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Battle of the Jazz Titans:
The Michigan State University
Professors of Jazz & the U of M Jazz Ensemble
Face Off in Concert to Honor the 70th Birthday of the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra
By Robert E. Martin
one of the biggest and undeniably anticipated rivalries of Michigan collegiate football is the annual face-off between Michigan State University and The University of Michigan.
So when ideas began circulating for a
fitting way to celebrate & recognize the Saginaw Bay Symphony
Orchestra's 70th Anniversary,
SBO board members Patricia Shek and Mary Princing devised
an ingenious and undeniably alluring birthday bash: lets bring the world
renowned Jazz bands from both schools into Saginaw for a spirited
head-to-head competition, throw a memorable gourmet flavored 'pre-game'
Tailgate Party, and build upon the excitement by holding the event
one day before the actual Michigan-Michigan State football game.
Now football & music fans can experience
a Wolverine and Spartan weekend unlike any other when
The Michigan State University Professors of Jazz and The
University of Michigan Jazz Ensemble 'face-off' in charitable
competition at The Temple Theatre on Friday, September 30th
in a unique musical & cultural extravaganza entitled
U of M, MSU and All That Jazz.
When it comes to Jazz music, both groups
in the tradition of the schools they represent are on top of the field.
The University of Michigan Jazz
Ensemble features bassist Robert Hurst - a four-time Grammy
Award winner, Hurst was a performer, director, arranger and composer for
The Tonight Show for eight years.
The Michigan State Professors of Jazz
feature internationally acclaimed bass player Rodney Whitaker as their director. Whitaker had a six-year
tenure with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz
Orchestra, where he continues today to support the efforts of jazz
performers.
And trust me, when it comes to the litany
of performers each group has 'teamed with', it reads like a Who's Who of
20th
Century Jazz, with a roster that includes such jazz greats as Diane
Reeves, Diana Krall, Roy Hargrove, Harry Connick, Jr., Wynton Marsalis,
Tony Williams, Pat Methany, Count Basie, Sting, Nancy Wilson and
Tony Bennett.
Moreover, in keeping with the football
theme, a festive pre-concert Tailgate Dinner Party is slated to
be held in the majestic Shrine Building to the Temple Theatre
that will begin at 5:30 PM and continue throughout the early
evening until the 7:30 performances.
Guests can mingle in an informal
atmosphere and enjoy scrumptious food prepared by the staff of
Horizons Conference Center with a menu that includes fresh fruits,
gourmet cheese & crackers, hummus, pita breads & spinach dip, spinach
triangles, vegetable crudités with cucumber & herb dip, chicken & taco
salads, along with such traditional fare as pizza, hot dogs & polish
dogs.
Additionally, the tailgate dinner will be
topped-off with a giant birthday cake with 70 blazing candles in
celebration of the Symphony's 70 years of service to the people of the
Saginaw Valley.
Finally, during the tailgate, guests will
be able to tour product displays of major sponsors and enjoy outdoor
activities under the tents in Morley Plaza, including a Classic & Contemporary Car
Show, with Tom McDonald donating a 1969 GTO Convertible
from the Classic Car Club, along with new & antique Corvettes courtesy
of Zehnder's Chevrolet & Buick. U of M and MSU wear will also be
available for purchase from The Great Divide, whom has graciously
agreed to donate a portion of their proceeds to the Saginaw Bay
Orchestra.
The tailgate & outdoor activities will be
followed by a 40-minute performance by the Michigan State Professors of
Jazz and a 40-minute performance by the University of Michigan Jazz
Ensemble, where the winners will undoubtedly consist of those in the
audience.
The audience will cast 'votes' that will
contribute to the 'score' of each group by donating dollars that will
determine the final tally in this 'Battle of the Bands'. Heidi
Robson of Rehmann Robson will be the official 'CPA counter'.
Bidding will take place before the concert and during admission, with
cash & checks accepted.
And to wind-up this special extravaganza,
an Afterglow Party will be held in the 'Leopard Lounge' at the
Temple where people can continue the celebration and toast the
orchestra.
Moreover, it is the hope of organizers that the novelty of this event will draw more non-traditional audiences into the fold of appreciation for the SBSO.
"The longevity of the Saginaw Bay
Symphony Orchestra is a testament to the citizens of Saginaw & Bay
Counties and their devotion to the arts," says Patrick Flynn,
music director & conductor of the SBSO. "What better way to thank them
for their years of continued support than by combining two historic and
loved American pastimes - football and jazz?"
Interview with 'The Players'
The Professors of Jazz is
a jazz group of world renown established by Artistic Director Rodney
Whitaker, internationally acclaimed bass player and director of Jazz
Studies at MSU. Whitaker has brought world-class musicians, faculty and
associates to the Jazz Studies program at MSU, and in turn the program
has become one of the fastest growing in the country.
The Professors of Jazz is a hard swinging
group performing music from the Jazz canon including Duke Ellington,
Miles Davis, and Thelonius Monk, along with their original
compositions. Moreover, the members have performed at national &
international venues and strive to expand the vitality of jazz music
throughout the state of Michigan. It doesn't get any heavier hitting
than that.
"I started the 'Professors' five years
ago as a way to attract a high caliber of performing professors into the
faculty at MSU," explains Whitaker.
"From my experience the people who teach jazz the best are typically the folks who play it the best. Frankly, it's difficult to attract people who can play well and get them off the road when that's what they love and want to do. But if you can create a group that's playing and touring around the teaching schedule, you can draw a higher caliber of people into the school."
