Newspaper Page Text
THE SPELMAN SPOTLIGHT
Page 3
February 29, 1964
A few issues back I asked you
to send me the names of jazz artists
that you wanted to hear about. Get
ting no response (so far), I decided
to go out on a limb and try some
thing new anyway. For this month,
I’ve chosen to write a little on the
man who ranked third in the category
called “Best Alto Saxophonist” in this
year’s annual Downbeat poll, Jackie
McLean.
I was introduced to “Jackie Mac”
(through records) a couple of years
ago by a friend in Washington, D. C.
who is one of his most avid fans.
I had heard of him before, but not
being a real jazz buff had stunted
me to the point where I was ac
quainted with only the more popular,
more commercial artists. Later,
branching out, I started digging
Jackie more and more—to the point
where, right now, I can really ap
preciate him.
Now you want to know, who is
Jackie McLean and why is he one
of the biggest things on the jazz
scene today?
Jackie was born in 1932 in New
York City. His father was a musician
with Tiny Bradshaw, which was a
good start in itself; and by the time
he died in 1939, Jackie was already
aware of his musical heritage. He
started out playing a soprano saxo
phone that belonged to his godfather
and on his fifteenth birthday was
presented his own alto model. His
first influence was tenorist, Lester
“Prez” Young, and later he heard
the great Charlie Parker. Parker in
fluenced Jackie (just as he has every
modern jazz musician), but he was
also impressed by his local neighbor
hood musicians. The bandleader, An
dy Kirk, gave him the first real les
sons that he could appreciate. Short
ly after that, he was fortunate to
become acquainted with Bud Powell
with whom he really began to know
what was happening in jazz. Bud
gave him his first real break in 1949
when he let him sit in with his group
at Birdland. He was 17 then. Two
years later, Bud introduced him to
Miles Davis, who gave Jackie his
first opportunity to record.
By 1955, Jackie Mac was really
“on the scene.” In 1956, he played
with Charlie Mingus. Mingus is the
man most responsible for Jackie’s
change in attitude, and the formation
of his own means of expression. After
Charlie, it was Art Blakey’s Jazz
Messengers for two and a half years.
In 1959, he opened in a play, “The
Connection” and at the same time
began recording on the Blue Note
label. This was IT! Since his first
recording on that label, Jackie has
been recognized as one of the most
profound, stimulating musicians
around today.
Where does Jackie McLean stand
on various issues in jazz? First, his
inclination toward doing something
different became obvious in the ear
ly 50’s, but getting the nerve to real
ly try it was something else again.
Today Jackie has that necessary
nerve. His latest released record,
Let Freedom Ring, attests to this.
He admits that moving away from
conventional attitudes in playing and
chord changes and progressions was
a problem of his own, but now he
is bent on the freedom which is so
necessary for a musician who wants
to stretch out and explore himself—
and his music. Jackie loves musicians
who do what they feel like doing
and who look for new means of ex
pression. This is one of the reasons
why he holds in high esteem such
musicians as the pianist, Cecil Tay
lor, and Ornette Coleman who play
what they want to play whether it’s
accepted or not. These are the peo
ple who inspire Jackie in his search,
along with Monk, Mingus, Coltrane,
Sonny Rollins, Miles, and the great
Duke Ellington—people who are evol
ving a new sound which he hopes
will bring about just what he wants.
This is a bit of Jackie McLean,
a man, (to use that overworked
phrase) with a plan—a plan which
can be expressed in three words: Let
freedom ring.
JACKIE McLEAN ON BLUE NOTE
New Soil (BLP4013)
Swing, Swang Swingin’ (BLP4024)
Capuchin Swing (BLP4038)
Jackies Bag (BLP4051)
Bluesnik (BLP4067)
A Fickle Sonance (BLP4089)
Let Freedom Ring (BLP4106)
Joanne Merry
ATLANTA AREA CONFERENCE
on
RELIGION AND RACE
WHEN?
February 28-29 - March 1
WHERE?
Old Gammon Theological Campus,
S. E. Atlanta
WHO?
College Students from all
Atlanta Area Schools
COST?
$10.00 (half-scholarships available)
See your campus minister or representative for more
information and registration form. He is N. M. Rates,
Rockefeller, 204.
