Jacque Janssen, arts/features editor
Arts & Entertainment
University Daily Kansan / Friday, February 5, 1988
9
McCurdy is in the swing of jazz class
By Regan Brown
Kansan staff writer
It's early Tuesday morning in Murphy Hall, and Ron McCurdy is trying to get his Introduction to Jazz Improvisation class to swing.
The saxophones seem to be hitting a few rough spots. But McCurdy, sedated at a piano, takes the group through the refrain fast, slow, forward, backward, showing and describing the loose, rippling sound he wants.
There seems to be some initial awkwardness among the ranks. But after a few more attempts, the simple riff that sounded suspiciously like scales suddenly turns into
McCurdy, assistant professor of music and KU jazz coordinator, takes a slightly different approach with his Introduction to Jazz Improvisation students than he does with his KU Jazz Singers and Jazz Ensemble, who will back up jazz names James Moody and the Four Freshmen at the Jayhawk Invitational Jazz Festival this weekend.
"With the beginning group, I run them through a survey of improvisation without the details." he said
But regardless of the group he's coaching — Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Singers, basketball band, or members of the marching band — McCurdy has a reputation for demanding the best from his musicians.
"Maybe demand is too Hitler-like a word," he said,
"but I certainly expect a lot. When musicians like James Moody come here to play with us, they know we will be prepared."
Photo illustration by Stephen Warden/KANSAN
One example of the Jazz Ensemble's professionalism was that the group did not see the Four Freshmen's arrangements from their Las Vegas show until last Friday, McCurdy said. It took three rehearsals for the ensemble to master the material for the concert, which will be at 8 tomorrow night in Crafton-Prever Theater.
Both the Jazz Singers and the Ensemble have been invited to perform at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland this summer.
Live jazz given little support
Bv Regan Brown
Kansan staff writer
When it comes to jazz, Lawrence listeners might tune in on the radio and buy the occasional hot album. But local audiences tend to give live jazz events the cold shoulder, according to a local nightclub owner.
"A strictly jazz venue won't work here," said Rick McNeely, owner of the Jazzhaus, $926½ Massachusetts St. The club, which opened in 1982 as a jazz showcase, has brought such artists as vocalists Rare Silk and saxophonists Phil Woods and Stan Getz to town.
McNeely said the amount of money his club lost promoting jazz in Lawrence ran into the tens of thousands of dollars.
"If people would support mainstream jazz, I would do nothing but that sort of thing," he said. "But now we subsidize jazz with rock."
He said he had lost three thousand dollars on each of the last four jazz concerts at the Jazzhaus.
He said part of the problem was that people had moved away from the idea of jazz as something to hear in a nightclub.
Jazz was born in nightclubs," McNeely said. He said that people who listen to jazz now want it to be more like chamber music.
"They don't want to hear people talking or the noise of the cash register or bartenders making drinks," he said.
He said that jazz listeners tended not to come out during the
week. "If they come out Friday to hear some jazz, they run into the people who are ready to howl."
Surrounded by photographs of the many jazz musicians who have played at his club since it opened, McNeely said he wasn't angry with local jazz fans. He said he had met his goals of bringing some great tenor saxophone players to town and of promoting local jazz in the area.
"Mostly fine groups that no one would see," he said.
"We still have the only jazz box in town," he said, referring to the club's record selection. A typical combination could include Ella Fitzgerald, Jimi Hendrix, Sting, and Charlie Parker, he said.
But McNeely remains optimistic about prospects for jazz in the world, his club would retain the name of Jazzahva even though music by them was rare.
Jazz announcer and educator Dick Wright agreed that all was not well with the local jazz scene.
"Things are grim in live music," he said. "A club has to make movies and jazz listeners are notorious for not being heavy drummers."
Peter Gray, manager of Pennylane Records and Tapes, 844 Massachusetts St. , said people were buying "accessible jazz."
Musicians such as David Sanborn, who rely heavily on melody, sell better than artists whose work is more textured and less accessible, he said.
"It itens that jazz musicians have to go to an accessible sound even, like writing the background to a wine commercial," he said.
Moody to head festival
By Regan Brown
The 11th annual Jazzhawk Invitalional Jazz Festival will put Lawrence in the mood this weekend with saxophonist James Moody and the Four Freshmen in concert at Murphy Hall.
The KU Jazz Singers and Jazz Ensemble I will perform with Moody tonight and with the Four Freshmen tomorrow night. Ron McCurdy, jazz coordinator and associate professor of music, will conduct both KU grouns.
The junior high and high school performances will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow. Choirs will perform in Swarthout Recital Hall and bands will perform in Crafton-Preyer Theatre.
The evening concerts highlight a weekend of activity for 19 junior high and high school jazz bands and participate in clinics all day tomorrow.
James Moody, who plays flute, alto and tenor saxophone, clarinet and piccolo, was an original member of Dizzy Gillespie's band. He has played throughout the world during his 40-year jazz career.
Kansan staff writer
WHEN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VISIT NIVERSAL STUDIOS TOUR
Concerts for both nights are at 8 p.m. in Crafton-Preyer Theatre.
The Four Freshmen achieved fame in the 1950s for their harmonious vocal style, and they have been performing ever since. The quartet members are charter member Bob Flanigan, Autie Goodman, Kirk Marry and KU alumnus Mike Beisner
Tickets for each performance are $8 for general admission, $6 for senior citizens, and $4 for KU students. The daytime performances are free.
OPENS FEBRUARY 5TH.
IDEA FOR KANSAN MAGAZINE STORY CALL 864-4810
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