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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (July 12, 1979)
Jazz and Black folk: Accepted for the moment by Ullysses Tucker Jr. “ Jazz, like Black brothers and sis ters, have never been totally accepted by the country we live in. To totally comprehend this notion, all that’ s necessary is to look up the definition o f Jazz—Webster gives as one o f its definitions—‘empty talk’ .” A creative expression o f Black people. Jazz evolved out from the descendents o f Africans in slavery. This intense sound is characterized by persistent, melodic movements Or as local saxaphone player G r.g Brown explained, “ I t ’ s all about rhythm and self-expression.” Jazz has experienced many eras such as Ragtime, the Twenties, and R o ck-n -R o ll. A nd according to The Black C ollegian Jazz has traditionally attracted large groups o f non-Black peopk. Yet, fo r the most part, the music has been sup pressed (like Black people)— restrict ed to bars, nightclubs, and other night spots generally looked down upon by our society as though it was a plague. BILL COSBY Entertainment Guide by Allen Jones Bill Cosby, whose hilarious ventures into reminiscence have made millions o f people convulse with laughter over the years, is an entertainer o f unequalled talent. A famed comedian, recording artist, concert performer, and television and movie star. Bill Cosby has become a beloved commentator on our lives and our generation. Coming from a Philadelphia ghetto, he represents the voice o f the vast, or dinary world out there. Everyone seems to easily identify with his characters and the situations they find themselves in. He’ s the street-level loser who gives the twist o f the ridiculous to everyday faults, foibles and successes, and makes them a recognizable slice o f life. Bill Cosby points out the humor in our lives, and in doing so he touches our hearts. Because o f this, his appeal is not re stricted to any specific group. His Chaplinesque qualities combined with an earthy innocence have endeared him to people from all walks o f life. Cosby is without a doubt the best-selling comedian o f all time on records. He has had 20 albums (three o f them musical) on the national pop chans as well as six singles. Three albums were in the Top 10 and three others hit the Top 20. During the mid-Sixties, Cosby had as many as six albums on the charts at one time. Seven o f the albums have been certified Gold Records by the Recording Industry Association o f America (R IA A ). He won Grammy Awards for “ Best Comedy Album ’ ’ five times. His sales are unprecedented for any comedian and are unlikely to be challenged. It was during Cosby’s night club circuit period when he was first getting start ed that Carl Reiner caught his act in Pittsburgh and introduced Cosby to producer Sheldon Leonard, who signed him to star in the “ I Spy” series. The senes, about two spies disguised as tennis bums, was an instant smash hit on TV. Cosby’s “ 1 Spy” role as co-star broke the racial barrier o f television, and before the series ended he’d won three Emmy awards. It was a historic moment in casting when a Black man was placed alongside a white man as his equal, and it created international interest in the show and in B ill Cosby. As for the type o f humor that was responsible for much o f Cosby’ s success, he says, What I do with humor is to have three levels hitting all at the same time. There is the middle level which is the total laughter itself, but there is also an overcurrent and an undercurrent. For instance, in my monologues the humor itself goes straight down the middle because o f identification. Then the overcurrent is the fact that rather than trying to bring the races o f people together by talking about the differences, let’ s try to bring them together by talking about the similarities. Then there is also the undercurrent that makes an appeal for an understanding o f the gap between the ages.” About his performances Cosby says, “ I feel that in-person contact with people is the most important thing in comedy. While I ’ m up on stage, I can ac tually put myself into the audience and adjust my pace and timing to them. I can get into their heads through their ears and through their eyes. Only through this total communication can I really achieve what I ’ m trying to do.” As busy as he is with his many ventures, Cosby has been a crusader through out his career for a better world and for better understanding between people. In addition, Cosby received his Master’s Degree in 1972 and his Doctorate in education in 1976 from the University o f Massachusetts. His doctorate thesis was titled “ The Integration o ' Visual Media Via Fat Albert and The Cosby Kids Into the Elementary Schools Culminating as a Teacher Aide to Achieve Increased Learning.” JA C K ROBERTS PRESENTS FRI. AUG. 3 Starring the incomparable Charley Pride and the Pridesmen, with Charly McClain! The CHARLEY PRIDE Show CIVIC A U D .