Author: henryw

When I saw that there was an opportunity to gain 3 credit hours for learning journalism and jazz, I was immediately interested. I have always loved music and was eager for the opportunity to learn more about the art of jazz. I also had worked at the UNC student newspaper: The Daily Tar Heel for a grand total of 2 months, and I figured I could give the journalism thing another go.

As this week comes to a close and I have arrived at the last day of class, I had a couple points of reflection for interested individuals.

1. Learning about journalism has been so enlightening. 

One of the parts of this workshop involves learning about journalism and its various aspects from a current professor in the UNC School of Media and Journalism.

We learned about how to conduct interviews to build a profile around someone, write a music review, and use social media to document a live performance. All of these activities were incredibly fun, and I learned so much that I can take into many parts of my life. I highly recommend this for anyone interested in getting into journalism or just wanting to learn more about it!

2. This workshop brings incredible musicians and stories together. 

One of the most exciting parts I got to participate in was writing a profile on a talented jazz musician named Jhon Martez. He is a trumpet player who comes from the Dominican Republic and studies at Berklee College of Music. He is an exceptional player and person, and to be able to experience his musicianship and learn more about him as a person was a true treat during this workshop.

He is one of the many individuals with incredible stories to tell that make their way to this workshop, and the opportunity to meet all of them is an amazing part of this week.

3. There are ample opportunities to learn about jazz styles from many different instruments. 

One part of the workshop that was incredible was being able to sit in on group lessons for the various instruments at the workshop. I was able to sit in on trumpet, trombone and voice lessons, where I could watch masters at their craft teach.

My favorite lesson was the voice lesson. I especially loved this because as a brass player, I was not very acquainted to the art of jazz voice, and to be able to watch the process up close and personal was so inspiring to learn about.

Along with the lessons, the free concerts every night had such variety of styles and instrumentation. Every night was an incredible opportunity to watch jazz musicians perform their art at such a high level.

Did I mention they are free?

4. The food in Granville Towers is heavenly. 

On a less serious note, during the workshop you have the option of eating and staying at Granville Towers, a place for students to live during the academic year. With this, you get the privilege to feast at the lovely dining hall, the Agora.

The food at this place is immaculate, and it included the likes of spaghetti and meatballs, beef steak, ice cream, and so much more.

It may not be the most educational part of the workshop, but it sure is a perk!

The UNC Summer Jazz workshop is underway this week, and musicians have traveled from all over to witness inspiring performances and to hone their craft in jazz music.

One of the many people in attendance is Jhon Martez, a 20-year old trumpet player in his fifth semester at Berklee College of Music.

Having performed the trumpet for most of his life, Jhon was immediately interested when he was offered a scholarship to attend this incredible workshop.

Jhon was born in the Dominican Republic, and he comes from a family of music, with his father playing the saxophone and his mother being a singer. “My father was my first teacher, and I have always wanted to be a musician like him.” Jhon said.

Along with his parents, Jhon has two older brothers who are also musicians themselves.

He says the first time he picked up the trumpet was when he was 2 years old, but it wasn’t the way you would expect.

“I was slinging that thing around like it was a toy,” he said. It wasn’t until he was 4 years old that he actually produced his first note.

From there, Jhon honed his craft until receiving a scholarship to Berklee and moving to Boston. Right now, he is a student in the trumpet performance degree program, but he studies other disciplines such as production and composition.

Aside from his studies, he maintains an active schedule of performing at gigs in the Boston area, with his favorite gigging experience coming at a beer factory in the city.

“It was such an interesting place to play and something I had not experienced before,” Jhon said.

Aside from his parents, his inspirations include Wynton Marsalis, Clifford Brown and Arturo Sandoval .

Jhon remarks that Sandoval is of particular inspiration because of his Latin American influences within his jazz performance.

Jhon is just one of the many inspiring musicians who comes to this camp to hone their craft in the musical cornucopia that is jazz music.

Tonight, I heard one of the most influential rising trumpet players in North Carolina: Al Strong.

The Music of Al Strong was a performance for the University of North Carolina Jazz Workshop, and it was performed at Moeser Auditorium.

Al Strong hails from Washington D.C and started his playing career at the Duke Ellington School of Music, where he hasn’t looked back. After College, Al has made a career pushing the boundaries of music through his unique performances, thrilling compositions and education in the community.

Al Strong played 6 original compositions with a band composed of well-renowned players including:

• Rahsaan Barber, Saxophones
• Stephen Anderson, Piano
• Jason Foureman, Bass
• Roland Barber, Trombone
• Kobie Watkins, Drums

They began the program with Lullaby for the Ancestors, a lyrical ballad that shows off the unique sound of Strong. His improvisations express technical virtuosity and a repertoire of tone colors.

Throughout the piece, Strong is able to make the trumpet sing to the audience in a way that make you connect with the piece at an individual level. His tone is rich and full, and he shows the ability to maintain this quality at vastly different volumes.

Throughout the program, all of the performers are able to express their individual skill and style.

Roland Barber’s sound is gritty and aggressive; and he used many different techniques to produce growls and glissandos.

Jason Foureman frequently took solos where he moved up and down the full neck of the bass in the blink of an eye.

But perhaps the most important driver of the ensemble was Kobie Watkins.

Kobie is a Chicago area native who has recorded and performed with numerous well-known musicians. As the drummer, Kobie keeps the band in time and playing together.

But he keeps the band together in other ways too.

For a slow tempo, Kobie sauntered over the kit, his sticks methodically shifting from one drum to the next. When the band improvised over up-tempo swing, his sticks would dash around the set; Kobie nodding and smiling all the way.

Toward the end of the program, Al Strong used call and response to engage the crowd; asking people to clap along to the rhythm as the band continued to swagger on through the music. This spoke to the character of Al Strong: a performer for a community.

More than the incredible compositions, this performance was breathtaking because of the individuals personalities that shown through their performance, while also maintaining a cohesive whole with masterful execution.

Al Strong is one of the most inspiring trumpeters right now, and along with other inspiring musicians, he delivered a performance that demonstrated passion, agony and exuberance for all to enjoy.

 

Reviewed by Henry Swift