KEEPING THE TRADITION – BREAKING NEW GROUND

Left: Students getting into the swing of jazz as performed by the Jim Cullum Jazz Band at Leal Middle School, San Antonio, TX, May 15, 2001

The 2nd through 5th graders at San Antonio's Hawthorne Elementary School filed into the auditorium one Friday in March. They were restless and anxious for spring break to begin. Their attention soon became fixed on the auditorium stage where Riverwalk's Jim Cullum Jazz Band and special guest, Vernel Bagneris, were about to perform an adaptation of Riverwalk's recent production based on the life and music of jazz guitarist, Danny Barker: Brass Bands & Jazz Battles: Danny Barker's New Orleans. Once the music began the kids were tapping their toes and snapping their fingers. Some of them played imaginary instruments.

This was the first time many of these youngsters had heard jazz music or even attended a live musical performance. The excitement of discovery was contagious. Many students left the show with the inspiration of one day playing an instrument themselves. After the performance, each child was given a cassette of a Riverwalk Jazz program.

The recent performance in San Antonio was the first in what the producers of Riverwalk Jazz hope will become a series of educational community outreach performances called Jim Cullum Jazz Video Curriculum, designed to inspire, educate and entertain. The curriculum was named after Jim and his father, the late Jim Cullum, Sr., a talented clarinetist and business partner in The Jim Cullum Jazz Band. Collaborators on the Curriculum project are Texas Public Radio and the YMCA of San Antonio.

Right: Jim Cullum at Leal Middle School

The second program, lasting one hour, was presented to 300 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students on May 15, 2001 at Leal Middle School in San Antonio. Here is a summary of the program:

• Introduction by Lynn Osborne Bobbitt, Riverwalk Development Director.

• JCJB performance of At The Jazz Band Ball.

• Jim Cullum introduces the band instruments and briefly explains each's role in a jazz band.

• Jim gives a brief talk about the origins of jazz in New Orleans at the turn of the 20th century.

• JCJB performance of New Orleans Stomp by King Oliver.

• Jim Cullum introduces the concept of the blues.

• JCJB performance of West End Blues from the playing of Louis Armstrong.

• Question and Answer session with the students and faculty.

• Concluding performance of Potato Head Blues by Louis Armstrong.

The purpose of JCJVC is to develop a multi-faceted education outreach program which utilizes the content-rich resources of the Riverwalk Jazz radio series to launch a new economical music education program for elementary and middle school children. Jazz's emphasis on improvisation enables children to express themselves individually, while the concept of working as a team is reinforced.

President and CEO of Texas Public Radio, Joe Gwathmey explains, "The Riverwalk series embodies some of the finest qualities of public radio and it's a shining example of what we have to offer our community. It promotes understanding of jazz as a distinctive form of art, and it fosters appreciation of creative genius. At its heart, it's just plain fun. This new project captures that spirit of fun to create a meaningful learning experience for young children. It's a great way to improve their chances for success."

The collaboration between Riverwalk Jazz, Texas Public Radio, and the YMCA is an effort to build upon established, successful after-school programs that exist in many communities. Initial funding was received from the Brown Foundation, Inc. of Houston and the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation of San Antonio for research and development. A campaign is underway to raise funds to produce and implement the project.

"It's a partnership that makes sense," Riverwalk Executive Producer Margaret Pick says of the project. "By combining the body of works of the radio program, the existence of established YMCA programs and the support of Texas Public Radio we are able to uphold the common mission of education and community outreach."

Right: The Jim Cullum Jazz Band on stage at Leal Middle School

Here's what some of the kids had to say about the performance:

"I've never heard jazz before. I hope you can come back soon."

"I really enjoyed your music, it was wonderful! I listen to my tape a lot and I enjoyed learning about your instruments and listening to your stories."

"Someday I might be able to play or make jazz like you do. I listen to my tape all the time with my mom."

"If that was history, I'm confused. I never knew history was or could be music."

"The jazz band was great! This was the first time I heard this music. I also thank you for the cassette. I played it when I got home and my whole family loved it. They wanted to borrow it so they could hear it again!"

For more information, contact your PRI Station Relations Manager or call Riverwalk Jazz Promotions Director, Jennifer Jensen at 1-800-352-7119 or email jjensen@callatg.com. Riverwalk is sponsored by See's Candies, Inc.