Southern Indiana Living SeptOct 2013

Great music,
good works
Jamey Aebersold started in New Albany
and reaches the world
Story // Kathy Melvin
Photos // Michelle Hockman
When Jamey Aebersold studied music at Indiana
University in the 1960s, he learned a great deal
about classical music, but very little about improvisation
and the ability to express himself spontaneously
through his music.
Years later, it would motivate him to develop “Play-A-Long”
recordings that make it possible for jazz musicians, young and
old, to create an interactive jazz environment in a classroom, a
living room, a street corner or a subway...anywhere in the world.
With the production of his frst “Play-A-Long” recording in 1967,
he birthed a new form of jazz education. In the 50 years since,
he’s produced 133 volumes of jazz recordings and books for millions
of fans around the world.
His frst Play-A-Long recording, “How to Play Jazz and Improvise,”
has been translated into six languages and is sold all
over the world. It features well-known musicians such as Kenny
Barron, Randy Brecker, Dave Brubeck, Ron Carter, David Liebman,
Mulgrew Miller, Jimmy Raney and Cedar Walton. It is no
exaggeration to say there is not a second that goes by that a person
is not practicing, somewhere in the world, to a Jamey Aebersold
“Play-A-Long” recording.
On Jan. 13, 2014, Aebersold will be honored in an awards ceremony
and concert as a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz
Masters for 2014. He will receive the nation’s highest honor in
his feld, for lifetime achievements and exceptional contributions
to the advancement of jazz and for devoting his life and career to
mastering and expanding the art form.
In the announcement from the NEA, Jazz Master David Baker
wrote: “Jamey Aebersold has made enormous contributions to
the jazz world through his tireless eforts as a performer, educator
and publisher. As the creator of the innovative and groundbreaking
Jamey Aebersold Jazz Play-A-Long recordings series,
as the longtime director of the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz
Workshops, as an exceptional clinician and performer, and as
publisher of an extensive catalogue of jazz materials, Jamey has
revolutionized the way people practice, teach, create and perform
their music.”
“I’ve known about the NEA Jazz Masters Awards since they
began the program years ago and have always thought it was really
special that our government recognized the famous jazz people
whom I’ve listened to on recordings and, often, in person,”
Aebersold said. “I was very surprised when the fellow made the
phone call to me. At frst, I guess I thought he was a salesman
because he said something like, ‘this is not a solicitation.’ I then
realized he might have something important to say. It’s a special
award that I will cherish and am looking forward to the main
event Jan. 13th. I hope the attention I get from this award helps
raise jazz education awareness all around the globe.”
Aebersold was born July 21, 1939, in New Albany, where he
still lives. In his hometown he’s known far better as a community
leader, teacher, philanthropist and youth advocate, than for being
one of the world’s foremost jazz performers and educators.
When CBS Sunday Morning came to New Albany to feature
him, they asked to record him in his studio. He showed them
to the basement of his house. He also provides advice, musical
equipment and books to prisoners from around the country who
ask for his help. He answers each letter personally and has stayed
in touch with some of the writers for years after they “graduate”
from the program.
At 74 he gives talks to local children and plays basketball
with the kids at the Boys & Girls Club. He’s been known to give
motivational talks while shooting three-pointers. “Children are
tomorrow’s future,” he said. “I realize many children do not
have a home life like it was many years ago. I hope I can be a
good example of not smoking, drinking or using drugs and still
having a wonderful life. Helping others is very important. You
can’t take it with you so you may as well pass it on while you’re
on the planet.”
Anti-smoking talks are at the top of Aebersold’s priorities.
He became involved with an organization called Corporate Accountability
International in the early 90’s and began to read
about the millions of dollars tobacco companies were spending
to “frame the smoking issues any way they wanted.” He said he
decided to fght them any way he could.
“The school concerts, billboards, letters to the editor, etc. were
efective and at the same time, Washington D.C., under President
Clinton, was beginning to take on the tobacco companies
// Story jumps to page 54
September/October 2013 • 32