!),
Hyman and Sheridan bring Smith's music back to life with gusto.
Then as a bow to Bix we have the very dreamlike "In the
Dark." In my view, it is the greatest of the four Beiderbecke
piano pieces, different, they say, every time Bix performed them.
"In the Dark" is again different here as Hyman and Sheridan,
after lifetimes of turning the nuances of Beiderbecke, give us
their impressions.
Through the mists, as in a dream, appear four pieces by creative
pianist, Rube Bloom, who was a contemporary of Beiderbecke and,
like all the rest, was a bit under his spell. Bloom recorded with
Beiderbecke in 1924 and went on to a New York career working with
the cream of the white jazz musicians of the 1920s. As Bloom went
along, he turned out a series of magnificent piano pieces.
One of the least known of the novelty pianists, W.C. Polla,
contributed one of the most memorable pieces, "Dancing Tambourine."
Aside from this one popular work he is completely forgotten, but
he did have a full and varied career, mostly as a conductor and
arranger for New York musical productions.
Bob Zurke, Swing Era star, burned his bright candle at both
ends and died young. Again, his hot style was a result of the
way the keyboard fell under his short, stubby fingers. Unable
to reach intervals of a 10th, so often used in the bass figures
of other pianists, Zurke developed active Bach-like bass lines
that often moved opposite the direction of his right-hand melodies.
In a reverie, Dick Hyman presents a solo as a postlude. It
is by the modern composer Eastwood Lane, a free-spirited New Yorker
who, among other things, created a six-part work titled "Adirondack
Sketches." To a considerable degree, Lane is remembered for
the influence he had on Bix Beiderbecke's pieces. Hyman's selection,
"The Legend of Lonesome Lake," is from the "Sketches,"
and it clearly displays the powerful impression Lane made on Beiderbecke.
Much of the music on this CD is laced with a bittersweet flavor
which will charm the listener, and, while all selections are period
pieces, all have upon renewed listening a freshness that is timeless.
(c) 2001 by Jim Cullum
RIVERWALK JAZZ EDUCATION OUTREACH
by Lynn Osborne Bobbitt, Riverwalk Director of Development and
Special Projects (LCBobb@aol.com)
From the beginning, the mission of "Riverwalk, Live From
The Landing" has been to document the history of jazz and
its contribution to American culture in an entertaining and educational
manner. With this in mind, we have begun a program to introduce
young people to this great music.
Riverwalk Jazz is launching a new initiative, "Riverwalk
Jazz Education Outreach." Riverwalk Jazz and the JCJB have
formed a partnership with the YMCA of San Antonio and the Hill
Country to develop a jazz music program for use in the existing
YMCA after-school enrichment programs in elementary and middle
schools in San Antonio. The objective is to fill the void created
when music programs are cut from school curriculums by utilizing
the resources of the radio series.
We received initial funding from the Brown Foundation, Inc.
of Houston and the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation of San Antonio.
YMCA President and CEO, Larry Crutsinger stated, "At the
YMCA, we believe in providing children with more exposure at earlier
ages to music and the arts because we know these exposures greatly
enhance learning. We are delighted to be involved in this wonderful
partnership with a world-class jazz band and our neighborhood
schools."
To accomplish our goals, we are taking the Riverwalk Jazz radio
show and the JCJB to area schools. The radio series' format,
highlighting history and American culture, is a perfect vehicle
for introducing young people to the music and stories surrounding
jazz. The scripts and music are adapted for young audiences.
For most of the children, the experience is their first exposure
to live traditional jazz. And, they are inspired by the stories
of the musicians, many of whom achieved success in spite of great
obstacles in their personal lives. We are evaluating how best
to use the Riverwalk Jazz archives to complement the teaching
of American history, social studies and literature.
Since March 2001, the JCJB has given two presentations at local
San Antonio schools. In addition, a hands-on beginning music workshop
curriculum for elementary-level students is currently in development.
Future plans include the development of an interactive internet
program for teachers to use the Riverwalk Jazz archives in the
classroom, and an internet application for a music-mentoring program.
Presently, a fundraising campaign is underway to implement "Riverwalk
Jazz Education Outreach."
Frequently, Riverwalk receives requests from educators around
the country asking for audio copies of radio broadcasts for classroom
use. Worth Lovett, Music Teacher, Fort Campbell, Kentucky writes
us:
"I am a teacher at Wassom Middle School. I caught your
Live at the Landing programs on my public radio station (Nashville).
