Music faculty prepare for summer jazz workshop

UNC is no stranger to jazz, but the two haven’t come together in the summer until now.

On Monday, the University kicks off its first ever Summer Jazz Workshop. The week-long event consists of daily instruction-intensive jazz sessions rounded out by nightly concerts, said Stephen Anderson, UNC music professor and camp director.

Spearheaded by Anderson, the workshop came about following more than a year’s worth of discussions with Jan Yopp, dean of summer school.

“We wanted to come up with more programming to give us more cultural activities during the summer,” Yopp said. “It’s going to be such a great mix — every night is going to be different.”

The workshop, which held an application and screening process several months ago, will include more than 40 students ranging from 14 to 71 years of age, Anderson said.

“We call it bebop boot camp,” Anderson said. “We’re going to pound it into them.”

Anderson said the primary focus of the camp will be jazz theory, improvisation and small group play.

“Jazz, by tradition, is learned orally,” Anderson said. “Nowadays, that’s changed a lot. It’s important that students still get a chance to hear it.”

Traditionally, the main showcase of the jazz scene in Chapel Hill has been the Carolina Jazz Festival, run by professor Jim Ketch every February.

Ketch said that despite the fact that Kenan Music Building does not have a finished concert hall the building offers a place for musicians to learn, grow and indulge.

“We’ve always wanted to do something like this, we’ve just never had the facilities,” Ketch said.

Anderson said students will receive instruction from a number of guest instructors with ties to the University.

As the days come to a close, students and community members alike will get to enjoy the evening concerts. The inaugural concert will take place in Polk Place, as the musicians play on the steps of Wilson library.

Though he won’t be instructing, Chancellor Holden Thorp will serve as a guest bassist during the Monday night concert. Thorp played with Ketch in one of the jazz combos in the ‘80s, prior to the offering of a course.

“It’s a very creative idea that not only embraces this spark of innovation, but also engagement with the community,” Thorp said. “I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Anderson and Ketch said they are looking forward to providing a local showcase of jazz talent, as well as giving the students a medium to show their progress.

“Ultimately, we all want to play,” Anderson said. “We love teaching and that goes hand-in-hand with playing.”

Anderson said the concerts will also serve as a form of rehearsal, as Ketch is currently working on the release of his next jazz record.

“(The week) will be a little piece of heaven for the jazz musician,” Anderson said.

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