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March, 1971 THE SPOTLIGHT Page 3 Black women can New student cashier contribute to world of jazz canH do everything’ By Sheryl Harris Is there a place men in the world for black of jazz? Angie Jackson, a Spelman so phomore who plays the string bass, says there is. “The most dominating people in jazz are black people,” An gie said. “The more I play, the more I find people who appre ciate my playing as a woman, especially men.” Angie is an unusual young la dy because there are not many women string bass players. How ever, she feels that black women can offer much more to the world of jazz. “I feel that black women can contribute more than just sing ing and playing the piano,” Angie said. Angie is a fan of Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrain. They are both harpists. “These are the only women I know of who are doing some thing different, other than sing ing or playing the piano,” Angie said. “Both of these women have not received the recognition they deserve,” Angie sa'id. “Alice Col train is better known, perhaps, because she is the wife of the great saxophonist John Coltrain.” “I think Dorothy Ashby should receive more recogntion, even more than Alice Coltrain,” Angie said. “She plays the koto, a very difficult string instrument.” The koto is an Indian instrument that sounds like a guitar and resembles a wooden aUtoharp. Angie has definite views on why these women have not been recognized. “Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrain have concentrated on the jazz harp,” Angie said. “The harp is not that popular.” Ron Carter is idol as a string Angie’s male bass player. “He not only plays jazz, but he can play anything well,” An gie said. “He has very good bowing technique. This is rare in a string bass player because most of them concentrate on plucking.” Angie first became interested in the string bass while in the tenth grade at Palmer Memorial Institute in Sedalia, N. C. “They bought a bass at Palm er,” Angie said. “The band di rector gave me a book and a few pointers and I took it from there.” Angie learned the bass tech nique alone. “I took the method book, played it page by page, and tried to learn the technique,” Angie said. “It took me about three weeks to go through one tech- book.’ At Palmer jazz combo saxophone, piano string bass. The Angie played in a that included a drummer and group did not play for money. “We played for enjoyment,” Angie said. “We pla'yed at some area high schools and at our own school, Palmer.” The group played all their music by ear, that is, without the aid of written music. “We couldn’t afford to buy sheet music,” Angie said. 4 My hands are small and I have to stretch them to play’ ■ : : : Lenda Gaillard, new student- cashier at Spelman College, says students must realize that her dual role takes a lot of time and should not expect the cashier’s window to be open as much as it was before she took over. Lenda, a senior, took over the job last month when Spelman’s full-time cashier, Mrs. Pauline Martin, was hospitalized. “I have no help,” Lenda said. “Some people get upset when the window isn’t open. I can’t sit at the window a's long as it was open when Mrs. Martin was working.” Lenda was a work-study help er in the business offi6e before taking her new position. She made some deposits and wrote some of the receipts to relieve the full-time cashier for other duties. Now she makes all of the de posits from the business office to the bank and takes in all the money that comes into the of fice. There are also other mis- cella'neous duties. “I do all of the things Mrs. Martin would do if she were here,’ she said. Lenda is carrying 15 class hours this semester. She puts in about 20 hours per week in the office. Prior to her new job, she worked 15 hours. Lenda works as many hours as possible every day between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. “Whenever I’m not in class and I have ex tra time, I go there,” she said. Despite the added duties, Lenda is still paid from the work-study program. She would rather be paid an employee’s salary by Spelman College. “I haven’t said anything about it since I am a student,” she said. “I guess there are stipula tions and I can’t be put on a regular salary.” Lenda said she was chosen to become the temporary cashier be cause “there is no one else.” She said since she had worked so closely with Mrs. Martin, she was the only one who knew what was to be done. “It was a sudden appointment,” she said. Lenda is a sociology major. She is undecided about plans after graduation. She wants to work as an airline stewardess or with an Economic Opportunity At lanta (EOA) program such as Planned Parenthood. Mrs. Martin is to return to her job around March 15, and Lenda will once again be a stu dent helper. Angie has had some problems in playing the string bass, but the biggest problem has been the size of her hands. Angie hands are six-and-one- half inches long, not long enough for her to play the bass easily. The string bass is a difficult instrument to play because of its large size, but Angie copes with the problem. “My hands are small and 1 have to stretch them to play,” Angie said. Last year Angie did something unusual. She bought her own electric upright string bass. The regular string bass is about two feet in width and five feet in length. It is made up of many different kinds _ of woods and has coats of differ ent varnishes. The electric upright string bass is smaller, one - and - one - half feet ahd three-and-one-half feet in length. It is made of plastic. Angie now plays in the Clark College jazz band and the Spel man woodwind esemble. She has never played for money. When the Clark College jazz band had its concert in Febru ary, Angie was the only female participant in the band. Angie hopes to become a pro fessional jazz bass player. “I would like to bring out every aspect of black music, as well as jazz,” Angie said. “I would like to tour and record in studios.” Later, Angie would like to be come a record producer. But she would not just be concerned with jazz. “I’ll study classical music, too, because all these areas of music fit together,” Angie said. Her parents have encouraged her in her pursuit of an enter tainment career, but they have warned her of its dangers. “My parents have warned me about being too extravagant with money, instead of saving it,” Angie said. “They also told me that at one time you may be popular, and that another time you may be unpopular. Then you’ll have to worry about get ting money, just to live decent ly.” Angie’s career in music will not be limited to the performance of jazz music. “I think I can bring out all phases of black music and music in general in my playing,” An gie said. “There is a place for black women today in the world of jazz, and in the world of mu sic.’ Bahama restrictions announced Students planning to visit the Bahama Islands during the spring break are asked to note the following summary of regulations and la'ws provided by Clement T. Maynard, Minister of Tourism, Nassau, Bahama. 1. — ANY POSSESSION of marijuana or other dangerous drugs, even without their use, is illegal and is punishable by up to one year in prison and/or $1,000 fine. This law is strictly enforced. 2. SLEEPING on the beaches at night is strictly prohibited. 3. FIREARMS, even those registered in the United States or other countries, may not be brought into the Bahamas. The legal penalty for possession of firearms is up to two years imprisonment and /or a $500 fine. 4. THERE is a $3 departure tax on all persons leaving the Is lands. 5. — SPEARFISHING with guns is illegal. So is spearfishing with SCUBA gear. Only Hawaiian slings or pole spears may be used, and only with mask and snorkel. 6. BECAUSE it is difficult to cash personal checks in the Ba hamas, we suggest that you carry Travelers’ checks when you visit the Islands. 7. SHOULD you need information or assistance contact the Ministry of Tourism (telephone 23610), the Bahamas Police (tele phone 24444, 23333), or the American Consul General (telephone 21181, after hours 23404).