Musical storyteller visits El on i The
Lori Haley
A&E Editor
He is a one-man, one-drum, one-name
jazz percussionist artist, along with a
back-up band.
His name is Vincent De’ Jon Parrette,
and he is known as Vinx.
On Nov. 18, this male percussionist
will be performing in Whitley Auditorium
sponsored by the Young Artist Series,
Black Cultural Society and Student Union
Board.
Vinx has performed with various
artists including B.B. King, Branford
Marsalis, Bonnie Raitt and Bruce
Hornsby. He was the opening act for
Sting’s “Soul Cages” World Tour.
Vinx also performed on Herbie
Hancock’s 1990 Showtime special, “Coast
To Coast.”
His music is considered to be jazz
blended with an Afro-Cuban-percussion.
It is unique because it is jazz-percussion
with a dance flavor to it.
Sophomore David Bynes, president of
BCS, is excited about Vinx’s performance.
“I’m excited because I’ve read reviews
from other schools where he has performed
and received high ratings.
“Since he is one-man, one-drum
artist, he must be something. He has
performed at pretty highly rated schools,”
he said.
Vinx presently has three albums
recorded, “Rooms in My Fatha’s House,”
“I Love My Job” and ‘The Storyteller.”
In a press release, Vinx said he
chooses “to offer my audience the full
spectrum of my musical influence. In this
journey I have combined salsa with jazz...
rap with opera. Samba and falmenco
combined with lush R&B vocals seem to
blend like a family reunion.”
Barb Hanke, director of student
activities, said she saw him two years ago
Vinx plays his percussion.
at a National Association of Campus
Activities Conference in Dallas, where he
was showcasing. “I loved him,” Hanke
said.
“At that point, I decided to sell him to
everyone and bring him to Elon. His CDs
sound just like he is performing on stage,”
she said.
Senior Nick Cooper is enthusiastic
about Vinx’s perfcMinance.
“I think it is wonderful. It’s not often
we get a jazz person with an African tinge.
I’m thrilled that he has worked with a lot
of famous artists including Stevie
Wonder,” Cooper said.
Emanons : music to our ears
o r'KorliA fJmith
Gina Isaac
Staff Report^
The Emanons, Elon College’s jazz
ensemble, performed many big band and
contemporary jazz tunes in McCrary
Theatre to a nearly full house Monday
night.
“After many hours of listening to
music and rehearsals, the payoff was the
conccrt. I was very pleased with the
group,” said Director Dr. Thomas R.
Erdmann.
Lead saxophonist Jennifer Banks
thought the concert also went well. I
enjoy doing it so much. In fact that s
why I came to Elon,” she said.
The program featured works by Count
Basie and Pal Metheny. The ensemble
performed several group pieces and one
solo by the saxophones.
The program ended with a group
jazx fesUvrt held « None D»o m Ihe,
Scene
Our Choice
A photography exhibit honoring
I Ken Hassell’s work will open Nov. 21
in the Isabella Cannon Room of the
Fine Arts Building. There will be a
reception that day and admission is free.
File Photo
He was raised in Kansas City and
attended Kansas State University, where he
joined the school band. With the band, he
traveled to Switzerland and met Taj Mahal
who invited Vinx to join his band.
At that same time, Vinx was training
for the 1980 Olympics to compete in the
triple-jump, and his musical career was on
hold. Because of the U.S. boycott that
year, Vinx was unable to compete.
Lara Lofton, president of Student
Union Board, said she has spoken to
people who have seen Vinx on tour with
Sting. “They said that Vinx nearly stole
the show away. We are excited to have
him here at Elon,” she said.
Musicals/Plays
The Elon College jazz faculty will
have a recital on Nov. 21 in Yeager
Recital Hall. Admission is free.
Heading To Concerts
n Vertical Horizon will be
performing Nov. 18 at Ziggy’s in
Winston-Salem.
Real Too Real and
Slickerbilly will be in concert Nov.
18 at the Longbranch in Raleigh.
Smashing Pumpkins will be
performing Nov. 18 at The Ritz in
Raleigh.
Relax Atmosphere will be
performing at The Lighthouse on Nov.
19.
Groove Bucket will be in
concert Nov. 20 at The Lighthouse.
/3 The Blue Dogs will be in
concert Nov. 24 at the Pterodactyl Club
in Charlotte.
Johnny Quest will be in
concert Nov. 24 at Ziggy’s in Winston-
Salem.
Purple Schoolbus will be
performing Nov. 26 at Ziggy’s in
Winston-Salem.
spring. Senior Charlie Smith on drums
and percussion was optimistic about their
chances. .
“I think we have a good shot. Gomg
to the festival would definitely be a
highlight of the year for us. We would be
competing with the big guys,” he said.
The performance’s recording will be
sent as application and the results will be
known later in the school year.
The ensemble will bring these tunes
as well as others to other parts of North
Carolina and W. Virginia when they tour
during winter term.
At The Movies
Terrace Theater- A Nightmare Before
Christmas, The Beverly Hillbillies,
Robo Cop 3, Look Who’s Talking
Now, The Three Musketeers and
Carlilo’s Way.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
The memories that friends have made
together grow stronger with every •
passing day.