Newspapers / North Carolina Central University … / Nov. 28, 1960, edition 1 / Page 7
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Monday, November 28, 1960 THE CAMPUS ECHO Page Seven PERSPECTIVE JAZZ The Respectable Mr. M. Dayis By HAROLD FOSTER Anniversary Review The Respectable Mr. M. Davis Recently I had the pleasure of attending a “dig” session held within the walls of the house of ill repute (Chidley Hall.) The session was “swinging.” Our vivid imaginations had ex-, tended to the point where we^ played make believe that thd| jazz artists were there in person and the session was being re corded (we h^d a tape recorder of course). Everything had gone fine until yours truly made the drastic mistake of addressing! one of the musicians wrongly. The conversation went thus: , Foster: “Well, we’ll listen to some Miles Davis now.” Opponents: “What do you mean some ‘Miles Davis’, don’t you realize that he is god around here and is to be addressed “Mr.” or “The Honorable Miles Davis?” I was shot out, killed, and hu-^ .miliated to the extent that I was prompted to write this article a^.d title it, “The Respectable Mr. Miles Davis.” Mr. Davis, born 34 years ago in Alton, Illinois, is definitely, without a doubt, one of the mo^ dern jazz giants of today. The honorable Miles plays ani ^extremely “soft” horn, which is 4ar from the Roy Eldridge-Dizzy Gillespie school. He has consis tently been overlooked by jazz critics because he “lacks the vir tuosity of his contemporaries.” Some critics even go farther and say that he has entirely deviated from jazz to “cool” music. Perhaps all this controversy, began because Mr. Davis rarely uses the upper register, prefer ring to play almost wholly “within the staff.” His tone is round and warm. In an interview titled, “Selft Portrait of the Artist by Miles Davis,” conducted by Georgei Avakian and taped and re- leased by Columbia Records Biographical Service, The high priest concedes that his sound and sense of chord changes and rhythm suspensions are very close to the Charlie Parker style —as he got his start and was in fluenced by the same. Since the time the music in^ structor back in Mr. Davis’ hometown had convinced Miles’ father to buy him a trumpet and told him, “Play without any vibrato,” that’s how he has tried to play—fast and light— and no vibrato. Says Miles, “This is one reason why the evo lution of the cool era began. I always wanted to play with a light sound, because I could think better when I played that way. But, I don’t think there’s any essential difference be tween bebop and what they call cool; they just dropped that label on me.” As is evident by the session held in Chidley Hall, as an idea man and influence, the honor able Mr. Miles Davis has come into his full powers. If his grasp of the instrument still leaves something to be desired, he has shown considerable professional ism in Barbados, ‘Round About; Midnight) since his first record (Billie’s Bounce) and is certain ly the trimipet man of our times. (continued from page 1) undergraduate school presented the main speaker, Arthur S. Flemming, for the honorary de gree, calling him an “educator, pubnc servant, and a man unre servedly devoted to the welfare of our country and its people.” Flemming Speaks Following ceremonies in which he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor o{ Humane Letters, Arthur S. Flemjning, U. S. Secretary o:^ Health, Education, and Welfare said that “The insistence by our colleges and universities upon the pursuit of academic excel lence is essential to the welfare of America and the free world.” Flemming, the main‘speaker in the second day of the Golden Anniversary activities, also strongly endorsed sit-in demon strations in the South, “speakers on the Thursday afternoon symposium on “The College and Accentuated Social Action” included Harry Golden, editor of “The Carolina Israelite”; Dr. Douglas B. Maggs, professor of law at Duke Uni versity; Mr. Daniel H. Pollitt, professor in University of North Carolina Law School; Mr. Mc-| Neil Smith, chairman of the North Carolina Civil Rights Ad-i visory Commission; Dr. Asa T. Spaulding, president of Norths Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company; Mr. J. Nelson