delay, november 1 1, 1977
daily nebraskan
page 11
arts & iiini
jazz jam sessions bring musicians into the open
I By Bonnie Lutz
I A saucy saxophone player soloing a sentimental jazz
"iece conjures up images of Duke Ellington and Louis
Armstrong.
f One can almost see smoke-filled ballrooms and men
vith duck-tailed hair and wearing zoot suits, tapping shiny
Size 10 shoes to the blues-the Jazz Era.
j Minus formal, wear, talented musicians and apprecia
tive audiences are making a place for jazz while bringing
azz out into the open.
i Wednesday, Nov. 9, the Lincoln Jazz Society
sponsored a jam session by jazz musicians at the Gaslight,
122 S. 9th St. Ken Winston, a Jazz Society member, said
lie monthly Wednesday night sessions at the Gaslight
laise money for the Society and "give local musicians a
Ihance to be heard."
One group of musicians has jammed in Charles Phillips'
asement for about eight years. About 10 men played at
arious times on Wednesday. Some are professional mu-
icians and others like Phillips, in his 70s, just play.
J The men jokingly call themselves the Corporation, each
eScio ..oirig a board meeting, with chairman of the board
jRuss uibson, on piano. When Gibson sits down at the
iano bench, everyone knows the meeting is called to
prder.
What to play
At the microphone, Phillips explained, "We call it the
orporation, but you can see it's because of the disor
ganization, trying to decide what to play."
f When the musicians were not needed to solo, or "tail
gate" a piece, they wandered into the crowd, greeting
"friends and encouraging the musicians on stage.
J Phillips said they like jamming together, playing what
Sthey like, instead of catering to an audience.
J "They play the way they want to, just for the fun of
it," Phillips said.
He went on to describe their sessions as being jazz
or melodic.
"It's a hodge-podge," he said. 'There's as many differ
ent kinds of jazz as there are automobiles," he said. "It is
an American creation."
It'sagift
- Phillips played clarinet in a group 'Until 1930, then
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Photo by Mark Billingsley
Piano player Russ Gibson carries the Corporation with Dennis Schneider on trumpet and Dick Young on bass.
went into a professional job not related to music.
Being a fine musician is "a gift more than anything,"
he said. "I came to the conclusion that I couldn't read the
tunes by memorizing."
Phillips said he thinks all the formal training he could
have could not teach him to be a good musician.
'The best way to learn tunes is to hear them," he said.
"Soon, the musician will hear tunes in his head, and
playing comes easy."
Jazz is something special for Dennis Schneider, a UNL ,
professor of brass instruments. 4
"I was introduced to music by jazz," Schneider said.
The musician finds jazz "a means of expression that
can't be found in other music. HI probably play until my
teeth fall out," he said.
Ken Winston said he thinks the Corporation plays
music which is "closer to the roots of jazz than many
other jazz groups. By offering jam sessions, Winston hopes
it will widen the jazz spectrum in Lincoln, exp'osing the
music to a wider range of ages.
Even if the Corporation goes back to playing in Charlie
Phillips basement, the men are keeping jazz alive.
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Trouble in Tahiti' to open
at the Lincoln Playhouse
A contemporary opera, Trouble in Ta
hiti, by Leonard Bernstein will open to
night at the Lincoln Community Playhouse
Gallery Theatre.
The play was written in 1952 and con
cerns the lives of Sam and Dinah, a typical
suburban couple trying to rediscover
their lives together.
Director Craig Lowe said the opera has
a universal theme making it a light, delight
ful musical that is suitable for audiences of
all ages.
The cast includes Paula Morris as Dinah
and Rob McMaster as Sam. Bill Davis,
Laurie Norton and Deanna Mumgaard per
form in the chorus.
Musical accompaniment is provided by
Kay Parente on piano, Chuck Kuba on bass
and Patty Barfel: on flute. Scenic design is
by Don Yanik, choreography is by Mike
Donaghy, light design is by Doug Pipan and
Tom Curtright is stage manager. Melodee
Landis is assistant director.
The play will run through Sunday and
Nov. 18-20 with performances at 8 p.m.
Tickets may be obtained by calling or
visiting the Playhouse box office, 489
9608,2500 S. 56th St.
Anniversary celebration
set for Theatre of Deaf
' noto count of NUbMl TM.tr. of th. Df.
National Theatre of the Deaf, actors, (from top) Paul Johnston, Joe Sarpy and Ed
Watcrstreet, perform in the skit Tarade.'
The National Theatre of the Deaf will
perform a free-spirited rendition of the
novel The Tttree Musketeers at 8 p.m.
Saturday in Kimball Recital Hall.
The production marks the tenth anni
versary of performances by the National
Theatre of the Deaf, a company that
creates magic to using eloquent and grace
ful sign language in addition to the spoken
script.
This irreverent adaptation of The Tlircc
Musketeers concerns D'Artagnan, a kind of
Don Quixote, who sets out on a quest to
taste the riches of the world. He leaves
armed with only a magic ointment, fifteen
gold crowns and a letter. .
On his way from innocence to experi
ence he meets three men and three women
who aid him in his quest. 'According to the
National Theatre ot the Deafs rendition,
D'Artagnan is a character made of parts of
men such as Sir Gawain, Humphrey Bogart
and Batman.
The company also will present a free
lecture-demonstration 7:30 p.m. tonight in
the Nebraska Union.
The National Theatre of the Deaf has
performed on. stage, film and television,
both national and international. The group
has made 19 national tours, two Broadway
runs, and ten tours of Europe Asia and
Australia. The actors are regular performers
on the "Sesame Street" television show
and they also were seen in a CBS-TV
special of Dylan Thomas "A Child's
Christmas in Waes." -
The company has received acclaim from
many critics and last June it won a special
Tony award for theatrical excellence.
Tickets for the show are $2.50 for UNL
students and $4 for -general admission.
They are available at the Kimball box of
fice, 113 Wcstbrook Music bldg. or by
calling 472-3375.
