Volume 8 Issue 7 - April 2003

CRUMB: This is a frightening
moment in history. I don't like the
way things have developed.
STEENHUISEN: What is the
relation or can be the relation
between music and politics?
·JAZZ NOTES
by Jim Gal{oway
April Fuel
April is here and, with any luck,
we are out of the deep freeze that
CRUMB: Nonnally, it's not such · f
a close relation. I don't think it has been the long wmter o our
ever was. The modem thing called disconte?t. It is a big .month for
showcasmg local talent m the clubs
political music is a really very
small item of effort on composers'
parts. If you think of the past, is
Beethoven's Eroica Symphony a
politcal work? It had Napoleon's
name on it to start with, but it
became much more universal. It's
almost absurd to think of Napoleon
in connection with Eroica, becayse
it's. a testamount that goes way
beyond politcs. It applies to all
ages. I guess Survivor from
Warsaw of Schoenberg would be a
modem example of a kind of
political music. It's effective on a
certain level I guess; but it
diverges. It's just on the very edge
of what music can accomplish.
Music is more comfortable with
very generalized themes. You
make your reference in a program
note or something, but the actual
music can't become so terribly
topical. It loses something.
STEENHUISEN: Yet at the same
time, psychically irseems to be
part of the repertoire of influences
that you 're working with.
CRUMB: Oh yes, I agree that
music will pick up resonances. In
the contemporary world that is
almost unavoidable - the tensions
of a time, the aspirations of a time.
Music maybe reflects the new
astronomy in a sense. As for all
the tension in the world right now,
things go in cycles. Here we go
again with what's really an
unnecessary military adventure.
· with Jake Langley, the Rob
McConrtell Tentet, Don Thompson
Quartet with featured guest,
vocalist Norma Winstone and the
Jean Beaudet Trio all appearing at
the Top 0' The Senator.
Meanwhile, over at The Montreal
Bistro, Don Thompson, who
seems to be the flavour of the
month, can be found, followed by
an array of home town talent
including Graham Howes, Denny
Christianson, Rob Piltch-Lorne
Lofsky Duo, the Ian Bargh Trio,
the Ted Quinlan Quintet and Gene
DiNovi with Dave Young. Add to
all of that · the consistently local
programming at The Rex, which
this month ranges from singer
Melissa Stylianou to the John
Cheesman Big Band via Chris
Gale, Michael Occhipinti, the
Botos Brothers and Club Django and
you have some idea of the
impressive depth of talent we have
available in this city.
There is, however, one significant
visitor to town this month
whose name c9mes to mind every
time I am asked about my favourite
saxophone players. On April 16 the
great Phil Woods will be at
Humber College giving a master
class followed by an evening
concert accompanied by a group
Jed by Don Thompson. Not to be
missed if you are a serious student
of the jazz saxophone.
This is also a month when there is
an interesting ci:op of birthdays -
Billie Holiday, Carmen McRae,
Dave Snider Music Centre
3225 Yonge St. PH (416) 483-5825
e Ma il: s nidermusic@ snidermusic.com www.snidermusic.com
Phil Woods
Bessie Smith, Charles Mingus, Ella
Fitzgerald, Lionel Hampton,
Randy Weston and Gerry Mulligan
to name only a few.
It is an impressive list but there
is one name to add that towers
above even those. On the 29th of
April we celebrate the birth in 1899
of Edward Kennedy "Duke"
Ellington. No one has had a bigger
impact on the world of popular
music than he and never a day
passes without his music being
played. It seems only natural that
he ,would engender appreciation
groups - I suppose you might call
them high class fan clubs - and
fitting that one of the first of these
Duke Ellington Societies was
formed in his home town of
Washington DC in 1959.
It is also significant that in the ·
same year, the Toronto chapter of
the Ellington Society was formed.
COl'ITINUES
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