Today was the very first day of the Monterey Jazz Festival Jazz Camp. Being as this was Year Four of my attendance, I knew what to expect: we’d arrive in the auditorium at MPC (Monterey Peninsula College), listen to Rob detail our two-week experience and all its necessary regulations, and then listen to a very clear reminder as to why we pay attention to these clinicians year after year. I always enjoy the clinicians’ concert, for several reasons. One, I can remember back to my very first jazz camp and my feelings of confusion and slight boredom (yes, I admitted it) at this very new art form, and can trace how much my appreciation and understanding of jazz has grown since then. Two, the level of skill of all these people is tremendous. I love being able to sit in the audience and think, “Scott’s bass solo was great!” and realize that Diane Schur probably feels the same way when he plays with her.
It’s a great way to start off camp, because I am already acutely aware of how lucky I am.
After we’re dismissed from this, we travel to our master classes. This is when my fellow vocalists and I are acquainted with Dick Whittington and Madeline Eastman, our two clinicians. Dick is a phenomenal and invaluable piano player (it takes great patience to deal with a bunch of teenagers endlessly requesting keys for eight different songs), and Madeline is a prominent vocalist on the Peninsula and elsewhere who will be guiding us through the week.
Today, our master class went through some basic “repeat after me” exercises, particularly to test the concept of time, and began solo singing. I sang “All the Things You Are”, which is a song I absolutely love–but there are certainly some kinks I need to work out.
I left with a goal: to straighten out the issues I’m having with “All the Things You Are” and begin to look over “Night and Day” and “Embraceable You”, the songs I hope to examine tomorrow.
4 Comments
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI
Leave a comment
I am very honored that you have been so very thoughtful as to give something back to the family by honoring my love with your blog. Hydeus was the most beautiful person and our life was full of joy, laughter, love and jazz music. That mental bond of creativity we shared and taught each other was one of the key elements in our relationship.
Hydeus stood for bringing the world together through music. Her travels to other countries as well as having both Lebanese and German roots had her searching for peace, love and unity. Her music was the fabric to spiritually weave the worlds together through sound.
I can’t begin to tell you how much I miss her. Her love is still and will forever be with me and your presence keeps her memory alive and I thank you for that. Please just strive for the best and turn your dreams into recordings that will teach the world to love.
LeRoy Downs
TheJazzcat.net
Thank you for writing the very first comment — and such a beautiful tribute to your beautiful lady. We love your jazzcat blog and visit often, usually while playing Hydeus’ CDs in the background. We hope to meet you one of these days and thank you and the Kiattas in person. Sarah Browne (Katie’s Mom)
Katie…you are a beautiful writer! I can’t believe how many skills you have!
Thank you all so much for keeping the essence, energy and spirit of a beautiful angel alive through the music! Hydeus would be so very pleased and would not have it any other way. I will be in Monterey for the festival so I am sure that we will have the pleasure then.
Until then keep spreading the gift that God gave you and use your voice to bring the worlds together!
Peace, Love and Jazz Music!
LeRoy Downs