Newspapers / The Carolina Times (Durham, … / Feb. 5, 1977, edition 1 / Page 11
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SAT.. ffVJAQYB. 1177 1Y" CArCU'lMl'"' U f RHR Afl 3S RAPT BB AL-AUUU "LI J Lv vJ V-i By Warren D. Blackshear t - ' - The instruction of jazz V an American art form which derives from' musicians with a ; special talent to create music while" standing on their feet rather than from written scores - has come to North Carolina Central University (NCCU) through the efforts of a trium virate of. . instructors " and ; musicians. , . w- And while jazz itself, has been on college campuses ber fore, the NCCU experimental jazz program has taken on an added dimension for the stu dents and teachers. "We are trying . to bridge the gap between the artist and the in dustry," says Donald Byrd, re nown trumpet player and pre sident of Black Byrd Produc tions. 1 ' " . Byrd pointed out that .most wealthy black people are performers, saying "Stevie Wonder, made $14 million, last year " An accomplished musician with numerous re cords to ' his credit,' Byrd " fieldljuttfalnsthem- to dents who had dropped out of - become music teachers." f: the music program. When seek- i The ,44-year old musician ing their reasons, he found that who has been - in the business some of them wanted to play' for 34 years restated the well jazz professionally and they known fact that there is a ire mendous amount of money , in the , music industry i which is generated by blacks but ; Is controlled by whites." A list of . positions whiph -benefit from performers includes managers, became bored with the teacher training courses.' . n ,V When : exploring what could be done to accommo date such students, Dr. Strassl er says he realized that "jazz is a verv illusive ' thine to booking 5i agents.fr promoters, teach," Because vu 'tn: apnc moiiiMn nA lawvi-rv he taid. mentally rather than written Byrd wants to change this by helping black coHege students with: practical training to meet the demands of the studio and to break into all facets of the industry.' In or der to do this, he said,' the college must "strike a balance between v intellectualism ,. and pragmatism." - A producer, composer, and active, musician, Byrd is one of the key ingredients of Central's jazz program. He . serves as an adiunct professor- in ihf. 17? mncentration . savsi ,: Students out. It is mainly , "an act or improvisation, with . most of. the creation being done on : the spot " he related. :. Eight- years ago, Strassler said, he received a small grant to institute a series of work shops and lectures to develop a relevant jazz curriculum with visiting lecturers, and students.. From these beginnings, the jazz program is now in its second year and has blpssomed into a ; working program which has borne fruit for some of its I NCCU Chancellor Dr. Albert N. Whiting, Donald Byrd end Dr. Eugene Stretsler discus iazz program and related matters. : Department Chariman Dr. 'Eugene Strassler. , I ; Another key; person who was responsible for pulling to- added that the average "studio gethinr the jazz program is Dr -The. New Central Connec-' tion Unlimited, a group of five students and two faculty mem bers have . landed a recording contract with a major record- musician makes between' $50, v Strassler,; who. V? Central Jng . company,.. . Tte group has ww i : rv,uw yciu...' he contends that college music programs-do not prepare stu dents to enter this lucrative' ; eleven Vear ago. After he took J written and ; recorded 16 ori- bver the department chairman- ginal songs for their first album ship, he said, he came into con- on the United Artists label tact with several former stu- which is scheduled to be re leased this month, t. Another positive step for ward came in the form of an announcement by Donald Byrd who said that negotiations have been completed with Queens International T h e a t r i c a.l Agency to provide on the job training in music and theatrical management, for students from Central and other traditionally black colleges. tuition scholarships from Black The development of the Byrd Productions, jazz program was facilitated Dr. Strassler reported that through a grant from the the jazz program instruction Department of Health, Educa- ranges from individual instruc tion; and Welfare's Advanced tion to master classes for stage Institutional Development Pro- bands. Currently it reaches out gram (AIDP). Monies from to about 25 students with HEW provided the school with about twelve who are in the staff, faculty training, materials jazz concentration, and supplies. It is also aided by Courses are taught in jazz HEU CENTRAL CONNECTION UNLIMITED it 11 .7'. ( ;STAN ft EOKMSE" r mm! ltJll " "MOUSE" '""" . , I 1 ' ,. i ) mA I. . ; ' : yyy ' - ' ih . . j. . i in ii ii r ? ', 3. . . . . . in i - i . i i mil' DlSCTHy I : Stanley W. Baird (Stan), leader, from Asheville is' an instructor in the Jazz Pro gram: He attended Knoxville College, and received his B. A. and M. A. degrees from NCCU in music. He also studied un der Donald Byrd and Jerry Coker, and attended the Uni versity of Miami and Berklee College of Music. Stan was member of the U. S. Continen tal Army Command Band while he was in the army. He plays all saxaphones and the flute. Stan plans to continue his education ' in - the music field. ;" Charles V. Brown! bet- cussionisx, rrom or folk, Virginia is also an instructor. Charlie received his . B; A. from Shaw Uni-. versity and his M. A. from