Jazz: Expectations Exceeded

For a couple of my college years, I regularly went to bed with a jazz album playing on my trusty old portable suitcase-style stereo. Dave Brubeck, Gerry Mulligan, Stan Getz, Miles Davis, Herbie Mann, et. al. Later on, when I frequently flew to Washington, D.C. as a manager in GAO, I often went to area jazz clubs where I saw and heard the likes of Ahmad Jamal, Charlie Byrd, Cal Tjader and others. And then there was Hambone's in Hollywood that I often visited on weekends at home, where you could be fed soul food breakfast if you hung out all night.

But into the mid and later 70s, I found myself listening to more and more rock (especially punk), classical and "new music". Jazz no longer was a regular part of the diet. Now, when we are a mere one block distant from a campus venue that offers all manner of music, theatre and art, live jazz opportunities are not to be missed, even (or maybe especially) if the program and performers are not familiar.

Tonight, our neighboring university (Eastern Oregon U.) sponsored a night of jazz in a small, intimate theater that lacked only smoke-filled air and bourbon on the rocks to bring back those old memories. The event opened with some Duke Ellington, Charlie Mingus and other numbers, performed very nicely by EOU's Eastern Jazz Combo.

The Eastern Jazz Combo, pictured above, is William Morris (alto sax), Erin Marinelli (piano), Neal Facciuto (guitar), Alan Arnson (electric bass), Tucker Murphey (drums and vibes), Trent Shuey (drums and vibes), and Dr. Matt Cooper (director).

And on to the main event (and a few handheld long exposures I was able to get off):

Michael Waldrop

Matt Cooper

Brian McCann

The main event was a three-man set comprised of Matt Cooper on keyboards (Dr. Cooper is an absolutely wonderful jazz and classical pianist, who as an EOU music professor, also directs the Eastern Jazz Combo). and two other gentlemen totaly new to me: Brian McCann on bass/bass guitar and Michael Waldrop on drums, vibraphone and just about anything percussive, both Visiting Artists from Eastern Washington University.

This group blew me, and most of the rest of the audience, away. I was really unprepared for how astonishing their performance was. Especially notable for me was Dr. Waldrop, whose drum work had me riveted. (No big surprise here, if you recall my drumming blog entries back in February on Cozy Cole and Buddy Rich.)

Here is a bit from the printed program on Waldrop:

Michael Waldrop is currently the professor of percussion at Eastern Washington University. He teaches jazz drum set, classical percussion, percussion ensembles and percussion methods at EWU.

He has a Bachelors degree in percussion performance from the University of North Texas, a Masters in Jazz Studies from the University of Memphis and a Doctorate in Performance fromt eh University of North Texas. He has been a professional musician for the past 25 years.

Dr. Waldrop's career has been extensive and varied, ranging from rock and jazz styles to performances with two major symphonies in the United States and abroad. He was a member of the Grammy nominated One O'Clock Lab Band and recorded two CDs with the group and has been on several tours, including a European tour of the Broadway production "42nd Street", and a tour of Turkey with Prix di Rome prize-winning composer, Kamran Ince, and his ensemble. In addition, he has performed with Maureen McGovern, Della Reese, Randy Brecker, Marvin Stamm, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Eliane Elias and Slide Hampton.

Dr. Waldrop's previous appointments include Director of Jazz Studios and Percussion at Mesa State College in College (1994-2004) and professor of percussion at the University of Toledo (2004-2006). He endorses Yamaha percussion instruments and Vic Firth sticks and mallets, and is a clinician for both conpanies.

Some more on Waldrop: