Concepts
I will be happy to elaborate on any aspect of this page in greater detail during future clinics, workshops or master classes in your area. We can also interact with each other here on the 'Net via email or in JazzCorner's Speakeasy. Let me know what you're thinking . I'd also like to hear your own concepts, in anticipation that I may learn from you. Hope to hear from you soon!
FEAR OF A HALF-WHITE MAN
As of this writing, the election is two weeks away. Barack Obama is looking very good in the polls. However, we've learned from recent history, that we should never take anything for granted in U.S. elections, especially this one. So I thought I would write this in support of Obama.
This has been a very interesting and exciting election season. I watch CNN and other news outlets, before I watch anything else, because the election is so compelling. In addition, unlike most things on television, it will actually have a direct affect on all of our lives.
Early on, during the primaries, I was asked, by friends, which candidate I wanted to win. I was supporting Hillary Clinton at that time. I preferred Obama's positions, but more importantly, I WANTED TO WIN! I didn't want to hear, "We fought the good fight", or "We raised the level of discourse with our campaign." After what the Bush administrations had done to this country and the world, I WANTED TO WIN! In the beginning, I thought Hillary was the best prospect. I didn't think enough White people would vote for Obama. Actually, not enough Blacks, Hispanics or Asians, for that matter. Iowa changed everything! When Obama won the Iowa caucuses, everyone looked at his candidacy differently.
With two weeks to go, and Obama leading in every poll, the Republican Party's only hope is to raise doubts and fears about him. They've lost on the issues, McCain's campaign has been a disaster and the American people finally want real change. As a supporter of Kerry in 2004, I think it's a shame that it took this long for people to see the truth about Bush and his policies, but we have to move forward, from where we are today.
The Republicans are desperate. They're trying every "negative" thing they can come up with. They are especially trying to dissuade the working class, blue collar, whites, that Obama had trouble winning in the primaries against Hillary Clinton. They're hoping that the doubts and fears they cultivate will convince many whites not to vote for a black man. I wonder if those same people would have the same fears about a half-white man? Barack Obama was raised by his white mother and her parents. At a certain point in his life, he chose to embrace African-American culture and he refers to himself as a black man. Obama is in fact, a half-white man. Throughout his campaign, he's frequently mentioned his mother and his grandparents. With all of this information out there, you still have some people at McCain / Palin rallies and at Republican functions, fanning fear and racial flames and saying that he is Arabic. It may be a bit more difficult for those people to say, I won't vote for him because he's half-white. In an election where every vote will matter, I think some of Obama's surrogates could reinforce that fact. I think it can only help him.
Obviously, Obama may not need any campaign suggestions from me, because he has run a masterful one against John McCain. When this is all over, I believe it will be said that he ran the most unique and innovative campaign in U.S. history, on a number of fronts. The amount of people he has brought into the process, the record amount of money he's raised, his use of the Internet in fund raising and organizing are but a handful of his campaign's achievements. The majority of Americans want him to win and the vast majority of the world wants him to win. I was touring through Europe in July, at the same time that Obama was in Europe meeting with world leaders and giving speeches. Europeans unquestionably support Obama over McCain. When I walked the streets wearing my Obama t-shirt people would comment and ask many questions about the election. I recall going through Customs as I was entering Portugal. With a long line of people behind me, the usually stoic Customs agent engaged me in a five-minute discussion about the election, inquiring about Obama's chances, before stamping my passport. The Republicans tried to change Obama's popularity around the world, into a negative. McCain ran ads calling him a media creation and a star. Given the abysmal support America has had from the people of the world, during the Bush years, I think it would be a welcome change for the "Leader of the Free World" to be admired, respected and trusted by the rest of the free world.
So here we are with the finish line in sight, fighting to get Obama elected. Although things are tense and the race can still tighten, I am constantly encouraged by the actions of one of Obama's biggest allies, George W. Bush. He has been the worse president in recent memory and possibly the worst in American history! If he had done, even a mediocre job, it's possible we may not be having this discussion about Obama's chances. The current economic crisis is the latest, in a LONG list of appalling things that the American people have had to endure during the Bush years. He may have one more blunder left in him, you never know.
We, on the other hand, have a unique opportunity to create history and change the course that America and the rest of the world is currently on. As Colin Powell said last weekend, Barack Obama, "is a transformational figure." Personally, I think he embodies a new paradigm for American politics. I voted by absentee ballot two weeks ago. I'm on tour in Europe as I write this. Many Europeans and Americans have told me that we ALL need this to happen. I couldn't agree more.
Robin Eubanks
GEORGE BUSH AND THE POLITICS OF FEAR
Looking back, it still bothers me when I realize that we could have gotten rid of George W. Bush in 2004. His recent low approval ratings reflect the inept job he and his administration have done. Unfortunately, there is nothing fundamentally different between now and their performance heading into the 2004 campaign. I have never been more disappointed with the American electorate as I was during the 2004 Elections. Putting the Republican tactics used in Ohio aside, it is difficult for me to believe that most Americans wanted George Bush to serve a second term. In my opinion his administrations have been the most dishonest, incompetent and unethical, that I can remember. What did they think John Kerry would do that would have been worse than Bush's first term?
