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St. Louis Blues By AARON DIEHL
Jazz musicians who have the privilege of working on the road often have stories to tell about their experiences, from the most comical moments to the bitter ones. One of my road stories begins with a 4:50 a.m. wake-up call by third-year trumpeter Brandon Lee, informing me that there was 4:40 departure time to La Guardia Airport for a 6 a.m. flight to St. Louis. After hailing a taxicab (and luckily making the flight), it was time to look forward to playing in a city known for its rich jazz history, producing such great musicians as Grant Green, Clark Terry, and Miles Davis.
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| The Juilliard Jazz Quintet, (left to right) Aaron Diehl, Victor Goines, Jumaane Smith, Matthew Rybicki, and Carmen Intorre, perform in St. Louis. (Photo by Ray Maklin) |
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The Juilliard Jazz Quintet was invited to play in March at the Sheldon in St. Louis, a concert hall with excellent acoustics and an intimate atmosphere. The visit also included three workshops—one with jazz students from Webster University, and two others the day after the performance, with students from local high schools. Despite a long and tiring morning of travel, we were enthralled to be part of the Sheldon's history, performing where such artists as Dave Brubeck and Herbie Hancock have captivated audiences.There was barely time to take a nap before the first workshop with the students from Webster University. But once it began, it seemed as if all of our fatigue had been transformed into enthusiasm for what fourth-year bassist Matthew Rybicki calls "the reaffirmation of the importance of jazz education." Third-year trumpeter Jumaane Smith described it as "a mutual educational experience among our peers"—the very reason for which Victor Goines, artistic director of Jazz Studies, believes outreach is important. "This kind of educational interaction serves as a very healthy situation for students who are trying to move on to the next level of their development," Mr. Goines said. "It gives them the opportunity to see that there are musicians closer to their age dedicated to playing this music on a professional level, and gives them a more realistic view of performing opportunities in the jazz world."This activity served as a learning tool for the Juilliard students as well, as it required not only demonstration of our playing ability, but also the ability to verbally articulate the subject at hand. As Mr. Goines says, "If you want to learn about something, try teaching it." The workshop covered a range of topics, from how to groove within the rhythm section to individual disciplines like long-tone exercises for trumpet players. The musicians from Webster got to perform later as well, opening for the Juilliard Jazz Quintet.A brief sound check and an excellent dinner followed the workshop. Impatiently waiting for our cue to take the stage, we were ready and eager to play. As we began our first tune, "A la Mode," one could feel the tension building toward the climax of a great concert. Matthew Rybicki provided an arrangement of the classic "Worksong," and Victor Goines featured an original composition entitled "Departure." Among other selections were "Central Park West," "Swinging at the Haven," "Hackensack," "Green Chimneys," and Mr. Goines' beautiful interpretation of "The Nearness of You." Throughout the night, the audience expressed their gratitude and interest through enthusiastic applause. We were warmly greeted after the performance as well, one of the most gratifying experiences as a musician.The St. Louis trip was certainly one of the highlights of the year for the Jazz Studies program, and there will continue to be performances at various venues, nationally and internationally. Upcoming trips involve New Orleans, Costa Rica, and Spoleto, Italy, all of which will enhance performing experiences for students. Although traveling sometimes has its drawbacks, visiting new places, meeting new people, and performing in spectacular venues is a great privilege, one that goes along with fond memories and great stories to tell. Pianist Aaron Diehl is a first-year bachelor's degree candidate in jazz.
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