Eight performers collaborate on different instruments to introduce one of America's contributions to the musical world to BYU.

BYU's Jazz Dixieland band swings into motion Oct. 9 in the Madsen Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend the free concert.

Steve Call has been conducting the band for 25 years. When he first started the band, it was not part of the School of Music. After five years of performing at festivals and private events, the group became part of the music education program.

"I like being part of the school's curriculum because it gives us a chance to represent the university," Call said. "When we do get paid it goes to funding for travel."

The performance will include guest artist Bill Dobbins, jazz professor at Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y.

Before the performance, Dobbins will conduct a lecture on jazz piano history at 4 p.m. in room E-250 of the Harris Fine Arts Center and will demonstrate jazz piano styles. Call said that Dobbins planned on coming for a lecture and agreed to perform with the group. He said it is not often to have someone of his stature come. The show is able to be free due to funding from general education.

Along with being a professor of jazz, Call said Dobbins also conducts jazz groups in Europe. He said Dobbins is a conductor, author, composer, scholar and more.

"In Europe they are very hip to jazz and some of the finest jazz orchestras are there and he conducts them," Call said.

The group will perform during the second half and each player will have a chance to perform a solo. In jazz, a solo gives the musician the chance to express oneself through the freedom of improvising. Following the rhythm of the song, each player has a chance to interpret and present their point of view through the music.

Ben Taylor, a 25-year-old senior majoring in music composition, plays the trumpet in the band. During the week, he guides the band during practice when Call is not there.

Taylor said that improvisation is not learned overnight, but is built upon over time and from learning from other artists.

"It's like learning how to talk," Taylor said. "You have to build up a vocabulary like a little kid would. You learn words through imitation. That's why we like to listen to older recordings like the great Louis Armstrong, then you imitate it on your trumpet or whatever instrument you are doing. You learn bits of vocabulary and then you put those ideas together in sentences just like little babies."

Some performers are drawn to jazz because of its upbeat music.

Bryan Sullivan, a 25-year-old senior from Vernal studying music education, plays the trombone in the band. He began playing jazz in high school.

"It struck me as really exciting, fun and a challenge to me," Sullivan said. "I was interested in the improv."

Call said the band will perform a handful of songs from composers Jelly Roll Morton and Duke Ellington. Call does not want the concert to go too long because he wants the audience to leave wanting more.

Sullivan said the band is performing more Ellington songs in this performance, because his music is more organized and he creates certain effects that otherwise would not come out in normal improvisation.

Each student that is in the Dixieland Band saw the band before auditioning. Call said that through this tradition the band grows in talent and experience. Each year the band gets better through the addition of new individuals.

"It is great working with these students," Call said. "They learn to develop a very professional attitude."



Copyright Brigham Young University 7 Oct 2008