U.S. Colleges Keep Big-Band Jazz

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30688, 2 March 1965, Page 11

U.S. Colleges Keep Big-Band Jazz

The era of big-band jazz was on the wane in the United States, the director of the University of Denver Jazz Band, Tasso Harris, said in Christchurch yesterday. However, he saw in the college bands of America repositories which would keep the flame burning.

“The United States is the birth place of jazz but the people have been slow in accepting it,” he said. “Other countries, in some cases, have accepted it more readily.

Mr Harris attributed the wane of big-band jazz in the United States in part to the economic problems in keeping such a band together, and in part to a change in social habits. He said young people once went out to dances because there was nowhere else to go. Now TV and records kept them at home or they went to the beaches in their cars.

As a result of this trend jazz was developing into a different manifestation, into a cultural presentation. The present tour by the Denver Band was indicative of this change. Jazz was now gaining recognition in educational circles.

“Good classical musicians have always accepted good jazz, and good jazz musicians have always acceptd classical

music. Those who don’t just don’t know better, and I couldn’t care less about them,” Mr Harris said. Greatest Contribution” “Jazz is America’s greatest contribution to culture. It is universally accepted by all students of all countries. All students love jazz.” The University of Denver Jazz Band is one of the most outstanding student band groups in the United States. It won the Best Big Band award at a United States Collegiate Festival from an entry of more than 200 bands. It will give its first concert in Christchurch at the Festival Hall this evening. Since leaving Denver on a three-month concert tour the band has already played in Okinawa, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, South Vietnam, Indonesia, and Australia. Mr Harris said the whole tour had been planned around the Pan Pacific Arts Festival. At times the visits to countries on the way had not been propitious because they clashed

with student vacations, but its members had still had the opportunity to meet many people and discuss their common interest. The band’s New Zealand concert appearances are made by courtesy of the United States Department of State as part of an extensive tour of the Pacific and Far East on a cultural presentation programme. >

Apart from the band’s, director, a prominent trombonist, all members are American students whose ages range from 20 to 30 years. Most are taking degrees in music or musical education, with their jazz band work an important part of their music course at the University of Denver. First organised six years ago by a group of enthusiastic music students who met informally to play jazz in their free time, and supported by funds the students raised playing at dances, the band was admitted to the university curriculum in 1960 as an ensemble unit. It was considered that the band would provide talented young musicians with a formalised experience in jazz.