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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 27, 1979)
Page 6 Portland Observer Thursday, Septem ber 27. 1979 ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE B rubeck com es to P aram ount Pianist Dave Brubeck is one o f those few legends o f jazz who seems to have achieved all the lame, success and recognition anyone could desire. For 18 years Brubeck led the world’ s most popular jazz group. He sold more records, played more concerts, won more awards, and turned more people on to jazz than any other musician during the 50’ s and 60’ s So why, someone asked him last year, was he still touring so aggressively with his three sons? “ It’ s for my kids,” he answered. "1 probably wouldn’t be on the road if they didn't want to perform.” Now that two Brubeck sons have departed and their famous father is still on the road with a new quartet, one suspects that the real answer is, simply, “ I love to play my music.” The legendary pianist appears to have hit the perfect musical combination with his new group— son Chris on bass and trombone, Jerry Bergonzi on tenor 'Fathead N ew m an to appear here JAM ES EARL JONES PAUL ROBESON / / Dazzling disco, romantic balladry, and basic tunk: David Fathead Newman puts it all together on his remarkable new Prestige album, Scratch M y Hack. Like Newman’ s previous Prestige albums, Scratch M y Hack was produced by Orrin Keepnews and Bill Fischer; David performs on flute and tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones. "H e approaches each o f his instruments with a strong awareness o f the d if ferences between them and what each one does best,” says Keepnews. " A t the same time, it is quite clear that in each case the music is coming from the same soul—a very deeply and emotionally musical soul." It was a high school music instructor who saddled David Newman with his "Fathead” nickname. “ I flubbed an arpeggio and the teacher called me ‘ Fathead.’ A ll my friends picked up on it, and it just kind o f stuck.” Lately, Newman’s been hitting the road on a fairly regular basis, with his Dallas quartet—drummer Ted Wasser, bassist David Leone, and keyboardist Claude Johnson (whose “ The Buggs” is included on the new LP). And he con tinues to assimilate the diverse elements o f Seventies pop music into his own highly personal sound—as evidenced by Scratch M y Hack. Paul Robeson" features Jones James Earl Jones stars in “ Paul Robeson," the television premier o f Phillip Hayes Dean's 1978 Broadway play, Monday, October 8th at 8:00 p.m. on KOAP-IO. The play was taped before an audience in April, 1979. The two-hour drama is based on the life o f the great Black singer, actor, athlete and humanitarian who became a figure o f controversy during the McCarthy era of the 1950s. “ Paul Robeson” is virtually a one-man tour-de-force for James Earl Jones, a seasoned actor familiar to television audiences for his role in "Roots: The Next Generations." The only supporting actor is musical arranger and pianist Burt Wallace in the role o f Robeson’s accompanist, Lawrence Brown. A man o f extraordinary versatility, Paul Robeson achieved distinction as both a scholar and an athlete before he became an internationally honored con cert artist and stage and screen actor in the 1930s and 40’ s. But he refused to confine his public comments to artistic issues. He repeatedly spoke out against racial injustice and vigorously defended the Soviet Union. In 1949 he caused turmoil in the United States when he told the World Peace Congress in Paris: “ It is unthinkable that American Negroes could go to war on behalf o f those who have oppressed them for generations against the Soviet Union, which in one generation has raised our people to full human d ignity." This was at the height o f the Cold War. Robeson’ s passport was revoked, concerts were cancelled. A number o f books dropped references to him. f ilm footage o f many o f his major movies disappeared. His brilliant career was blighted. He left the U.S. to live in France. Only years later, when Robeson was too ill to resume public appearances, did his fame begin to revive. He returned to the U.S. and in 1976 he died. The drama that bears his name aroused a controversy almost as intense as that which surrounded Robeson himself. A group o f 56 prominent members ot the Black community signed a statement condemning the play as “ a pernicious pervision o f the essence o f Paul Robeson," and attacked it as trivializing the