[Dixielandjazz] That elusive definition of jazz

[Gluetje1 at aol.com]

Mart, I'm with you.  It was a band director who brought the love of  music 
to me.  He sent us home with assignments of "listening  homework".  He 
organized a jazz band for those who wanted to try it,  albeit, it was swing and 
forward in 1954 -- but that's to be forgiven since he  opened up my ears far 
wider than they were.
 
He was a percussionist and my recall is that at that time he took some  
risks by jazzing up the cadences for our marching band also.  And I know he  
produced some music educators as a result along with at least one professional 
 who was in band same years as me.
Ginny
 
 
 
In a message dated 8/17/2010 4:06:14 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  
macjazz at comcast.net writes:

In all  due respect and while there may actually have been some directors  
somewhere that fit this description, I was highly active in the field for  
some 15 years and won state championship in jazz/stage band etc. and am  
not 
aware of a single director who even began to fit what you are saying  here.

I will agree that there were not many high school programs that  addressed 
OKOM (jazz) in that the number of students able to improvise  COOPERATIVELY 
were few and far between.  There were however, many  many individuals and 
groups who played outstanding, swinging jazz and who  had band directors 
who 
were able to make it happen.  I had (and have)  the alumni who played and 
are 
playing professionally, to prove  it.

I would be interested to know how many on this list (even based on  OKOM) 
got 
their start with a school music program and were in a program  where the 
director had jazz sense, as opposed to those who fall into the  opposite 
category.

Sorry troops, but I'll argue this one till hell  freezes over!

Mart

Martin D. McKay (Professional  Listener)(Retired one time band director)
St. Augustine, Florida (Come on  down, and bring money)