By incorporating 'living legends' such as
Branford Marsalis (1998-2000) and Wycliffe Gordon (2000-2002) into the
faculty, it fosters a campus environment conducive to the evolution and
vitality of the art form.
"Charles Mingus once said 'Jazz is the
art of the moment'," recalls Whitaker, "and the only way young musicians
can truly learn about and understand jazz is to have the knowledge and
passion passed down from each generation, and to be around people who
can play."
When asked what he feels distinguishes
the Professors of Jazz from similar University & College Jazz ensembles,
Whitaker again points to the hybrid nature of the program he has
established.
"A lot of universities have faculty programs, but faculty groups that play together don't do full schedules that regularly," notes Whitaker. "We have regular residency at Detroit Symphony Hall and do four to five concerts there and at the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts and the Macomb Center, in addition to several programs we have going in Southeastern Michigan for the Arts League of Michigan. Plus we have a Jazz in the Studio series consisting of students with teachers as supervisors and do the Jazz Cats, a kids program at Detroit Symphony Hall, so we have a lot on the plate."
"You would have to go to school in New
York City to get a jazz education like this - straight from jazz
performers themselves."
In terms of the musical values he
attempts to instill and reflect within the parameters of the
Professors of Jazz that makes their performances engaging to the
audience, Whitaker is quick to state his commitment to the blues based
tradition of jazz.
"Blues is the bedrock of American music,"
he reflects. "We attempt to instill that aesthetic to our students - the
notion that you have to be an extrovert to be a jazz musician. This is
part of blues culture. There aren't too many introverted jazz musicians
out there, so all of our philosophy comes out of the blues-based
traditions."
When asked what the most challenging
component is to putting together a strong Jazz Ensemble, Whitaker notes
"jazz mirrors democracy."
"It's about getting people to fall in
love with democratic ideas. You may not like the way somebody sounds,
but you have to figure out a way to sound good together. We try to
instill that notion by example. Our faculty has similar backgrounds, but
come from all different backgrounds at the same time. Students see the
unity we have and how we respect each other's playing, so it helps them
come together a bit faster. We create a huge melting pot that consists
of students from all ethic and religious backgrounds."
And what does Whitaker think about the
pending 'face-off' between his Professors of Jazz and the University of
Michigan Jazz Ensemble?
"It's funny," he laughs, "because I used
to be a faculty member at the University of Michigan. At one time I was
an adjunct professor at the U of M and MSU from the same time between
1996-1999, but left to start a degree program here in the year 2000."
"The University of Michigan have a great
group of musicians," he concludes. "I love the whole idea of the
tailgate party because typically musicians say there is no competition
in jazz, but that's a lie. Both groups are going to sound good, but we
do compete. We don't even pretend not to compete because that's the
reality."
"Honestly, I love the whole concept of
this event and would like to go out on tour with both groups all over
Michigan."
*
As Professor of Music & Director of the
Department of Jazz & Contemporary Improvisation at the University of
Michigan, Ed Sarath divides his time between performing,
composing, teaching and writing about the aesthetic, cognitive and
transpersonal aspects of the creative process.
Recent projects spearheaded at the U of M
include the BFA in Jazz & Contemplative Studies, which includes
meditation and related studies in addition to jazz training. Sarath has
released several CD's and has accompanied such internationally
recognized artists as David Liebman, Billy Hart, Joanne Brackeen
and Karl Berger.
"As head of the Department of Jazz we
have two large jazz ensembles, eight jazz combos, a Latin Jazz Ensemble,
and a large improvising ensemble called the Creative Arts Orchestra,"
notes Sarath.
When asked what he feels distinguishes
the University of Michigan Jazz Ensemble from similar college jazz
bands, he notes that "our entire department is unique in the way it
covers mainstream jazz and contemporary music improvised music."
In terms of musical values that he
attempts to instill and reflect within the Jazz Ensemble that build to
engage an audience, Sarath states that "the balance between tradition
and innovation" is important and significant.
Considering the competitive nature of the
U of M and MSU Tailgate Fundraiser, professor Sarath's views
differ widely from that of Whitaker's. "We are not looking at this
concert as a battle or competition," he states.
Finally, when it comes to putting
together a strong jazz ensemble, what does Sarath find to be most
challenging?
"Definitely the most challenging factors
are taking talent and repertory and balancing them between the treasures
of the past and innovative terrain."
Countdown to Kick-off "The U of M and MSU jazz bands are golden standards in the music world, and we are thrilled that they will be celebrating the SBSO's birthday with us," says Pat Shek, event co-chair.
Additionally, an event of this magnitude
would not be possible without the generous support of major sponsors
within our community, which include UBS, Garber Management, Zehnder
Chevrolet Buick, Independent Bank, St. Mary's of Michigan, Scientific
Brake & Equipment, Spence Brothers Construction, and in-kind
sponsors Morley Companies and The Great Divide.
Prices range from $50.00 for
premier seating and the tailgate dinner; $35.00 for main floor seating and the tailgate dinner;
$25.00 for balcony seating and the tailgate dinner; and $15.00
for balcony seating, concert only.
Tickets for the U of M, MSU and
All That Jazz Concert are available for purchase by calling
1-877-754-SHOW (7469) or toll free at 877-755-SBSO.
Rodney Whitaker from the Michigan State Professors of Jazz
and Ed Sarath of the
University of Michigan Jazz Ensemble will not be competing for the
classic Corvette on display for patrons during the Tailgate Party that
precedes the 'Battle of the Bands' between U of M and MSU at the
Temple Theatre on September 30th. The event is a fundraiser for the
Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra and the two jazz legends
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