Jazz show pans out

James Carter, and his band, played at Schwab Auditorium last night, after failing to perform at a scheduled concert last week, in honor of Black History month.

Last week, jazz drummer T.S. Monk appeared in the HUB Ballroom for a performance by his band in a two-part jazz sampler presented by the Penn State Jazz Club, in conjunction with Black Caucus, WPSU-FM (91.5), WKPS-FM (90.7) and the Paul Robeson Cultural Center.

In addition to providing two examples of contemporary jazz musicians to the Penn State community, the performances were also to be part of programming for Black History Month. They presented jazz as one of the many forms of music created by, and expressive of, African-American culture.

Unfortunately, due to miscommunication on the part of Monk's management, the other members of the group ended up in the wrong place and were unable to get to the University in time.

Last night, however, jazz saxophonist James Carter did show up, band intact, and managed to deliver to those let down by the no-show last week -- and then some.

Opening with a wild, brilliant interpretation of the standard "Caravan," Carter and company appeared to be human lightning rods, with the electrifying music surging through their bodies.

The quartet went into original melodies, including some from its album, The Real Quiet Storm.

Audience members found many aspects of the performance intense and entertaining.

"It's hard to beat that song ("Caravan")," said attendee Josh Ferko, who manages Arboria Records, 119 E. Beaver Ave., one of the record stores in town that has some specialization in jazz. "They just came out smokin'."

Carter said his music is an expression of his spirituality and his appreciation of life.

"We're doing it from the spiritual aspect," he said, explaining that the group is examining creation and introspection when writing and performing. "We're also giving thanks at the same time for being able to convey that to the audience . . . We're conveying the joy and hipness of being."

Some representatives of organizations that helped sponsor the event were proud to have such a program as part of Black History Month.

"(Jazz) is a direct reflection of incorporating African rhythms into American music," Black Caucus President Nikitra Bailey said. Much of the music in Africa has always been drum-based, with a focus on percussion, Bailey said, and that tradition has been carried over into jazz.

Lawrence Young, director of the cultural center, said percussion is the central element of almost all musical styles created by African-Americans, and that tendency is based on African traditions of highly percussional music.

"The basic drumbeat is the most important carry-over into modern African-American music, including jazz, hip-hop and rhythm and blues," Young said.

But rhythm is far from the extent of jazz's significance as an expression of African-American culture.

"Jazz is a musical form that essentially was evolved out of the mother of all musical forms -- gospel and spiritual and blues," Young said. "It is a musical form that has its origins in the everyday African-American experience."

In what seems to be a growing State College jazz scene, student radio station WKPS-FM (90.7) is planning a two-day jazz festival slated for April, tentatively the 18th and 19th, featuring national legends Lou Donaldson, Groove Collective and "Blue" Lou Marini (of The Blues Brothers fame).

"A lot of the jazz club shows have had good turnouts," said WKPS jazz director and organizer of the festival Ben Orlock. "It just seemed to me that there was a growing jazz scene in State College in the area."