Author: Raneem Al-Habsha

This year, I attended UNC’s 14th annual Summer Jazz Workshop. As a student with no prior musical experience, I was amazed at how much I learned in just one week about jazz history, basic music skills and journalism. Despite a full and busy schedule, here are my four top takeaways from this experience.

 

Understanding Jazz History and Culture:

I am grateful for the opportunity to learn about jazz history in just one week! The intensive course load broadened my musical horizons, especially since jazz music is not as popular as other genres today. I gained an appreciation for the art of jazz and its historical evolution. The Swing era was my favorite to learn about and had the catchiest rhythms!

Interviewing in Journalism:

For the UNC’s course credit, students were required to take a journalism class. This was my first journalism class, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My favorite part was interviewing fellow students, faculty or performers at the workshop. Andy Bechtel’s class has taught me essential skills and techniques to conduct a professional interview. I learned the importance of a good headline and caption, and it’s harder than you’d think!

Jazz through Student Eyes:

As a part of our attendance grade, we were required to attend daily jam sessions where students practiced for their end of the week performance. I enjoyed hearing about their love for jazz directly from the students themselves and witnessing their passion and hard work during these sessions. These students’ talent and knowledge in the field of jazz is impressive!

Reporting Live Experience:

For our journalism course, we had to report live from a social media platform during a live Latin jazz performance. This was a unique experience for me as reporting as a journalist takes a lot of skill. It was a great performance to report on as the crowd was dancing and grooving along to the live jazz. It was my first time hearing Latin jazz, and I was not disappointed.  

Here’s a link to my Twitter page regarding more about the live event and my interview!

• https://x.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2FRHabsha958
• https://tarheels.live/uncjazz2021/

About 150 students are in attendance this year for UNC’s 14th annual Jazz Summer Workshop. This workshop welcomes students of all ages, from middle school and high school students to college students and adults, who are deeply involved in this year’s jazz program. Students are either covering this workshop as journalists or preparing to perform in the final student concert this Friday, June 28, 2024. 

Today I had the pleasure of speaking with Samuel Kucera, (preferred name: Sam), a high school student who attends Westcuttert High School from Morehead City, Newport, North Carolina. 

Sam is a bass player who has played the the instrument since 7th grade. Originally a guitarist since the age of seven, Sam switched to the bass after discovering his love for the instrument during jazz tryouts in middle school.

“I chose to play the bass, and I’ve loved it ever since,” Sam said. Being at the UNC Jazz Workshop has been a great opportunity for Sam to learn more new techniques while playing, exploring musical theory, and improving his solo’s and chord progression. 

Sam’s passion for music is rooted in his family, who encouraged him to start playing an instrument. He has overcome his performance anxiety by being a part of his father’s band, the Big Tree Band. He enjoys playing with them as he finds it has helped his confidence. 

He primarily plays jazz and classic rock, as these genres are “complex and pleasing to the ear.” His favorite musicians, specific to bass, are Jaco Pastorius and John Paul Jones, whose style and solo articulation inspire Sam’s solos. He is driven to make “all his solos sound like his.”

Throughout the workshop, Sam has focused on improving his “walking” bass lines and soloing methods, and understanding chord construction — areas he identified as weaknesses. “The instructors here are great. They explain everything well and make it easy to learn,” Sam said.

Sam’s participation in the workshop is motivated by his goal to improve his bass skills, gain a professional learning experience, and connect with his friends who are also a part of the program. However, he expressed his wish for a more in-depth explanation of music theory, wishing that teachers would discuss this topic more rather than just covering the basics. 

Sam has also made new friends in the dorms and hallways, and in bass lessons. The supportive environment and the chance to perform with others have contributed to his growth as a musician. “Yeah, I definitely would,” Sam said about whether he would come back to this workshop, as it’s “easy to learn” and the teachers are extremely helpful. 

He is excited about his upcoming performance on Friday with his new friends.

Yesterday evening, Moeser Auditorium was filled with students, parents, faculty, and locals, all eager to delve into the world of jazz. Stephen Anderson, director of the UNC Summer Jazz Workshop for the past 14 years, sets the tone for the evening’s upcoming performance.

Jazz artist Rahsaan Barber was the star of the show. He opened the show sharing the story behind his first song “Open Sesame.” As Barber rustled through his notes, he began to play his saxophone with stride and power that made it clear he was born to play the saxophone.

“Open Sesame” was enlightening, especially for my first jazz concert. The musicians were in perfect harmony, as each instrumentalist played an important role in the composition. Each front-line instrumentalist had their own solo.

The saxophone stood out most, followed closely by trumpet player Nathan Warner and piano player Ed Paolantonio. Their energy and enthusiasm filled the auditorium with a love for jazz.

After “Open Sesame,” Barber says “let’s cha cha cha” to “Brooklyn en la Casa”, a piece that began with a deep bass solo, setting a dark mood. After his solo, the rest of the musicians followed effortlessly with a powerful melody led by trombone player Jerald Shynett and the saxophone. This performance demonstrated the world of jazz live.

Next, Barber performed “Down in My Soul,” a piece that reminded him of his mother. This was personally my favorite piece, because of the intricate trumpet solo. The cheers from the audience uplifted the performers, making it an amazing experience for the students.

“Her Family Calls Her Claire” followed, beginning with a lullaby-like piano solo, soon joined by the bass played by Jason Foureman and drummer Dan Davis. The saxophone and trombone carried the melody into a beautiful harmonic piece. This piece felt more emotional than the others because of a bass solo.

Barber’s final piece was a funk song dedicated to his favorite saxophonist, a local from North Carolina. He invited the audience to clap along in tempo with the music. This was an audience favorite, as the energy in the auditorium shifted.

Barber’s energetic performance had the audience nodding their heads, stomping their feet, and clapping in rhythm. The saxophone’s high pitches, and dynamic drumming, only made the audience want more!

Rahsaan Barber’s performance showcased the musician’s talents and passion thoroughly as their love for jazz soared through the auditorium, without breaking a sweat! As a non-musician, I was able to understand their dedication to jazz.

This evening brought together a community of music lovers, a memorable night for all. Dr. Rahsaan Barber is truly something special, and I’m glad to have had the opportunity to attend!

Browse the Musicians:

1. https://music.unc.edu/people/musicfaculty/rahsaan-barber/
2. https://music.unc.edu/summerjazzworkshop/faculty/