North Carolina Central Uni-; ' versityi r He plans ;, to , enter school in the spring to begin working toward his PhJ). and " hopis to complete this pro gram within the next ' three years. Charles has experience with various . local and pro fessional bands. v ' Tomas (Bonnie) Clyde, from Shelby is a sophomore. He studied4 at Central Pied mont Community College in Charlotte before coming to NCCU, Bonnie plays keyboard, Arp Synthesizer, tenor and alto saxes, flute and is a vocalist. He has experience with numerous .local and professional - bands. . Bonnie plans to obtain a B. A. and M. A, degree to help pro spective musicians. ' .', Clifton Cotton from Chapel Hill is a freshman. Clif served three years iri the Army and he has played with various local bands. He is a vocalist and plays the keyboard. He plans to obtain a B. A. and M. A. degree and become a pro fessional vocalist and instru mentalist , William Norris Duckett (Country) from Brevard is also a freshman. He attended Cen tral Piedmont Community College and has played with numerous focal and profes sional bands. Country plas lead guitar, piano, violin, and is a vocalist. He plans to continue his education through the doctoral level with special Aaron Mills, from Ashe ville is a freshman and he attended Central Piedmont also. He was greatly influenced by his father who sang with various professional artists during the early 1950's. Aaron is a vocalist and plays bass gui tar, trumpet, and string bass. He has also played with various bands. His future plans are '"to become a great com poser and play music for en joyment . Marion Albert Wiggins, Jr. (Mouse) music director from Durham, is a senior. Mouse has played with numerous pro fessional bands of which he was leader, and also' varous local bands. His extensive travels and experiences with well-known artists and bands has encouraged ' him to con tinue . his:; education and develop his talents profes sionally to make a great contribution in music. Mouse plays trumpet and all other brass instruments, strings, and has had lessons on reeds. and keyboard improvisation, The leader of the New history of jazz, advanced jazz " Central Connection, Sun say, improvisation, jazz arranging,' the group has rehearsals four to gospel and modern musk; by five days t week for three or three instructors. more hours in addition to their At the conclusion of their normal load -of course work, instruction, the students wiflThis rigorous schedule-reaped receive a bachelor of arts in its peak when they were doiiig" 'music;' however, the school the studio work for their re- ; hopes to bestow a degree in cord. On three separate trfpV jazz in the future. to California, they spent up to An exponent of change fourteen hours a day in the from a heavy emphasis on studio during the week record teacher training. Dr. Strassler mg sessions. Only eight of admits that the program still their eighteen songs will sppear has a way to go. Many of the fa the new album, Stan mdi . students still express a desire cated. to receive teacher certification. Highly in favor of the in to some cases this is an indi- dmtry tie fa provided by Byrd, cation of having something to Dr. Strassler says this adds to fall back on, he related. the uniqueness of the jazz pro- The resources of Byrd and jpam. Strassler were combined with The department chairman, the organizational skills of obviously pleased with the re Stanley V. Baird, a visiting lec- cent developments, says the turer. They made it possible group is to be commended "for for the New Central Connec- putting it together in a year's tion Unlimited to be together time." In academic terms, Dr. at Central. Stan is also credited Strassler explained, to be given with organizing the popular a contract with a major Bite, Chew and Spit band as company is recognition of "a well as the jazz band at Cen- high degree of professional tral. achievement and acceptance." In conjunction with Byrd, It is also equivalent to pubEsh Stan served as contact man or ing a major work since they talent scout, reaching out to wrote an original material for the musicians. Most of them, the album, however, had responsibilities For Stan and the group, and could not afford to give up the contract is the result of their normal sources of in- long hard work and training come. which they hope wffl elevate This obstacle was over- them to another income come with the help of fufl bracket, tuition scholarships from Black The photographs and brief Byrd Productions. Other ex- biographs wfll introduce you to penses are met with income a product of NCClfs jazz pro from playing weeRend engage- gram - THE NEW CENTRAL ments in a tri-state area. CONNECTION UNLIMITED! EVERY KIGIIT 6-niD:ilGIIT EARCiE CEE "Till , SCrJAttM' D!f.;o:i" M QUSIC mm . i ' II ( U . Ill" r: v-. ss t 1 u V r I ' M 1: I! JfL I v ; il mmmmmi,gmmmmmJ,-,l, , i " .1 ' jT 1 1 I - . . 1 I : J ' , - 1 - "COUWTRY r J. ; 1 " LAST SESSION-NCCU members at fUeigtDurhem Air ' II ' 1 port preparing to fly United to California for their last I fV x o recording session to compiete their new album. (The Cero- j ij Una Times photos by Biecksheer) ii I 11 Friday, Fob.4 Jtrimi,- BABY GRAND CLUB a Leatbei; Garments Repair .;" .... ... . "... I K w' """" Ri" f"1. Twn' a" ef wiJ Ol9PylOoo' Cu!3 1 J. II. SOLICE60'
The Carolina Times (Durham, N.C.)
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Feb. 5, 1977, edition 1
11
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