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
«