My wife and I had the opportunity to attend a concert this past Saturday at UCLA, and witnessed an incredible display of jazz compositions performed by a classical music orchestra. The concert was preceded by JCOI (Jazz Composers Orchestra Institute) a week of intensive study facilitated by eight of the most prolific and honored jazz composers on the planet, and administered to 40 very accomplished jazz musicians, chosen from a field of several hundred applicants, who sought to expand and embellish their composition skills. The focus was on the inherent gap between classical and jazz music, that is fueled by the same heirarchal attitude that permeates our society today. The participants spent 10-12 hours each day discussing ideas and techniques that would help to bridge that gap, expressing their experiences, hopes, and dreams in regard to developing a means for garnering respect for all musicians, regardless of their genre, who sought to hone and share their work, All of this was undergirded and intensified by the anticipated and culminating concert that would give the participants and listeners a peek into what the future holds for the world of music.
Alvin and Calvin
I would like to give you my insight on each piece performed and the response of each and every composer, but am going to limit this talk to the composition written by my friend Alvin , who calls himself Calvin without the C, entitled Almost A Boogie. Now I'm not going to focus on the content of his peice except to say that it included and demonstrated all the principles and precepts discussed during the weeklong UCLA endeavor. What I am going to do however, is draw your attention to how Alvin and everyone present is a winner in their own right. The humility and obvious acceptance of their many accomplishments and endeavors as something that can be achieved by anyone who strives to make a difference was a sight to behold. A primary example is how as the audience applauded; Alvin got up out of his seat, walked to the stage and personally congratulated the conductor and orchestra for their appreciative and complimentary rendition of his piece. This act was aptly duplicated as he personably and graciously accepted each and every kudo handed him by the audience, and mirrored once more by the way in which he mingled and interacted with the attendees at the reception afterwards. What I garnered from Alvin was that he and his fellow musicians were hailed and celebrated as winners by everyone present not because they tried to be but because they are.
This whole JCOI event was not about people trying to impress and be lauded. It was about every day folk sharing their musical gifts with one another so that all who experienced their subsequent contributions could hear what winning through collaboration sounds like, and hopefully seek to win through like means in their own respective endeavors. It's all about us being who we are, doing what we do, and wanting everybody to profit as a result. We all can't help but to be winners when we want some of that.
I thank all you JCOI participants for showing me how to win.
To comment or respond click on the word comments at the bottom of this page or email me at grace.calvin187@gmail.com
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