They were simply great! I used both of them in my history class
and the students loved it. I would love to continue using your
program to teach music history."
Let us know at LCBobb@aol.com if you are interested in Riverwalk
Jazz programs for your classroom.
FREE LANDING ADMISSION EXTENDED
TO ACTIVE-DUTY U.S. MILITARY, POLICE, FIREFIGHTER, AND EMERGENCY
PERSONNEL
For February, 2002, Jim Cullum's Landing in San Antonio offers
FREE ADMISSION if you are currently employed as:
*Active-duty U.S. Armed Forces
*Firefighter
*Law-enforcement
*EMS
Please show your ID to your server. There is a limit of 4 free
admissions per party.
For reservations, please call the Landing, 9:00 AM to 5:00
PM Central Time, Monday through Friday, at 210-223-7266 or 210-602-0967.
Or, you may email your reservation to Chris Cullen at christocullen@hotmail.com.
Reservations are suggested only on weekend nights or for large
parties.
UPCOMING ON "RIVERWALK, LIVE FROM THE LANDING"
Note: dates given are for the weekly (Thursday) satellite feed
only. To find out when your local station airs Riverwalk, go to:
http://www.riverwalk.org/carriage/carriage.htm
2/7 Jazzonia: Jazz and the Poetry of Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes was the most prominent literary figure of the
1920s Harlem Renaissance. Special guest William Warfield offers
masterful readings of Hughes' poems. The Jim Cullum Jazz Band
performs the music of Duke Ellington and James P. Johnson in an
evocative concert of jazz and poetry.
2/14 Bessie, W.C., and James P.,: The Geography of Jazz
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band and friends map out the early roots of
jazz and blues that evolved outside of New Orleans. Guests include
vocalists Topsy Chapman and Linda Hopkins; and pianist Dick Hyman.
2/21 Ace of Rhythm: The Story of Jabbo Smith, Trumpeter and
Composer
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band revives the music of trumpeter and composer
Jabbo Smith. Also included are scenes from Jabbo's life in his
own words, as told by special guest Vernel Bagneris. Jabbo Smith
had a short but important recording career in the late 1920s when
he became the first trumpeter to seriously challenge Louis Armstrong
with a virtuosity which was years ahead of its time.
2/28 Metropolis: An Ode to New York in the Twenties
Join The Jim Cullum Jazz Band and friends for a musical journey
through New York City during its industrial boom in the 1920s.
Guests include saxophonist Benny Carter, pianist Dick Hyman,
and guitarist Marty Grosz.
More on upcoming Riverwalk programs here:
http://www.riverwalk.org/proglist/proglist2002.htm
More on Riverwalk guest artists here:
http://www.riverwalk.org/profiles/rwgalery.htm
ON THE ROAD
February
3 JCJB Jazz Mass: Coker United Methodist Church, San Antonio,
TX 210-494-3455
18 JCJB Concert: McAllen Civic Center, McAllen, TX 210-682-2871
20-23 The Landing and the JCJB welcome the Texas Music Educators
Association to San Antonio!
24 KLRN Brunch, St. Anthony Hotel, San Antonio, TX 11:00 AM
210-270-9000
To find out when the JCJB is coming to your town in 2002, go
to the JCJB Touring Itinerary page at http://www.riverwalk.org/events/calendar/itinery.htm
VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITES
Cast your vote for your favorite recent Riverwalk show and
guest artist on our revamped Riverwalk poll at http://www.misterpoll.com/poll.wga?id=3696458478.
Let your voice be heard! If you haven't taken the poll in a while,
the choices for favorite performer and show have been updated.
LISTENER FEEDBACK
Fan mail is music to our ears. We love hearing from you. If
you have any comments about our radio program or a live performance
by the Jim Cullum Jazz Band, send them to me at mophandl@landing.com,
and please let us know where you are located and on which radio
station you heard the show.
STREAMING RIVERWALK ON THE WEB
Can't hear Riverwalk over the air on your local public radio station?
Or, are you located outside the United States? Listen to us on
the Web in streaming format, from anywhere on the planet:
http://www.riverwalk.org/audionet.htm
You can always keep up with the latest news about the JCJB, the
Riverwalk Jazz public radio series, and Jim Cullum's Landing in
San Antonio by periodically checking in with us at:
http://www.riverwalk.org/new.htm
The Riverwalk public radio series is sponsored by See's Candies,
Inc. Visit the See's site at
http://www.sees.com
See you next month!
--Don Mopsick, Bassist and Web Guy
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