B-N jazz troupe upbeat about the art of improv
By Adam Kinzer/Pantagraph staff
Friday, December 10, 1999
Jazz is the music of
America.
More than other musical form,
it is our own: born with us, growing and coming of age as we have, telling the
story of the American dream in its beats and
rhythms.
The Heartland Jazz Orchestra is an
ensemble that is well aware of its music's prominent place in the annals of
American music history.
And it is working to
carry on that tradition and to establish a strong jazz community here in the
Bloomington-Normal area.
Chartered
February 1999, HJO is comprised of a widely diverse mix of are individuals - from
students, to teachers, to retirees.
The
22-member orchestra has one thing firmly in common: a love for their music and a
powerful command of their instruments.
"Our
main goal has been to create an institution that gives tribute to America's jazz
movement and the unique contribution it has mad to world music, and to support
and further the jazz movement here in our home community" says the group's
founder and leader, Doug Tidaback, who also plays
trombone.
"I really believe that jazz is
America's classical music," he continues. "It's a fine art and a
challenging form of musical expression. Jazz musicians really have to be a
virtuoso on their instrument; they really have to master each piece. And
then they have to be able to add an element of improvisation within those
confines."
"Other forms of music have really
lost that sense of spontaneity. That is one of the things that makes jazz
so exciting it never gets played the same way twice," he
says.
Is is that belief in the improvisational
strength of jazz music and the group's love of audience participation that has
prompted the HJO to record their debut CD album live at downtown Normal's The
Coffeehouse, in two sessions: from 7 to 9:30p.m. today and
Saturday.
The band will be performing two sets
each night, each one made up of songs from the masters of jazz, Miller, Benny
Goodman, Woody Herman and others.
"The Coffeehouse
has a terrific atmosphere for this sort of event,"says Tidaback. "It really
become the favorite performance spot for the band. It provides a good
sense of intimacy and Coffeehouse owner Sam Wilson has been a big supporter of
what we are trying to do."
He adds, "At The
Coffeehouse, people can bring their whole family and really have a meaningful
aesthetic experience with the music. It has been exciting - the band is
really starting to get a strong crowd out to each of our events, people that
really love jazz music. We hope this support for jazz and the arts in
general can continue to grow in our
community."
Horine's Piano's Plus is supplying
a grand piano for the event, with Audioquest Recording, Pro Sound and Music
Shoppe providing the lighting and recording
services.
"We are a group with a strong sense of
community because we are diverse, but also because every member of this
orchestra has really stride to become a creative complete musician, while still
complementing the talents of each others," say Luciano Rosado, veteran trumpet
player and HJO business manager.
"During our live shows, we
really try to showcase that community spirit. It is important to us that
there be something that everyone who comes out can enjoy, whether it be the big
band sound, swing, or even funk."
The band hopes in the near future to be
able to spawn a second group so that even more musicians can be given a chance
to perform.
For any style of music, even one
as time-honored and relevant as jazz, sustaining it through the duration of time
and changing cultures isn't easy.
Talented and passionate musicians must
continue to aspire to keep the spirit and enthusiasm for their art form
alive.
With the arrival of the Heartland Jazz Orchestra, the art form appears
to be in safe hands in Bloomington-Normal.