Generations Come Together Over Big Band Music

[Hot Ptah]

Here is a recent article from the Kansas City Star newspaper, about senior citizens and teens enjoying themselves over big band music.

I was struck by the tone of the article, that for a teenager to like jazz is quite an unusual thing.

Winter Ball brings generations together through music

By LINDA CRUSE

Special to The Star

Ginger Arn, 93, learned to dance before she walked and goes dancing seven times a week.

Lenexa high school sophomore Nick Clow admires ’40s and ’50s jazz artists such as Benny Goodman and Miles Davis and listens to them nearly every day.

Big band music brought them together Saturday night at the Shawnee Mission West Winter Ball. Nick and other Shawnee Mission West jazz band musicians played tunes such as “Satin Doll” and “April in Paris” while Arn and her dance partner, Warren Haycock, 82, both of Raytown, kicked up their heels at the second annual event.

The meeting of generations took place at the Lenexa Community Center. Dancers of all ages took to the floor while the Overland Express and Jazz Lab bands performed 30 big band era songs, providing three hours of entertainment.

Bill Thomas, SM West director of bands, said the goal of the event is to provide a community activity that serves as a fundraiser for the Overland Express. In addition, students learn about the history of jazz.

“Jazz was at its pinnacle in the 1940s,” he said. “This event provides us with the opportunity to talk about its roots. It’s surprising how many of the students really enjoy it. It broadens their horizons and gets them listening to something else.”

Kevin Hupe, assistant director, said students learn more about the history of jazz by actually playing the music.

“We did this in my high school and I thought students might enjoy it,” he said.

Students rehearsed for two months and worked with local jazz artist David Basse in preparation for the event.

While big band music isn’t the music of choice for typical teens, SM West jazz musicians said they enjoy the annual event.

Charles Howard, a SM West senior, participates in a swing dance club and regularly listens to big band music.

“I think that most of the people in the jazz band like jazz in general and this is just one form of jazz,” he said. “We also perform concerts with Latin, funk and other types of jazz.”

Brian Scarborough, a SM West junior, said the big band sound “is something I’ve always taken an interest in.

“It’s fun to get to play the classic music of Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller and Duke Ellington. I’ve felt a need to extend my music library.”

Jordan Bain, a SM West sophomore, said she enjoys playing big band music because “it’s different. Also, I really enjoy seeing everyone dance.”

Frank and Gerri Victor of Overland Park said the students’ performance exceeded some local professional musicians. “There aren’t that many good places to dance,” Gerri Victor said. “The kids are fantastic. They are definitely better than some of the professional bands we have heard.”

“It’s so good to find such quality music surfacing in our student musicians,” Frank Victor said.

Arn and Haycock also had high praise for the students. “The kids are out of this world,” Haycock said. “Words fail to describe how good they are.”

Kenneth Bain, Jordan’s father, said “It’s good to see the kids play before an audience who appreciate it. The seniors love it and say the music is much better than many other places where they go. It’s great to have the community involvement.”

Barry Bernstein, another parent, said big band music brings generations together.

“It’s so great to have the seniors here dancing,” he said. “It’s the music of their era. The music provides a common ground.”

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Nice story, HP.

MG