Remembering IAJE

It has been a year now since I traveled up to Toronto to go to the 35th Annual International Association of Jazz Education (IAJE) conference.  This conference was jam packed with jazz legends and clinics for every instrument and jazz musical style.  By jazz musical style I mean: jazz, blues, funk, swing, bebop, dixieland and anything in between those.  It was a half-a-week affair, starting out with some late night concert jams, all leading up to the induction ceremony concert to cap off the week of jazz.

With it being a year since I was there, doesn’t seem that long ago, I have a few memories that still stand out.  For one, I have never heard jazz like that before.  It doesn’t sound like your normal jazz on the radio, or even seeing some local musicians at Jazzfest.  No, this is high quality jazz, some of the World’s best.  I went there with my jazz ensemble at Winona State.  I was also the 1st tenor player in that band, so of course I’m anxious to hear other solo tenor players to see what they got.  Well I lost, because most of them that I heard were professional amazing.  Actually though, there weren’t too many saxophonists at the conference, that I was able to see at least.

But I was able to see some really good piano players.  Including Oliver Jones, who played in memory of the late Oscar Peterson during the induction ceremony concert.  I spoke of Oliver Jones in my previous post Piano Underground if you would like to read back to that.  There were also a few legends like David Baker and Jamie Aebersold (See picture #6 in the SlideShow below).  But my favorite musician that I saw play, well actually sing, was Kurt Elling.  If I ask you to tell me some names of popular jazz singers, the most common name I would get would be Frank Sinatra.  Probably some Bing Crosby’s, Harry Connick Jr.’s, Michael Buble’s, maybe even a Dean Martin or two.  Well Kurt Elling should rank among those names too.

Kurt has a very Sinatra like voice.  His swagger also showed his true jazz lifestyle.  What do I mean by that?  Well when he speaks, he very much acts like everything is smooth.  Things just click like a good solo with your fellow cats, grovin’ to the beat of some washed up tune, but in a different key to make it swing baby.  He speaks very cool like that, you dig?  This is the true essence of a jazz musician.  However, there are a lot of musicians who don’t act like that but are very good, so it’s not a requirement to be a jazz musician.  Although, other musicians have their own swagger.  In the words of my college jazz director Dr. Rich MacDonald, “There are no wrong notes, only wrong people.”  So true, so true.

Anyways, Kurt’s vocals were dynamic, emotional and moving when he sang.  I was actually able to see a clinic of his on stage performance.  Very interesting how singing isn’t the most important thing to do while on stage.  It’s all about how you present yourself and make the audience feel like they are a part of your music.

But then the moment of all moments, I got to see Quincy Jones himself accept an award as an IAJE Jazz Legend.  Only 100 musicians have received this award, including all the greats like Miles Davis and John Coltrane.  A very prestigious award given to only the best.

Unfortunately, after 35 years in existence, IAJE went bankrupt this past year.  So far they have canceled their yearly conference, which would have been going on right now.  I haven’t heard any more news on the progress of their organization, since they are non-profit, but hopefully they will be able to start up again in the near future.

I took a few pictures while I was there.  Not too many though, I wanted to enjoy the music.  Click on the picture to see the whole SlideShow.

Click on the photo to see more pictures

Until next time cats,
BC

Mark McPherson, What’s on your iPod?
Harry Connick, Jr. “Wink and a Smile”
Spin Doctors “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong”
Everclear “Santa Monica”
Jay-Z “Money Ain’t a Thing”
Wallflowers “One Headlight”
Crazytown “Butterfly”
Blues Traveler “Run Around”
Counting Crows “Long December”
Maroon 5 “Sunday Morning”
Billy Joel Greatest Hits, Volume 1 & 2