Sharp Notes April 10 2002
JAZZ HONORED. Saxophonist Will Scruggs, a senior in Emory University’s music department, scores a victory for jazz’s acceptance in academia. Sat., April 13, at Emory’s Performing Arts Studio, Scruggs presents “The Evolution of the Jazz Saxophone,” the university’s first honors project in jazz performance. The program, in which Scruggs plays famous solos by saxophonists from Sidney Bechet to John Coltrane, also features pianist/Emory lecturer Gary Motley, drummer Bernard Linnette and bassist Moffet Morris.
“Although I am hoping to graduate with honors as a result of all this, my main goal is to change the system at Emory and make it possible for future students to study jazz in a supportive environment,” Scruggs says. “As a major college in one of the nation’s major black cities, I think it is a shame that Emory has not done more to embrace jazz music. “While Emory offers programs in jazz, they do not count toward the university’s music degree. Scruggs convinced the music department to allow him to do his honors project in jazz performance. “It’s ground breaking,” Motley says. “I don’t think there’s been a resistance to it [from faculty], but now we’re seeing an increased interest on the part of students in jazz studies.”
To celebrate his achievement, Scruggs’ band Cadillac Jones performs at the Village in East Atlanta, at 10 p.m., after his Emory recital.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. Before CL even went to print last week with its update on the third name change in as many gigs for Kenny Howes’ backing band, he’d already changed it again. To make this odyssey of moniker tinkering all the more pointless, the group has returned to square one by calling itself Kenny Howes & the Yeah!, the name of Howes’ previous backing band. Case closed, as far as we’re concerned.
“Although I am hoping to graduate with honors as a result of all this, my main goal is to change the system at Emory and make it possible for future students to study jazz in a supportive environment,” Scruggs says. “As a major college in one of the nation’s major black cities, I think it is a shame that Emory has not done more to embrace jazz music. “While Emory offers programs in jazz, they do not count toward the university’s music degree. Scruggs convinced the music department to allow him to do his honors project in jazz performance. “It’s ground breaking,” Motley says. “I don’t think there’s been a resistance to it [from faculty], but now we’re seeing an increased interest on the part of students in jazz studies.”
To celebrate his achievement, Scruggs’ band Cadillac Jones performs at the Village in East Atlanta, at 10 p.m., after his Emory recital.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. Before CL even went to print last week with its update on the third name change in as many gigs for Kenny Howes’ backing band, he’d already changed it again. To make this odyssey of moniker tinkering all the more pointless, the group has returned to square one by calling itself Kenny Howes & the Yeah!, the name of Howes’ previous backing band. Case closed, as far as we’re concerned.