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University Daily Kansan
Arts/Entertainment
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Thursday, April 10, 1986
Jazz-O-Rama It's improvised fun
Second Annual "Jazz-O-Rama," at 7 p.m. Monday in the Kenyon Union Ballroom. Tickets cost $2 and are available from the door. Cost $4, Murphy or the door, at
By Monique O'Donnell Staff writer
Student jazz musicians are serious about their playing, but they can't be too serious because jazz has to be fun, a student member of Jazz Ensemble I said recently.
It's the second annual "Jazz-O-Rama," and students performing in it are looking forward to the concert.
"With jazz you can be yourself," said the member. Michael Tyler.
to take part in one of the ensembles or choirs, which can be taken for credit, he said.
The proceeds from the concert will go toward the recording and production of an album featuring The Beatles, and Jazz Choir I, Robinson said.
"We've come a long way since the curriculum for the program was first developed in 1977," Mc
The album will be recorded next week and should be completed by June. It also will contribute to the reputation of KU's jazz program as well as to the students' experience of studio work.
With jazz you can be yourself. You can improvise, play what you feel and get the audience involved.'
Michael Tyler
Dallas Junior and member of the Jazz Ensemble I
formance of nothing but student arrangements."
Dallas junior. "You can improvise, play what you feel and get the audience involved."
Tyler said jazz was unlike classical music because it was important not to get too serious about it. "I had a flute horn in a flautelhorn solo in the concert."
Ron McCurdy, coordinator of the KU jazz program and conductor of the Jazz Ensemble I and the Jazz Choir I and II, said an important motive behind staging the "Jazz-O-Rama" again this year was to expose KU's jazz program and the talent of the students to the public.
Janet Robinson, Marysville junior and a member of the choir, said, "It's important that it looks like the choir's having fun when they get up there in front of a lot of people."
Robinson will sing an improvised solo in "Jazz-O-Rama." Last year she also participated in the jazz concert and she wanted to perform again this year because it had given her a lot of self-confidence in her stage presence, she said.
Staging the performance also serves as a recruiting tool, McCurdy said. New students could get familiar with the roles of various musicians in the program. And possibly they would be inspired
The Jazz Ensemble II, conducted by Greg Clemons, Lawrence doctoral student, and the Jazz Ensemble III, conducted by Steve Allen, Lawrence graduate student, will both perform in the concert.
"The bulk of the concert is made up of things people on campus haven't heard of before," McCurdy said.
Robinson said the piece she would perform was called "New York Afternoon." She listened to the chords being played and then improvised on the melody. There are no words in the piece, just sounds which can change in each performance, she said.
McCurdy said he hoped to continue the "Jazz-O-Rama" every year and eventually to bring in a guest soloist.
Michael Tyer, Dallas sophomore, practices his improvisational solo for the Jazz O-Rama, Jeff Stewart, Lawrence sophomore, accompanies him.
'Under Volcano' is emotional tale of relationships
Staff writer
By Grant W. Butler
Originality is appeal of Pot-Pourri
Under The Volcano, directed by John Huston.
3:30 p.m. 7 p.m., and 8:30 p.m. tomorrow
and Saturday in Woodfort Auditorium in the
Kansas Union. Rated R, 109 min./color.
While in no way a cheerful tale chock-full of comedy, John Huston's "Under The Volcano" is a fascinating voyage into the inner sanctums of a chronic alcoholic.
In the last day of his life, Geoffrey Firmin descends into the bowels of
Trapped in the confusion of his drunken stupor, Firinm rejects all opportunities for love from his wife.
By Grant W. Butler Staff writer
Pot-Pouri Productions, a collection of four contemporary theatre productions directed by KU graduate students as part of the William Ingle Theatre series, staged at 8 p.m. nightly April 16-19 in the Igle Theatre in Toronto and at 7 p.m. daily April 25-29 in the general public and $2 for senior citizens and other students.
Presenting a different show every day for four days is a way the University of Kansas department of theatre and media arts can showcase its finest directors and actors.
And by calling the shows Pot-Pourri Productions, the varied nature of all the shows and talents is revealed.
"It's a variety of things," said David Montee, Bartlesville, Okla., graduate student, and director of "Other Places," one of the featured productions. "Instead of putting one show in production, they have several shows. So in one week someone can go and see a variety of different things."
Productions in this year's edition of "Pot-Pourri Productions" include: "Seduced," by Sam Shepard, on April 16; "Other Places," by Harold Pinter, on April 17; "The Good Doctor," by Neil Simon, on April 18; and "Angels Fall," by Lanford Wilson, on April 19.
A fifth production in the series is the teleplay "Silences Shared," which was adapted from a short story by Thomas Averill and filmed by Michael Burks, Lawrence graduate student, during spring break. The film will be shown later in the semester.
Montee said each show offered something different to the public.
Performing different productions one night after another would be difficult in regular theatre because of staging, he said. But in Pot-Pourri each show is using the same basic set.