Clubs In The News
Since the beginning of the second
semester, some of the clubs and or
ganizations on our campus have been
in the news spotlight or will be at
some future date.
On January 30, the physical edu
cation majors sponsored their annual
square dance in Read Hall. This year
the dance was somewhat unusual.
The majors added a bit of authen
ticity to the atmosphere by having
professionals there to do the calling.
The dance was well attended, and
those who came expressed their en
joyment. In the future, it is the hope
of the Physical Education department
that the square dance will become a
regular event instead of an annual
one.
This organization was again in the
spotlight on February 14, when it
sponsored an intramural basketball
tournament. The students as well as
the majors were invited to participate.
Prior to this event, a basketball
clinic was held. An invitation was ex
tended to Mr. Hambrick, one of the
coaches at Clark College, who ad
vised the players and gave them some
helpful pointers on the game itself.
Mary Reeder is the president of this
club.
Eleanor Hinton, a member of Spel-
man’s chapter of the YWCA, attend
ed a meeting of the national officers
in New York from January 29 to
February 1. El, as she is amiably
called, is the national vice chairman
of this organization. The purpose of
this meeting was to plan the pro
grams of forthcoming conferences
and conventions, and to implement
the actions of the national student
council.
Shortly afterwards, Eleanor attend
ed the Geneva Regional Assembly in
Chicago as a representative of the
national officers. Its purpose was to
help interpret national policies, pro
grams, and projects. Charles Etta
White is the president of Spelman’s
chapter.
The next organization that was in
the spotlight was the French club.
On February 14, Dr. Rukalski, chair
man of the French department, en
tertained the members of this club
and other interested persons by read
ing a paper entitled Sur une ligne de
Marc-Aurele. Those who attended
were certainly enlightened.
Another annual event is the swim
ming show which is presented jointly
by the Spelman swimming club and
the Morehouse swimming team. For
past performances, some of the
themes were centered around George
Gershwin, great movie themes, and
Adventures to Paradise. This year
the theme will be centered around
the months of the year. Included in
this year’s presentation will be tunes
such as “Autumn Leaves”, “Sum
mertime”, and “White Christmas.”
The month of June will be represent
ed by a wedding.
In the past, the swimming show
has received many gratifying com
ments. With the addition of new
members from both sides, hope for
the same prevails. As usual there
will be two performances, March 6
and 7, and the public is invited. The
time will be announced later. Val-
jean Williams is the president of
this aquatic group.
If there are other clubs and or
ganizations which have news or an
nouncements, do not hesitate to con
tact Gloria Knowles in Abby 221.
Spelmanites and those persons con
nected with our college are interest
ed in the plans and activities of each
organization.
This Week s Best Sellers
FICTION
The Group, McCarthy.
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, LeCarre.
The Shoes of the Fisherman, West.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Fleming.
The Venetian Affair, Mclnnes.
GENERAL
Four Days, Edited by Catton.
Profiles in Courage, Kennedy.
JFK: The Man and the Myth, Lasky.
Peachtree Street, USA, Sibley.
The South and the Southerner, McGill.
Confessions of an Advertising Man, Oglivy.
STUDENTS TOUR OF EUROPE
Let's Go There Summer 1964 . . .
Via Sea or Air
VISIT 11 COUNTRIES
ENGLAND - HOLLAND - RELGIUM - GERMANY
- SWITZERLAND - LIECHTENSTEIN - AUSTRIA -
ITALY - MONACO - FRANCE - LUXEMROURG
PRICE INCLUDES: Transportation, hotels, meals, sight
seeing, transfers each city.
Supplement your education with a trip to Europe. Get
a head-start in the international world of tomorrow by
visiting and seeing at first hand the great historical and
cultural masterpieces at the fountainhead of Western
Civilization.
For further information complete coupon and return to
Mrs. Helen Brooks, Faculty Coordinator or
HENDERSON TRAVEL SERVICE
931 Hunter Street, N. W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30314
Campus Representative, Miss Sylvin Thompson, SY 4-8098
Please register me for European Tour. A deposit of $25.00
is needed to hold a reservation. My deposit is enclosed
Expect deposit by date.
NAME AGE...
SCHOOL CLASSIFICATION
SCHOOL ADDRESS
HOME ADDRESS
Also wide selection of low-cost tours for Teachers
Gloria A. Knowles