JAZZ IS DYING?

NOT WITH THESE YOUNG MUSICIANS!

The paint almost peeled off the walls of the venerable Mocha Shrine on Colborne St. in London, Sunday, as 17 feisty members of UWO’s Jazz Ensemble blew, strummed, drummed and fingered their instruments. “This is powerful music,” a friend seated next to me noted.

Bruce Smith, director, enjoyed himself as much as the audience did as he encouraged his young musicians, frequently calling for solos and then applauding and naming the musician. Of course, members of the London Jazz Society already knew that applauding a well-played solo was de rigueur.

The variety and number of brass instruments were spectacular to us London Jazz Society members. We are normally treated to a sextet or even an octet, and sometimes an even smaller group. There were trumpets, saxophones (one of them a bass), a piano keyboard, drums, stand-up bass, trombones and guitars.These are talented young musicians, some of whom are completing degrees in other fields such as business and engineering. One young lady who is an accomplished saxophonist has auditioned for the Canadian Youth Concert Band.  Although you can see her picture here, I am unable to tell you her name, or for that matter the names of any of the Ensemble. This is UWO policy. Why they keep their students hidden in this way escapes me. It’s not as if they were engaged in immoral or illegal activities. Go figure!

Bruce Smith

Among the pieces they played: The Dorian Way and Arf by Phil Nimmons, The Waltz I Blew for You by Rob McConnell and Collage #3 by Gordon Delamont. “These are Canadian pieces,” says Smith, “and will be played at the Collegiate Jazz Festival at Notre Dame University in Indiana in March.”

They also will play March 22 at the Paul Davenport Theatre at UWO. Additional information, click on:UWO Jazz Ensemble

The London Jazz Society began raising scholarship funds to honour the Society’s first president, Doris Jackson, following her death in 1994. The fund has grown due to donations and now has a balance of more than $130,000, says current president Al Burton. The money is administered by the Faculty of Music, University of Western Ontario. This year two students of its Jazz Ensemble received $1,000 each. They are Cameron Bereznick and Joanne Venturanza. Next year $1,000 will be awarded to five students.--Irvine Brace