"The idea is to put most of your emphasis on acting and directing, getting by with a minimum of technical assistance," he said.
Ev Corum, Lawrence graduate student and director of "Angels Fall," said stage limitations were not a problem.
"What each of us tried to do was keep our scenic restrictions limited," Corum said. "I don't find that a problem, but a liberation. The actor can concentrate on what he's doing and the audience can too."
"This is the closest thing to theatre in the mind without doing reader's theatre."
Trumpet virtuoso inspires enthusiasm in KU students
Student musicians performing side-by-side with a renowned trumpet virtuos can have an inspirational experience. But it can be humbling at the same time.
By Monique O'Donnell
Staff writer
Allen Vizzutti, a 34-year-old trumpeter who lives in Los Angeles, will be a special guest at KU's Symphonic Band spring concert at 3:30 p.m. Sunday in the Crafton-Preyer Theatre in Murphy Hall. The artist has performed as a soloist with internationally renowned jazz performers such as Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Oliver Nelson, Dizzy Gillispie, Chick Corea and Dave Dangione.
Staff writer
Greg Hayes, Plano, Texas, junior and a member of KU's Symphonic
Vizzutti has perfected technical skills people ten years ago would not have thought possible, said Robert Foster, director of KU bands. The band has performed with Vizzutti several times before and also is featured on the album "The Versatility of Allen Vizzutti," which was recorded two years ago.
But the experience is also humbling, he said, because talent like that is God given. By the time a student starts in college it's pretty clear how much talent there is and how much work has to be done.
Band, said it was a great opportunity to perform with someone as talented as Vizzutti. Hayes plays the euphonium, an instrument which resembles the trombone but is much smaller.
"He's of the same caliber as Ithaku Perlman on violin," Hayes said of Vizzuti. "After hearing him you want to hit the practice room."
"Another thing that makes it fun to perform with him is his fabulous personality. He loves being around people," Hayes said.
Vizzutti will perform two solos in Sunday's concert. The music featured in the performance will include folk songs, symphonies and circus marches, Foster said.
Pianist to share skill in scholarship recital
James Barnes, associate professor of music and assistant to the director of bands, will be conducting two of his own works at the concert.
Staff writer
By Grant W. Butler
Claude Frank will perform a benefit recital for the KU Music Scholarship Fund at 8 p.m. Sunday in the Crafton-Preer Theatre in Murphy Hall. Tickets are available at the Murphy Hall students, $8 and $6 for the general public and $7 and $4 for senior citizens and other students.
For the past two years Claude Frank has come to campus two days each month to teach his art. Now he is coming to display it.
"I give master classes," Frank, a KU piano-in-residence from Yale University, said last week. "They're more lessons with some differences."
"These are students who already have a piano teacher. I just give them another point of view — a musical point of view. I don't sit down and say 'You have to buckle down and practice. You need to drop another class.' I deal with them only musically."
Since his debut in 1969, Frank has appeared with every major American and European orchestra. He also has made annual tours of the United States, Europe and South America. His concert Sunday, which will benefit the general Music Scholarship Fund at the KU Endowment Association, marks his second performance at KU.
Frank will continue working with juniors, seniors and graduate students for another year as a pianist-in-residence.
For the performance, Frank will play Schubert's "Sonata in B-flat Major, Opus Posthumous," and Beethevon's "Sonata in E-minor, Opus 90," "Polaisean, Opus 89" and "Sonata in C-major, Opus 53 (Waldstein)."
"I do perform some solos, but I also perform some concertos with orchestras, and now and then I play some chamber music," Frank said.
But Frank performs more than solo material.
Picking out which type of performance he prefers is a task at which level.
"Everything has its own particular
excitement," he said. "When you play with an orchestra, there's excitement with meeting new musicians, meeting a new director and maybe it's an orchestra you haven't played with before. It's probably the most exciting because of the uncertainty.
"Chamber music is really a democratic type of thing. Everyone there is entitled to as much say in the musical experience as I am, and that makes it incredibly rewarding."
Getting students motivated to play with greater sensitivity and love is Frank's forte, said Jane Frazier, Winfield special student in piano who has taken master classes with him.
"Mr. Frank is so good with students," Frazier said. "He's helpful and a good teacher. He knows what he's doing and how to motivate students.
"After all, music is a discipline. But if you get discouraged you can lose the spontanity and the love for it."
In one of Frank's master classes, Frazier said, she worked with him on pieces by Mozart and Schubert, and was impressed with his knowledge of how the pieces should be interpreted.
He requires discipline, she said,
but his friendly nature lets students
relax and concentrate on the piano.
"The thing that's wonderful about working with Mr. Frank is he knows the piano so well," she said.
Because of it, the Frazier said, when Frank sits down at the piano, he lets the music speak for his emotions. He doesn't put on a show.
"He's more reserved, but the music comes through in the sound," she said. "You're not there for a side show.
