2
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Entertdinm
Wednesday,
Jan. 28,1998
/
Jazz is an underappreciated
and often misunderstood form
of music. In fact, most people
don’t even think about it at all,
judging from the share of the
music market that jazz pos
sesses. Jazz albums account
for only three percent of all
music sold in this country,
while groups with little musi
cal talent such as the Spice
Girls sell millions of copies.
What is wrong with this pic
ture?
Too much, according to
Clackamas teacher Tom
Wakeling.
Wakeling teaches the His
tory of Jazz class, and is a jazz
musician himself, having
played the bass for over 27
years now.
“I played pop and rock for a
long time, and gravitated to
wards jazz because it was so
much more challenging. I still
love much rock musie,
though,” Wakeling says of his
musical roots.
In History of Jazz, students
learn about jazz from its early
roots in New Orleans through
today’s “Fusion” style, en
compassing the swing, bebop,
cool jazz, hard-bop, jazz-rock,
and avant-garde forms of jazz
along the way.
Guest musician^ also are part
of the experience, coming in
to talk with and play for the
class. Just two weeks U^o, for
instance, famous bassist John
Clayton of the Clayton Broths
ers played a duet with
Wakeling, and then stayed to
chat with students. Clayton
has worked with such artists as
Phil Collins, Quincy Jones,
and even composed for
Whitney Houston when she
sang “The Star Spangled Ban
ner” during the Super Bowl a
few years ago.
Wakeling says this shows
that jazz musicians are much
more accessible than famous
rock musicians.
“You can call almost all of
them at home, and they’ll take
the time to talk to you?’,‘^
Students in the class also feel
strongly about jazz as both a
music and an art form.
“Jazz isn’t all about pop art
ists like Kenny G. Jazz is more
about the musician expressing
himself through his music,
more
about
swinging,
grooving,and rhythm,” in
toned freshman Aaron Shep-
ALEXANDER MAHAN
ALEX MAHAN
Co-A&E-Editor
Clackamas W n F
An education to jazz up your life
History of Jazz teacher Tom Wakeling demonstrates proper bass technique.
herd.
Other students agree with
Shepherd.
“If you’re interested in
American music of any kind,
then this is the place to learn
about it,” noted student Will
Wyatt.
For students , interested in
taking the class, it is not too
late to sign up. History of Jazz
is one of three classes required
for the Introduction to Music
Literature ’sequence, which
meets the Humanities and Arts
sequence requirement for the
Associate of Arts transfer de
gree.
The other courses in the se
quence are the History of Rock
and a class that relates to the
history of classical music. His
tory of Rock runs spring term
and will have guest speakers,
videos, and plenty of rock mu
sic.
For more information about
the jazz class and other classes
in the music sequence, contact
Tom Wakeling at ext, 2160 or
stop by his office in R2b8B.
Ci
Jazz
isn't all
about ‘
W
artists .< |
like
Kenny
G- J J
Aaron Shepherd
Jazz Student
Spend time with three local playwrights
At this term's Authors' Night,
three Oregon playwrights will be
sharing scenes from their works
on Feb. 4.
Charles Deemer, DMae Rob
erts and Sue Mach will host in
the McLoughlin Hall Theatre at
7 p.m.
Deemer has an M.F. A. in play
writing from the University of
Oregon where he was a Shubert
play writing Fellow. Thirty-six
of his plays have been produced, Tavern," the public television
and he has sold four screenplay version of which won an ACE
options. He also writes fiction award. His play,"Famililly," won
and is a three-time recipient of the 1997 Crossing Borders In
the Roll of Honor Recognition ternational Playwright competi
in "Best American Short Sto tion and will open in Salem,
ries." He teaches screen writing Massachusetts next season. His
at Portland State University and actors will be reading from his
for Eastern Oregon State Uni latest play "Bedrooms and
Bars."
versity via Internet.
Roberts is aii Amerasian play
Deemer is best known for his
play "Christmas at the Juniper wright, actress, and radio pro
ducer. Roberts' two-act play
"Picasso in the Back Seat" re
ceived the Portland Drama Crit
ics Circle Award for Best Origi
nal Play of the '95-'96 season and
the Oregon Book Award for Best
Play.
Roberts has been nominated
for the Drammy Award for two
other plays. In 1990, she re
ceived the Peabody award for
her autobiographical radio docu-
play "Mei Mei, A Daughter's
Song." Her 13-part radio series
Legacies: Tales From American
was hosted by James DePriest
and broadcast on National Pub
lic Radio to 100 stations. Her ac
tors will be reading from a play
about Kwan Yin, "Lady Bud
dha," which was produced at the
Chartwells
Invites you to lunch.
Or dinner or breakfast.
Open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. for all your needs.
The place to eat on campus!
¡Wednesday, January 28, 1998
IFCC Theater in 1997.
Sue Mach is on the English
faculty and teaches play writing
at CCC. She received an M.A.
in playwriting from Boston Uni
versity and has also taught at
Linfield College and Portland
State University. Her first play,
"Monograms," about Portland
poet Hazel Hall, won a Drammy
Award at Portland Rep Stage II.
After rewriting, it moved to the
main Stage of Portland Rep for
a second season and rave re
views. It was then produced in
New York and Pennsylvania, re
ceiving an excellent review.
Mach's second play, "Angle of
View," was a finalist for the Or
egon Book Award, and the New
York Theater that produced
"Monograms" plans to produce
it. Her third play, currently titled
"Sacred Heart," is being rewrit
ten for possible production in
Seattle. It is based on a charis
matic religous cult leader in
Corvallis early in the century.
This event is co-spónsored by
thè English Department and
Friends of the Library. The event
is free, but a $2 donation would
be greatly appreciated.
Professor
Sue Mach
will be host
ing an Au
thors' Night
with two
other play
wrights on
Feb. 4 at 7
p.m. The
presentation
will be held
in
the
McLoughlin
Hall The
atre. Admis
sion is free
with a $2
suggested
donation.