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Jazz On Campus �
Tom Everett
celebrates 40 Years
leading Harvard’s
Jazz Bands
The combined firepower of Benny Golson,
Brian Lynch, Don Braden, Eddie Palmieri,
Cecil McBee and Roy Haynes gathered at
Harvard University’s Sanders Theater on April
9. These jazz all-stars convened on the bandstand
to help Tom Everett celebrate his 40year
anniversary as director of the university’s
jazz bands. Not coincidentally, these giants are
also among the alumni of Harvard’s Office of
the Arts’ (OFA) Artists In Residence Program.
During the anniversary concert, Everett shunned
the limelight, conducted a bit and beamed a lot.
When Everett arrived at Harvard in 1971, he
was amazed to find no campus exposure to
America’s indigenous musical art form. He set
about improving matters by recruiting jazz players
from the marching band, and then inviting
Carl Fontana and Phil Wilson. Soon, the OFA
took interest, and the program took off. Harvard
residents have included Hank Jones, Bill Evans,
John Lewis, Randy Weston, Andrew Hill and
Benny Carter. Harvard stays have restoked the
careers of tenor giant Illinois Jacquet and trumpet
legend Buck Clayton.
Resident artists who worked with students
found non-music majors more interested in personal
histories than ferreting out theory and niceties
of technique.
“lnterpreting the music of Charles Mingus
and Duke Ellington sparked enlightened rehearsal
moments,” Everett said. “When the band
steps over that bar, you realize: They are getting
this! Max Roach had them on the edge of
their chairs. Whether you later become a doctor
or CEO, you know certain life priorities have
changed forever.”
Harvard jazz band members who have chosen
to follow their artistic muse include Joshua
Redman, Braden, Jerome Harris, Akira Tana and
Aaron Goldberg.
“I regard myself as a catalyst,” Everett said.
“I facilitate events. The pros, the kids and the
music make things happen.”
Ingrid Monson, Harvard’s Quincy Jones
Professor of African American Music, who is
tasked with expanding Harvard’s jazz curriculum,
added, “That’s how Tom is. He acts like
he does nothing, when he’s actually the lifeblood
of it all.”
Everett actually did plenty. On campus, he
directed Crimson Bands in hundreds of witty
football half-time shows, inspired concert and
wind ensembles, founded the pops band, and
commissioned and collected manuscripts by jazz
78 DOWNBEAT JULY 2011
Tom Everett
masters, along with teaching Harvard’s first accredited
jazz courses.
“Musical freshmen coming to Harvard find
out something’s happening,” Everett said.
“Beyond its academic credentials and amazing
athletic programs, Harvard offers more music
opportunities than most specialized schools:
four orchestras, three bands, three choral groups,
untold a cappella choruses, ‘house’ opera and
chamber groups.”
Off-campus, Everett played bass trombone
in the Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras
as well as Wilson’s Big Band, and gigged in
Boston’s pit bands. He also conducted recordings
and concerts for trombone wizard J.J. Johnson.
In 1972, he founded and was the first president
of the International Trombone Association. His
quick wit, easy humor and administrative genius
haved earned him tremendous respect among
music educators worldwide.
Everett’s outreach also helped knit Boston’s
jazz community. In 1972, he and Berklee College
of Music’s trombonists Wilson and Tom Plsek
co-founded Boston Sackbut Week, masterminding
coups like 76 trombones playing opening
day at Fenway Park. Crosstown exchanges featured
faculty at Berklee (Herb Pomeroy, Michael
Gibbs and Alan Dawson) and New England
Conservatory (Jaki Byard, George Russell,
Gunther Schuller and Ran Blake). Everett’s acumen
extends beyond jazz. He has commissioned
100 works for bass trombone, and brought to
Harvard the composers Peter Schickele, Henry
Brant and Vincent Persichetti.
Bringing such distinguished musicians to
Harvard continues to the present day. On April
28, Wynton Marsalis began a two-year performance/lecture
series. The trumpeter intends to
visit the campus for two to three days at a time to
discuss American music and culture. He’ll also
bring along dancers, his own ensembles and a
New Orleans parade band to illustrate his points.
—Fred Bouchard
harvard university
School Notes �
Kenny Garrett
Dr. Garrett: Kenny Garrett received an
honorary doctorate of music degree from
Berklee College of Music and spoke at
the Boston school’s commencement
ceremony on May 7. Chucho Valdés,
Bebo Valdés and Mavis Staples also
received honorary doctorates from the
college. “I was totally elated when I was
advised that I’d be receiving an honorary
doctorate from the world’s largest college
of contemporary music,” Garrett said.
Details: berklee.edu
uclA Expansion: Music industry executive
Morris “Mo” Ostin has donated $10
million to UCLA for a state-of-the-art music
facility to be known as the Evelyn and Mo
Ostin Music Center. The Ostin Music Center
will include a high-tech recording studio,
spaces for rehearsal and teaching, a café
and an Internet-based music production
center. Construction will begin in the spring
of 2012, with a projected completion date
in 2014. “Mo’s magnificent gift secures
UCLA’s standing as a leader in music and
music education,” UCLA Chancellor Gene
Block said. “As a cutting-edge music facility,
the Evelyn and Mo Ostin Music Center
will allow UCLA to provide the dynamic
training ground students need to be future
leaders in the performing arts.”
Details: arts.ucla.edu
usdan Grant: New York’s Usdan Center
for the Creative and Performing Arts summer
arts day camp received a two-year initiative
grant from the Rauch Foundation’s
Founders’ Memorial Program for a new
program, “Sustaining American Jazz: Inspiring
Young Artists and Audiences.” The
program will include scholarships awarded
to promising high school students for summer
jazz study at the center, commissions
for new works by leading composers,
collaborations with Long Island high school
jazz ensembles for additional performances
of the new pieces, and concerts and
master classes at the center.
Details: usdan.com
Jimmy Katz