Did they think he would lie about reasons for invading another country that would cost thousands of American lives, tens of "uncounted" thousands of other lives and hundreds of billions of dollars? Erode civil liberties? Inherit a record surplus and leave record deficits? Have the number of people who fall below the poverty line in the U.S. increase every year he has been in office? All of this, and much more, has happened under Bush.
Many of his supporters during the 2004 campaign cited security and morality as key reasons for their support. However his strongest ally is fear. Keeping the American people afraid was shown to be a prime objective as it was during their run up to the invasion and occupation of Iraq.
Whenever he was behind in the polls during the campaign, they announced Terror Alerts. Tom Ridge, who was the Director of Homeland Security at the time, has since stated that he thought they were often unfounded announcements. When they were trying to manufacture a reason to invade Iraq, Condoleeza Rice made statements like, "We don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud." Of course we all know now, what the inspectors and many others said then, there was no nuclear threat from Iraq. The release of the Downing Street Memos in London, tend to confirm the belief that the Bush Administration was intentionally lying and saying whatever they thought would keep people afraid enough to support what they intended to do all along. One of the reasons they did NOT mention was the fact that Iraq has the second largest oil reserves in the world. In which industry did the Bush and Cheyney families make most of their money? Oil. That would be a good reason not to mention it.
Furthermore, the Bush Administration was never really serious about securing the well being of the American people in case there was another attack. The only thing he was serious about securing was profit for corporations that benefit from war and global instability. Fortunately, for many of them, they just happen to be in businesses that work in areas that the Bush and Cheyney families have had intimate associations with for MANY years... oil related businesses.
Proof of how serious Bush was about homeland security was clearly seen during the pathetic response to hurricane Katrina. His administration had drastically cut the funding to the levee system in New Orleans, in part, to help fund the war in Iraq and tax cuts that mostly benefited the wealthy. George Bush put his buddy, the Arabian horse expert, Michael Brown, in charge of FEMA, the Government agency that manages emergency response. What if the situation in the Gulf Coast was caused by the "mushroom cloud", Condoleeza Rice tried to scare everyone with? Now, here is a reason to be very afraid. Four years after 9/11 and all of their fear rhetoric, and they were not prepared! That is simply inexcusable!
In addition, I can't think of anything more immoral than ordering thousands of people to invade, kill and occupy a country based on lies and fabricated "truths". When Ambassador Joe Wilson tried to expose some of the lies they were telling, they blew the cover of his wife, Valerie Plame, who was an undercover CIA agent. That's a treasonable offense. Saddam Hussein, as hideous as he was, was not a threat to the United States. He was contained. In addition to sanctions, there were Northern and Southern No Fly Zones imposed on him. He couldn't fly over two thirds of his own country! He had nothing to do with the Sept. 11th attacks. He wasn't a nuclear threat. Why invade Iraq? Could it be....OIL? With no clear plan of action for reconstruction and withdrawal, it is as Republican Senator Chuck Hagel said, "It's like they're just making it up as they go along." I think that is immoral.
As for the gay marriage furor the Republicans stirred up. If you're against gay marriage... Don't marry a gay person. It's very simple. 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce, so it's not quite as sacred as they're making it out to be. It stirred up emotions and deflected attention away from the pitiful job Bush and company have done.
PEOPLE... we have a chance (AGAIN) to begin to correct all of this incompetence and injustice. In 2006 there are mid-term elections here in the United States. If hurricane Katrina and the indictments of top Republican and White House officials and the knowledge of Bush's domestic spying program had happened in 2004 instead of 2005, I'm sure we'd be talking about something different here. CAN WE PLEASE GET IT RIGHT THIS TIME??? IT MAY ALREADY BE TOO LATE!!!
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2nd largest oil reserve
Halliburton
No-Fly Zones
Valerie Plaim...FIX!!!!
Book after book..... suggesting the same thing. FIX!!!
It's like they're just making it up as they go along." - Chuck Hagel, Senator, R-Nebraska.
His reactionary agenda, record defecits, erosion of civil liberties and
john barrett x640
ESTEEMED ELDERS
I'm very fortunate to have elders in my life that I look up to and learn from. There are a few septuagenarians that I'd like to mention.
My father recently turned 70. He has been a major influence on my brothers' lives and me. He is a very intelligent and sensitive man who has had a rich and interesting life. I wanted to know more about the struggles that he overcame to raise us and support his family. I decided to videotape an interview with him, asking questions about his life. It is an invaluable documentation that I have copied for all my brothers that will endure for generations to come. I highly recommend that other families do the same. It has also greatly enhanced my love, admiration and understanding of a man that continues to do so much for his family.
Daisaku Ikeda is my mentor in life. He is 73 and President of the Soka Gakkai International. The S.G.I. is a lay organization of Buddhists, who practice the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin. He is showing by example, the correct way to practice Buddhism, which I have been happily doing for 18 years. He has received numerous awards and honorary doctorates from institutions around the world. He's had dialogues about peace, education and culture with many of the world's leading figures including Nelson Mandela and Mikhail Gorbachev, to name a few. Anyone, who'd like to have more info about Buddhism, please feel free to check out the SGI site.