Straw- bridge, chairman of the Durham Committee on Human Relations;, Mr. D. G. Sampson of the NCCj Law School faculty, and Mr. Marion Wright, vice chairman o^ the Southern Regional Con ference. Choir Presented The North Ci^rolina College Choir presented “The Death of Minnehaha,” by Samuel Cole ridge Taylor, Broadway show^ hits, and spirituals at 8:00 p.m. A reception for guests was heldi at 9:30 p.m. in the Women’s Gymnasium. Dr. John Hope Franklin, pro fessor and chairman d£ the de partment of history at Brook-i lyn College, delivered the cli maxing Convocation address on Friday, November 11 in the R- , L. McDougald Gymnasium. The( famed historian, who once taught at NCC, said a liberal arts college “is dedicated to con structive contact between the human mind and spirit and the world"in which it dwells. It is fully aware of the great dimen sions of knowledge. It knowS that knowledge is freedom, it isl virtue, it is independence, it is power; and it is thus anxious to see to it that thei best possible use is made of knowledge.” Degrees Conferred President Alfonso Elder con ferred honorary degrees upon two local business executives, Bascom Baynes, and Asa T. Spaulding, before a host of dignitaries including Governor Luther Hodges and presidents, deans and administrators frorn^ more than 100 colleges, univer-( sities, and learned societies. The( impressive ceremony, marked by Medieval pageantry, also fea tured greetings from the State^ city, colleges and universities, music by the college choir and deans and administrators from band, and a candle-lighting ceremony dedicating the College “to the next half century.” President Elder also ad-> dressed the Anniversary Schoy larship Luncheon at 1:00 p.m. He challenged teachers and stu dents to address themselves to the problem of accelerating Ne gro students, most of whom exhibit lower levels of academic attainment. Referring to the students’ re- cent demonstrations against segregation. Dr. Elder said they should be challenged “To feel equally strong about academic inequality.” The 7:00 p.m. alumni sympo sium featured the question , “What shall be the new dimen sions in college-alumni relation ships in the challenging new educational era? Homecoming activities were in the spotlight on Saturday, November 12. The NCC Eagles defeated Virginia Union Univer sity’s Panthers 32-0 in the 1:30 p.m. Homecoming game. Golden Featured (continued from page 5) of the Durham Committee onj Human Relations; and Mr., Daniel G. Sampson, teacher ini the North Carolina College Law School. alein refreshes your taste - §iT"§6feOS' every puff Men’s Weekend (continued from page 1) Ezra Totten, Dr. J. Neal Hugh- ley, Mr. William Holloway, Mr. Roamless Hudson, Mr. Rubin F. Weston, and Mr. Elizamon Co ley. The special Men’s Day Ves per, held at 3:15 in B. N. Dukei Auditorium, was addressed by Dr. William Stuart Nelson, the Dean of Religion at Howard University, who took as his topic, “The Greatest Things in, the World.” Dr. Nelson was met informally by students and visi tors in the climaxing “After- Vesper” reception, which was held in the Chidley Hall Social Room at 4:30. S6 Crippled (continued from page 1) by anyone in authority that talent shows have been prohibi ted on this campus, nor has any one forwarded to me a formal complaint to that effect.” The SG President mentioned) that plans were being made to send representatives to th& North Carolina Student Legisla ture, to be held later this year at Raleigh. HcJusing facilities, according to Mr. Streeter, are presenting a problem. He indi cated that the student body will be informed of the Student Government’s policy concerning that Legislature. € S CreaUd by R. 4. Reynolds Tobacco Company • menthol fresh • rich tobacco taste • modern filter, too Yes, the soft, cool smoke of Salem refreshes your taste and Salem’s special High Porosity paper “air- softens” every puff. Get acquainted with the spring time-fresh smoke of Salem and its rich tobacco taste. Smoke refreshed . . . smoke Salem!
North Carolina Central University Student Newspaper
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Nov. 28, 1960, edition 1
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