"If jumping up and down the piano bench helps you, that's fine. But he doesn't need to do that."
Review
acceptance from his brother, friend-
ship and sobriety.
Laura Krodering, Desoto, Mo. sophomore and Willie Lenoir, Lawrence special student, perform the dark and dramatic dance, "Masculine/Feminine."
His end comes at the hands of thieves and prostitutes in a darkened backwoods bordello.
What could be construed as a depressing film is, in truth, a morality statement by Huston about the importance of relationships with family members when the days of glory have past.
The dark tone of the film removes all unnecessary distractions, allowing the hopeless existence of Firmin, played by Albert Finney, to be revealed. This is a man who achieved greatness at one time as a British consul and now has nothing left in life except the assurance that his bottle will remain true to him.
Set in Cuernavaca, Mexico, on the Mexican day of the dead, "Under The Volcano," which was based on a novel by Malcolm Lowry, projects an eerie image of Firmin and his gradual digression into death.
Dances portray emotional journey
Finney has become adept with the role of a drunkard, having also starred as the alcoholic Sir in "The Dresser" in 1983.
But Firmin presents a different type of acting challenge. He has none of the extroverted flamboyance of Sir, who cried out for help.
The film is not just an impressive personality sketch by Finney. Good performances are given by Jacqueline Bisset, who plays Firmin's unfaithful wife, Yvonne, and Anthony Andrews, who plays Firmin's brother, Hugu.
The pace of the film is the only drawback to an otherwise fine work. But the unwritten emotion which is interpreted into each performance is the attraction of "Under The Volcano," not what's said and done on the screen.
By Monique O'Donnell
Staff writer
Staff writer
Dancers began working early in February and now their every movement is balanced, reflecting discipline and perfectionism of both dancers and choreographers.
The event denotes more than the company's first year as part of the department of music and dance, it is also a tribute to James Moeser, departing dean of the School of Fine Arts, who helped establish dance as an independent division in the school.
Classical and modern dance, revealing the individuality of each choreographer and the talent of the dancers, will be performed by the KU Dance Center at 8 p.m. tomorrow in the Crafton-Presley Theatre in Murray Hall.
Laura Krodinger, Desoto, Mo., sophomore, who performs the dance with Willie Lenor, Lawrence special student, said her movements throughout the dance varied from percussive to smooth. But the piece was mainly dark and dramatic, she said.
"Masculin/Feminin" is one dance that clearly reflects skill and originality. It depicts the explosive and ultimately devastating relationship between two lovers, said Scott Douglas Morrow, assistant professor of dance, who choreographed the piece.
"There's no storyline," he said. "It's a dramatic, abstract piece, the movement is streamlined and sophisticated."
"Sometimes it's been difficult to harmonize my movements with my partner," she said. "But now it really
is a dance."
Morrow said that there was no narrative line in his piece, but that it was an emotional journey.
The program opens with a modern solo dance, "By Degrees," performed by Linda Muir, visiting instructor of ballet. Muir choreographed the second piece, "Courting," an abstract舞 based on the game of tennis.
"Courting" features a solid monotone percussion that adds a rhythmic base to choppy gestures of
the dancers. Muir has added a theatrical quality to the performance by chanting words that the dancers echo.
The third piece, "Night Song," was choreographed by Morrow. He said it was a new creation and described it as an "atmospheric mood piece depicting the descent into the subconscious."
The dancers become entangled, their bodies twisting and turning in some phases of the piece. Then,
moments later, they tear away from each other.
Brenda Berg, Hays senior, who performs "Night Song" with Michelle Hyde, Prairie Village graduate student, said that at times the movements were frenzied, even psychotic, but that the music remained quieting and eerie. The piece has no plot and is open to individual interpretation. It suggests a personal struggle in which both dancers portray internal conflict, she said.
"The movements in this dance are different from anything I've ever done before," Berg said. "The most difficult thing for me has been maintaining the energy until the end."
An ensemble of 13 dancers will perform "Moving Pictures," which was choreographed by Muir. It is divided into four sections: jazz, folk and modern, abstract dance.
"Lotus Blossom" is a carefully choreographed solo, which guides Michelle North, Lake Winnbagbe, Mo. junior, in a twirling motion as she makes elaborate gestures across the floor.
To lighten things up, the last performance is a funny piece in which the dancers move around with gigantic hair curlers. These large, colorful, plastic and wire contraptions render almost comical effects to the performance.
The piece will be performed by members of the "4,5,6, Speed-Up" ensemble. Choreography was provided by Joan Stone, adjunct professor of dance.
Hyde, who is also performing in this dance, said the piece made fun of the fashion industry and gradually became more serious.
"We begin to strip each other of the pretense," she said. "We begin to find ourselves and become more open to each other."
Tickets for the performance are $5 for KU students and senior citizens and $10 for the general public. Proceeds from the performance will be used to help finance the Elizabeth Sherbon Dance Award, said Janet Hamburg, director of dance.