Newspapers / Fayetteville State University Student … / April 1, 1994, edition 1 / Page 4
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The Broncos’ Voice March 1994 ffliTciiEU-iiurr DUO:^5 time GOES inZZ (IT ITS BEfT Frad Sapp I had the distinct pleasure of enjoying approximately ninety solid minutes of first class, Jazz entertainment when the Mitchell- Huff Duo performed on Thursday, Febuary 17, 1994, at FSU’s Seabrook Auditorium. The pro gram was part of a Cultural Di versity Presentation sponsored by the Fort Bragg Schools in con junction with Fayetteville State University. The Duo had made musical presentations at various Fort Bragg schools earlier in the day. The Mitchell-Ruff Duo was formed in 1955 when pianist/com poser Dwike Mitchell and bassist and French-horn player Willie Ruff left Lionel Hampton’s band to strike out on their profession and to many corners of the world. It was this Duo that introduced American jazz to the postwar (then) Soviet Union in 1959, for in stance, and to China in 1981. The New York Times wrote “The Duo held their audience at the Tchallovsky Conservatory spell bound. Mr. Ruff lectured in the Russian language on the origins and wonders of Jazz music and he and pianist Dwike Mitchell went on to give a performance of American Jazz not soon to be for gotten in Russia.” On Thursday evening, the Duo opened the first set with an up tempo piece entitled “Return To Fayetteville State University”. Mr. Ruff explained to the audi ence that the Duo performed at FSU in the past. However, It was so long ago that there is prob ably “no one alive who remem bers”. Incidently, this program was a return for me as well. I first saw the mitchell-Ruff Duo when I was a college sophomore in (Good Griefll!) 1964. The second piece was the stan dard “Autumn Leaves”, but Mr.Mltchell presented his own ar rangement in 3/4 time. For the third number, “Lush Life”, Mr. Ruff put aside his bass and picked up the French horn, prov ing to all present that the French born is certainly a singularly beautiful Jazz instrument. Before playing the next piece, Mr. Ruff told the audience that as an el ementary school student, he had the honor of meeting the great W.C. Handy who Influenced his musical interests. The Duo then played a most beautiful arrange ment of W.C. Handy’s “St. Louis Blues”. The final piece of the first set was chosen, according to Mr. Ruff, as a result of a re newed interest in Gershwin. So, from the Folk Opera Porgy and Bess, they honored the audience with their interpretation of “It Ain’t Necessarily So”, and left the stage for intermission amid thun derous applause. An old standard, “Favorite Things”, opened the second set. This, too, was arranged in 3/4 time (much like John Coltrane’s version). The Duo the launched into and old Dinah Washington ballad, “My Old Flame”, which showcased the piano virtuosity of Mr. Mitchell. The program ended with another Gerswin-in- fiuenced composition entitled “Porgy and Bess Excepts”. This time Mr. Ruff moved from bass to the French horn, and back to the bass, while Mr. Mitchell held the audience captive with his flaw less keyboard artistry. The Duo exited to a standing ovation. As I write this article, I realize words are not enough to describe the Joy and delight brought to Thursday night’s audience by the Mitchell-Ruff Duo. For those of you in attendance-vou know! For every else...ya had to Bjg there. BY. Earl Moniz Since being enrolled, 1 have witnessed quite a few histori cal moments in the annals of Fayetteville State University. Amidst all the triumph and tur moil, all the pride and disap pointment, and all the laughter and tears, I Finally realized that the university is composed of us. If the university does some thing that a person despises, then that person should vigor ously oppose it and ensure that that action does not occur again, or at least that dissatisfaction should be adamantly voiced. If no action is taken by the stu dents to prevent that action from recurring, then that inac tivity can be interpreted as per mission for that action to take place once again. The university does not exist without us! The university only commits acts and enforces polices that we permit When a person criticizes what the university does, that person is talking about and criti cizing what the students permit it to do. As our Constitution en courages, if an agency of the government no longer has the best interests of its citizens in mind with its policies and regu lations, then maybe the citizens should abolish that agency and start again. The future of the university lies in the future of its students. If graduates wander off into the “real world” and embarrass themselves and the university, support for the university’s en deavors will decrease. If gradu ates and students do not con cern themselves with keeping the standards at a challenging level, curious and superior stu dents will find other challenges to conquer. If graduates and students forget who brought them to the dance, it will truly be a night to forget. Graduates and students should always consider themselves re cruiters as well as ambassadors of the university and be on the lookout for bright students who will enjoy the challenges that FSU can provide. When students of superior caliber are encoun tered, they should be intro duced to the challenges and op portunities that await them at Fayetteville State University. With that said, I now bequeath my column to any individual who will be back next semes ter and who will build upon these characteristics: I be queath a sound sense of com munity for everyone and for every tradition at FSU. I be queath my objective and logi cal style in approaching prob lems and situations at FSU and also in the community at large. iVlost of all, I bequeath my pro found belief that an education, like happiness, adds and mul tiples as we divide it with oth ers. Please do not interpret these traits and characteristics as the epitome of journalistic style (I am not that foolish...or arrogant), but simply a very fun damental base upon which to build taller, stronger, and more influential literary and artistic monuments in an attempt to strengthen and diversity the idea of the university as well as Fayetteville State University it self. All my best wishes now, and as time goes by... Big Brother « IS watching you. We’re not. You know what you ore doing better than anyone- If you think that what your dub, Iratermty, sorority, fellowship, or group is doing is of general interest"~or if you just have an opinion or Idea that you woufd like to share with our reading pubfic-Art, Science, Newsy write it up^ send it off. See Page 2 for more information on guidelines for 1.' £' i.
Fayetteville State University Student Newspaper
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April 1, 1994, edition 1
4
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