Musically the most significant 70+ people in my life were JJ Johnson and is Elvin Jones. At 73 years of age, Elvin is an international treasure. He is the only drummer that I know of, to have a musical style named after him. If you give a drummer a piece of music and if you print, play "like Elvin," it is clearly understood what is expected. His concept of time and space is singularly unique. W e had a strong musical connection from the first time we played together, and I was in love. I find his playing to be extremely funky, subtle and powerful. He can sound like an African tribal drummer, a rock drummer, and a jazz drummer, all in the same composition. I have truly been blessed, to get a chance to play with Elvin in his band, the Jazz Machine
JJ Johnson is the Godfather of the modern jazz trombone and the greatest jazz trombonist in history! At the time of his death in February of 2001, he was 77 years old. He was very supportive of all my musical endeavors. He commissioned me to compose, arrange and be a guest soloist on his Grammy nominated CD, The Brass Orchestra. He also recommended me for the position I currently have at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Jay always looked ahead and was very active in using the latest computer technology in his work as a composer and arranger. He continued to grow. What an inspiration he is!
Having these men be a part of my growth has enriched my life. They inspire me and I look forward to my 70s with the hope that I may have a similar effect on others.
DISCOVER AMERICA
Over the years I've been to Europe more than 100 times to perform. I have met many people and made many friends there. Their appreciation and respect for all kinds of music is apparent and greatly welcomed. Many jazz musicians are forced to go there several times a year in order to make a living. However, in the last three or four years I've been working and touring more and more, here in the States... and I love it!
In the last few years, I've worked here more than in the previous ten combined. The amazing number of colleges and universities and the development of jazz studies programs has a lot to do with it.
I'm finding an increasing number of people, especially young people, who are interested in listening, learning and studying this music. The Internet has also galvanized many who felt detached from what was happening. They can now converse with each other and their favorite musicians. They can find out about music that the mainstream media ignores. It's a very exciting time!
I still look forward to touring in Europe a few times a year, but it's nice to finally get a chance to discover America.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
I joined the faculty of Oberlin College in February of 1998. It has been a very interesting and positive experience. The most surprising result of teaching has been how much I am learning. Being a professor makes me practice what I preach. I play throughout the lessons, for demonstration, which after a full day can amount to several hours. Explaining concepts and answering questions forces me to analyze aspects of my playing that I've never had to articulate before. This serves to both deepen my insights and bring new ideas to the foreground. I've been trying to find more time to study and practice for years, but I thought my busy work schedule was not allowing me to do so. How ironic, that adding even more work has been the element that made it possible. That shows me that it was not a lack of time, but a lack of time management skills that was my problem. I'm determined to check and see where I can use my time better in other areas of my life so I can become even more productive. I'm expecting my life and my music to take a large leap forward in the next few years, due in large part to what I'm learning by continuing my education.
RITMO ES EL REY
Rhythm is King! I hear all the different types of music that employ a rhythmic pulse, the same. That includes Funk, European classical, Salsa, Indian, Brazilian, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Country Western, African, Rock, etc... Since I grew up with funk music as my base, I use that as the common denominator. To me, Bartok is funky. Ravi Shankar is funky. Thelonius Monk is VERY funky. Led Zeppelin and Eddie Palmieri are funky. Flatt and Scruggs are funky.
By funk, I mean the way rhythms are displaced against the pulse. Certain intervals have their own weight. Harmonies have their own. Melodies and accents have their own weight of influence. They all combine with other musical elements to create and enhance the rhythm. They use their relative weights to pull your ear a little this way, push your body a little that way, grab your emotions and spirit... next thing you know, you're tapping your foot or swaying your body and bobbin' your head. You're lost in the moment. Caught up in the groove. Whatever kind of groove that may be.
When I use rhythm as a common denominator, I can transcend the musical categories and just hear the music. It breaks down barriers for me. I can appreciate and draw from them all.
EXPAND YOUR WORLD VIEW
I believe that you have to develop a concept that's broad enough in scope, that it allows you to fit other concepts into your system. Otherwise, instead of developing your own style, you could wind up cosigning someone else's. That's fine as long as it's a means to an end. However, it's very easy to get so caught up in focusing on someone else's vision, that you lose sight of your own. I'm not saying that I'm against people working together and/or developing a common language (I was one of the co-founders of a collective called M-Base, which was originally conceived to do just that). I'm just saying that that language should be dealt with by filtering it through your own unique perspective.
Diversity is to be relished. Be as diverse as you can. Learn from yours and other's life experiences and study the elements that strike a harmonious vibration with you, then devise a way to infuse them into your system. This isn't the Post World War II international stage that we live in now. It's a Post Gulf War, Post Perstroika, Post Apartheid, Cyberspace, interactive world today. I want to write music that reflects that. Not in opposition to traditional jazz and other musics, but in addition to them. However, that being said, I think it's important to put most of your energies into cultivating your own perspective, after you've developed a firm foundation, grounded in the history of your desired genre.