-7 & 10 P.M. Tickets 86 - 87 - $8 On sale at Civ.c Aud. Box Office — Meier & Frank — Steven* & Son, Salem & Lloyd Center — Gl Joes Stores in N Portland, Beaverton, Rockwood, Oak Grove, and Eastport Plaza. Mail orders—include stamp ed self addressed envelope w ith check or money order 8nd mail to Civic Aud Box Office, 222 SW Clay, Portland, OR. 97201. For inform ation call 248-4496 Hear Chariey Pride on KWJJI During the radical Sixties, when Blacks in America “ were fighting openly for survival,” so was Jazz To make an important point, accord ing to The Black Collegian, a great many Jazz musicians were “ repressed and ostracized” during the '60s because o f the American sy stems fear o f the sentiment which that music expressed so well. Camou flaged by excuses that the market fo r Jazz music was regressing, pressures from the system forced Jazz in the Sixties to stay incognito. A fter the smoke cleared from the sixties, being Black and obtaining knowledge about Black culture sud denly became the “ hip thing to d o ," Jazz became hip also. And as programs inactcd during the Sixties were taken advantage o f, so was Jazz. Today, an individual can read all types o f magazines about the sudden resurgence ol Jazz, (the truth is, Jazz never went anywhere). Maybe because the majority o f today's sound is more com m ercialized by con trollers and promotional people who are non-Black. Even companies like Columbia and RCA are now dis tributing Jazz music that was record ed during the “ golden years ” How do you feel about contem porary Jazz and the commercializa tio n o f the music? A fte r being questioned about contemporary Jazz itself, Dizzy Gillespie, in The H ill top (a Howard University publica tion) stated that, “ There is no pure anything anymore.” Synthesis has replaced separateness. A rt Alexander, freelance journa list and television-radio producer for KGAP in Portland has a different at titude o f the impurities in Jazz music. “ I don’ t think serious Jazz has been commercialized like some say, what has happened is that new single- minded crossover musicians have come into the limelight. In its strict est sense, Jazz is still the same.” Alexander, like Greg Brown be lieves that Jazz is highly accepted on an artistic level in Europe, unlike America. The system w ill not totally accept Jazz because it is a Black music, this is why I contend that though Jazz’ s p o p u la rity has in creased—like Black people— it’ s not a u th e n tica lly accepted by this culture. The witty, wwro and worldly w.'se entertainer make* his first Portland appearance FRIDAY, JULY 13th, 7 & 10 P.M. at the Civic Auditorium Tickets.’ •«, »10, ano M2 AvaeiaM* at: Ql Joe's, Maier 4 Frank. Fredariok 4 Nalaon Stevens $ Son and the CMc Auditorium A BENEFIT FOR OREGON SPECIAL OLYMPICS American State Bank "The Bank that integration b u itt" 2737 N.E. Union 282-2216 Music Millennium Proudly Presents: This Week's Top Selling Soul & Disco LPs & Tapes 1. Teddy Pendergrass/Teddv 6.00 2. Anita W ard/R ing My Bell $5.00 3. Michael Henderson/Do It All 5.00 4. Earth, W ind, Fire/I Am 6.00 5. Cameo/Secret Omen 5.00 6 LTD /D evotion 5.00 7. McFadden 4 W hite he ad /A in 't No StODpin Us 5.00 6. Donna Sum mer/ Bad Girls 11.00 9. Isley Bros. / Winner Take All 9.50 10. Bootsy/These Boots are Made for Funkin 5.00 Plus We Have Just Received The New Pleasure LP: "Future Now" COUPON Fred’* is the Place to go this w e ek en d a * “ S h o c k " presents favo rite soul and disco. SHOCK Bring in this Coupon for an extra 500 off the already low price on any of the above LPs or Tapes, while supplies last. At 32nd & E. Burnside or NW 21st & Irving. ‘ • Good thru July 18th ' — - r ~ - - - .......... < 4 N o w Appearing A t Fred's Place 2511 NE Union With 8 Piece Band A New & Different Experience!! ourbon Street presents B obby Blue B land A Touch of New Orleans Restaurant and Lounge — Now open to the Public 1470-1488 N.E. Killirigsworth Street Com e by and taste this authentic CREOLE C U ISIN E Chef's Specials served Daily $3.75 11:30 am to 2.30 pm and 6:30 to 8:30 pm You m ay dine in the R estaurant or the Lounge Bring the k id * along and let them enjoy pool or pinball — w hile you dine or relax in our lounge w hich is open from 11 am to 2:30 am . Special in the Lounge this w eek SK IP A N D GO N A KED — A delightful blend of Gin or Vodka plus $1 FLYING GRASSHO PPER - V odka, Cream de M e n th a , Cream de C oco, Half b Half. Blend and enjoy $1.60 LITTLE LOVER - Scotch, sugar, dash Galliano, and H alf b Half 81.10 H A P P Y HOUR in the Lounge 4- 7pm Daily Bar Doubles — SI July 16 »hows at 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ticket* 85“° ALSO FEATURING KIDD AFRICA TICKETS A VA ILA B LE A T House of Sound Euphoria Tavern • 320 SE 2nd • Portland. OR 235 4300 «
