Europe students 'jazz' to the beat of an American art form

By Christine June, USAG Kaiserslautern Public AffairsJanuary 20, 2010

DODDS-E Jazz Seminar 2010
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany - Snapping fingers, tapping toes, clapping hands on "2" and "4" - 36 students from 12 high schools across Europe kept that back-beat for a week of "All That Jazz."

They were here to learn and play the music of Duke Ellington and Count Basie at the Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Europe Jazz Seminar 2010 held Jan. 11 to 15 at the Kaiserslautern High School.

For the past 27 years, DODDS-E students have lugged brass, keyboards, drums and guitars and gathered at one place for a chance to learn from jazz trombonist Jiggs Whigham, currently the conductor of the BBC Big Band in Great Britain and artistic director of the Berlin Jazz Orchestra.

"Give me some attitude," Whigham, who played with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, called out to the rhythm section on the first day.

Whigham said he is here to encourage these musicians to put forth positive energy into their music and to show them where the time or beat is.

"Trying to get the beat - '1, 2, ah 1, 2, 3, 4' - snapping at the '2' and '4,'" he said, while tapping his foot. "It's like the '1' is the father and the mother is the '2' so it's dad, mom, dad, mom," he said. "It's a balance just like light and dark."

Each year, the seminar concentrates on the music of a jazz legend, said Wayne Fears, the KHS music teacher who is hosting the event at his school. This year, students were learning about American Jazz Big Band Leader Woody Herman.

"It's just to have a focus for a certain type of music style, but we still want to be able to do a few other things too," said Whigham.

Besides doing the big-band work with Whigham, these musicians were then paired off with DODDS music teachers and members of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band for specialized training for their instruments.

"You are getting a year of college education - about $10,000 worth - right here in a week," said Whigham, right before the big band launched into Woody Herman's "Woodchopper's Ball."

Students sang until lips and voices were sore, blew horns, banged drums, plucked guitars and crushed on the piano for eight hours straight for the first three days.

The last two days were filled with performing three concerts, back to back.

Well worth it, said Jimmy Crutchfield, 16, Ramstein High School junior, who was blowing tunes from his alto saxophone.

This was his third time attending the seminar.

"I have learned so much about how to improve my playing," said Crutchfield, who added that after his first seminar he wanted to listen to and find out as much as he could about legendary jazz saxophonist Charlie "Yardbird" Parker.

"When you are playing a solo, a lot of times what you are listening to influences your playing," he said.

All of them - singers and musicians - auditioned for the chance to spend five days and nights blowing their horns and learning the value of hard work.

Competition to get into the seminar was stiff, said Fears. He said 118 students sent their audition recordings to Wiesbaden, where DODDS-E music professionals make the selection.

"Our goal is to make great music and work with other people who have a similar interest," said Fears.

Rare, unique are the words that Jeff Pellaton, Ramstein band director and project officer this year, uses to describe DODDS-E Jazz Seminar.

"It is rare," explained Pellaton, "for 36 students to get together in a week with one of the greatest professionals on the face of the earth to the betterment of America's truest art form, which is Jazz music."

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