page 10
daily nebraskan
monday, november 23, 1980
Jazz legend proves soul has no age boundaries
By Pat Higgins
Jazz legend Jay McShann put on a highly-entertaining
display of his talent last weekend at the Drumstick.
McShann was one of the originators of the seminal Kansas
City sound that produced artists ranging from Count
Basic to Charlie Parker.
During the 30s and early 40s, Kansas City was the jaz
capital of the world. McShann is recognized 'ntemational
ly as one of the originals who has survived and prospered.
Kansas City became a jaz Mecca with the help of a cor
rupt political machine that was the patron of Harry S.
Truman.
"Kansas City was wide open under Pendergast," recall
ed McShann. "Anytime you get that open, a sporting
class develops. Where the musicians played, the gamblers
and pimps would show up. There were special songs we
did for the pimps and gamblers. It was really hot in those
days, but when Pendergast got indicted. Kansas City
became a church town."
McShann has played Lincoln and the rest of the Mid
west for decades. He was a fixture for years at Lincoln's
Legionnaire Club and many of Ii is loyal fans were in
attendance last weekend.
Very stylish drummer
McShann was accompanied by Paul Gunther. a very
stylish drummer. Gunther used a deceptively minimal
drimi kit. but produced a solid beat. He has been with
McShann for I b years.
Vocals were provided by Cynthia Bowman.
"She's a real Kansas City girl." McShann said. Bowman
has a very powerful presence on stage belting out blues
influenced vocals. The other members of the band were
recruited local musicians who appeared quite honored to
be accompanying the legend.
McShann has usually been considered to be oriented
toward the blues side of jazz, and that description seemed
to be accurate, particularly when he cut loose with some
boogie woogie piano riffs.
McShann appeared to be having the time of his life as
he beamed exuberantly throughout the show. He had the
look of someone who enjoys his work.
McShann is featured prominently in the highly touted
movie, Last of the Blue Devils, a documentary that
features the reunion of such Kansas City music giants as
Count Basie and Big Joe Turner.
A lot of fun
"We made that movie at the musicians' local No. 627,"
McShann said. "It was a lot of fun. After the war we all
went different directions. Most of the musicians went to
New York and Los Angeles. We don't run into each other
very often. I stayed in Kansas City to raise my family.
Kansas City isn't the jazz city it once was. We perform in
Kansas City only a few times a year."
McShann is on the road quite extensively for a man of
64 years.
"We play all over," McShann said, "we play Kearney
too."
McSHann soon will be embarking on an extensive
Luropean tour, including the prestigious Montreux Fes
tival. "They're very aware in Lurope. They really study
what's going on over here. There are a lot of good musi
cians there that I'll be working with," he said.
New release
McShann has just released a new studio album recorded
in New York titled Last of the Whorehouse Piano Players.
With overdue recognition for McShann through Last of
the Blue Devils, his new record may be more commercial
ly successful.
McShann was one of the first band leaders to employ
Charlie Parker, truly one of the key figures in jazz history.
"I met Charlie Parker in 1937 in the Ozarks. Lven then
Bird really had it. We worked together on and off till
1943 when I was drafted. My band ranged from a six piece
to a full big band."
In an amazing piece of history, Charlie "Bird" Parker
obtained his nickname on a drive to Lincoln with Jay
McShann.
"We ran over a chicken about 90 miles from Lincoln
and Bird took it into town and cooked it up. From then
on, he was Yardbird," McShann said.
"I've always enjoyed coming to Lincoln."
It seemed that McShann was on speaking terms with a
considerable percentage of the audience and he quite
happily entertained requests. McShann's material was
mostly great American standards, such as "Satin Doll,"
"Night Train" and "Yardbird Suite." McShann elegantly
proved that soul has no age boundaries.
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Jay McShann
'Life on the Mississippi' to come alive this week
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Lp oi Mississippi, a chronicle of a young
man's coming of age on the Mississippi River, will
be broadcast on NETV this week.
.c on the Mississippi, a two-hour film dramatization
of Mark Twain's epic chronicle of a young man's coming
of age on America's greatest river, will be broadcast
tonight at 8 on the Nebraska ETV Network, and will
repeat on Wednesday at 9 p.m.
Filmed entirely on location-largely aboard a genuine
Mississippi steamboat, the program is a co-production of
the Nebraska ETV Network and The Great Amwell
Company of New York, in association with New York
public television station WNETThirteen.
entertainment notes
Life on the Mississippi is a fictionalization of eighteen
months in the life of Mark Twain when, as a young man.
he fulfilled his boyhood ambition to become a river
pilot. After a difficult apprenticeship during which he
braved the hazards of the deceptive, ever-changing river
and a potentially disastrous brush with an egomaniacal
pilot, he earns his license and, with it, a new maturity.
Robert Lansing stars as Horace Bixby.the experienced
pilot who assumes the responsibility for "learning the
river" to the eager, if often bumbling young cub, Sam.
portrayed by David Kneil. Knell's character Sam is based
to some extent on Twain himself.
William Perry of the Great Amwell Company is execu
tive producer of the program and Marshall Jamison of the
Nebraska ETV Network is the series producer.
The Annual Christmas Exhibition and Sale is currently
taking place at the Mark Four Gallery through Dec. 20.
The purpose of the Christmas exhibit is to give the public
the opportunity to see a wide variety of works from a
number of area artists. The show includes several pieces
by each of the artists.
The pieces represent some experimental and develop
mental techniques by the artist. The pieces include a
variety of media and aesthetic approaches. Included are
drawings, paintings, photographs and prints. For the most
part the works are smaller scale, developmental or ex
perimental and are appropriately priced for holiday gifts.
The Christmas showing is being organized by Rod
Friedman. The list of exhibiting artists incli.ues Janine
Copple. Tony Crowley, Gary David, Rod Friedman," Ron
Geibcrt, Fred Hagstrom, Susan Horn. Keith Jacobshagen,
Brian Magee. Mike Nushawg. Denise Presnell, Dave Read
Paul Van Uth. Bill Weidncr and Mike Whitcley.
The public is invited and there is no admission charge.
The Mark Four Gallery. 1030 0 St.. is open Monday
through Friday front 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Foreign Film Series Council is showing the Spanish
film Cousin Angelica tonight at 7 and 9 in the Sheldon
Film Theater. 12th and R streets.
it is about one man's childhood memories as revealed
through flashbacks. The film also has a definite message
about Spain's recent history and Spanish Catholicism.
The Foreign Film Series is sponsored by the University
Program Council.
Scries tickets are available in Room 200 of the Ne
braska I'nion. Single admission tickets may be purchased
at the door for S2 for the general public. SI.. 0 lor UNI
students.
The following is a list of the remaining films to be
screened before the Sheldon Film Theater closes for
break.
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