Time is a common problem in jazz band. Before competitions, we constantly fret over time — is the music too long? do we have enough of it? are we speeding up? are we slowing down?
But yesterday, my jazz director made an interesting remark: “If I catch anyone playing hacky-sack in the courtyard while we’re there,” he warned, wagging an assertive finger, “I’m going to be pretty upset.”
I came to the realization that there’s another problem we have regarding time: we’re arriving at the host school at 9 in the morning and we’re coming home at 9 at night, and there’s no way that any combination of big band performances, combo performances, and clinics adds up to twelve hours. I’ve been to quite a few jazz competitions over the past few years, competitions that facilitate the mingling of dozens of different schools in my area. I’ve eaten lunch and I’ve warmed up in the same room as hundreds of different high school students from hundreds of different backgrounds, all with common experiences in jazz. But have I met any of them?
I’ve come to notice that over the past three years, I’ve missed out on hundreds of different stories.
Nevertheless, I still have little over a year left. That’s why I’ve attached such a blatantly tacky name to an outrageous idea: Project Improv. From here on out, I’m going to meet, interview, and take pictures with at least three random groups of high school students from three different schools. I’m going to get their perspective on how they perceive jazz as teenage jazz musicians; why they’re so crazy about it (or not?). I’m going to find out how and when they met jazz; where do they see jazz going from here? And how can we make jazz more appealing to younger generations (or is it fine just the way it is?)?
So if you’re looking to find a way to get today’s younger generation increasingly more involved in jazz, Project Improv will hopefully open a window for you to the current opinions of today’s teenage jazz musicians. The first Project Improv will start this weekend at our first jazz competition; I’ll keep you updated on who I meet via Twitter (@thejazzpost) this Saturday.
Wish me luck on making new jazz buddies!
CURRENTLY LISTENING TO: Take Five/Dave Brubeck Quartet/Time Out
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Hey I really like your blog here I’ve been reading through it and you are a fantastic writer. I actually stumbled upon your blog while searching for superjazz photos on google and yours happened to pop up. I was the other drummer in All-Stars by the way (my playing was pretty bad that morning) and I just wanted to say that you are an amazing piano player for your and age. So keep writing and playing jazz because you’re pretty good at both. And when I say good I mean fantastic.