heroic dimensions o f its subject. Since then, other members of the Black community led by former Cleveland mayor Carl Stokes, criticized the charges as an attempt at censorship and pointed out that a number o f those who signed the statement had not seen the play. Stokes, who calls himself, “ a protege o f Paul Robeson and his politics,” says, “ This is a play Americans need to sec, not because an actor rises to super lative heights. .. which Jones does, but because this play reintroduces Paul Robeson to the American public and causes White and Black Americans to confront the atrocious treatment they accorded this remarkable man." THE KINGSTON PRESENTS THE DAVID S BBQ Ribs or H ot Links Dinners — Beef or Pork We also have Orders-To-Go NEWMAN QUARTET SUN. & M O N ., SEPT. 30-OCT. 1 SHOWS 7&10 Tickets $5available at ~ The Kingston & Millennium Northwest • Information 224-2115 THE KINGSTON • 2021 SW MORRISON t / LOWELL'S LOUNGE & Ray's Bar B-Q Pit sax, and Butch Miles on drums. I ike him. none o f his sidemen want to work more than 60 Brubeck dales a year. Though playing less. Dave is obviously enjoying it more. W ith Bergonzi and Miles, his quartet is a harder-swinging, more cohesive unit than any he has led—including the original version, say some observers. Ihe quartet toured heavily this summer, playing the major U.S. and European jazz festivals. Between dates Brubeck settles back with orchestration paper to satisly his addition to composition, usually o f classical works for large orchestral and choral groups. Winding up their fall tour, Brubeck and quartet bring their mainstream jazz to the Portland Paramount I heatre on Saturday, October 6th, for an 8:30 p.m. performance. Reserved seat tickets at $5 50, $6.50 and $7.50 aie available at Meier &. Frank, I verybody’ s Records, Stevens & Son Tickets (I loyd Center), Budget Tapes A Records, and I rederick A Nelson. A r t C o m m is s io n n o m in a tio n s due The Oregon Arts Commission is seeking nominations o f individuals, educational institutions, organiza tions, communities and business firms that have made significant contribu tions to the advance o f the arts in Oregon, for recognition in the fourth annual Governor’ s Awards for the Arts. The visual, literary, and per forming arts are included. Those interested in subm itting nominations should send the names and fu ll supporting background material to the Oregon Arts Com mission, 835 Summer Street, Salem, Oregon 97301. The deadline fo r nominations is October 1, 1979. "FATHEAD" NEED NO TEETH TO EAT MY BEEF 5144 NE Union Ave. Open Mon-Sun— 12 Noon-Until 288 7852 W LJULO.iUUUULW LJULILW LW L^^ " ' TH A N K YOU PORTLAND! for your overwhelming support of "FOR COLORED G IR L S .. . " Announcing the opening of our OREGON TOUR at JEFFERSON PERFORMING ARTS AUDITORIUM -5210 N KERBY OCTOBER 3RD thru 7TH 8PM, Wed., Thurs., Fri., Sat., and Sun. Matinee 3PM Tickets: Adults $5.00/$3.50 children Call 221 7361 for ticket reservations 8 3:30 only Wed., benefit for Black Education School and Northwest Artist Workshop Sun., special Women's day— tickets $3.50 for women only A PORTLAND BLACK REPERTORY THEATRE PRODUCTION M o to w n A lb u m s Special “ fo r tw o w e e ks o n ly " O n Motown Records & Tapes On Motown Records & Tapes DIANA ROSS The Boss Take a break with the b o ss’ On Motown Records & Tapes NEW COMMODORES! For further details, contact the Oregon A rts C om m ission, 835 Summer Street, Salem, Oregon 97301. COMING OCT. 6 ft 7 RICHIE COLE & AUTO M ADNESS On Motown Records & Tapes SMOKEY ROBINSON When- ITierr's Smoke SATURDAYS 11am-2pm UNCLE HO M ER’S JAZZHO LEl COVER Portland's longest-running jazz pro-J gram. With Homer Clark. 2pm 6pm JAZZ RAP Cookin' jazz, bluesl and popular black music. With George Page. 6pm 8pm KIDNEY STEW The blues. W ith| John Head, George Page and Tom Wendt. 8pm 12 m id n ig h t ESSENCE OF S O U Ll PART I The only show of its kind in tow n.l With the Groover, J.W . Friday. 12 m id n ig h t 3arn S A T U R D A Y N IG H T , JAZZ SHOW Swing, bop and progressive’ jazz, latin music, funk and blues with Rick | Mitchell. J U ff She’s pregnant. She’s deserted. She needs help. She should call 249-5801 Birthright free confidential counseling (or pregnant girls 4023 N E Halsey Just oft Sandy Blvd SMOKEY ROBINSON Where There’s Smoke... BILLY PRESTON BLLY PRESTON Late At Night s SMOKEY ROBINSON Where ThereY Smoke Late At Night OF 3606 N. Williams Avenue CLARK PAGE M ITCHELL "The Baddest Block on Radio” FRIDAY Jazz • Rhythm & Blues • Gospel I
