20th Annual Music
Spectactular
Lakewood, NJ
(click photos to enlarge in a new window)
 On April 26,
2007, Dave participated in the 20th Annual Music
Spectacular at the Strand Theater in Lakewood, NJ. More than 1,000
elementary, middle, and high school students from New Jersey
and Pennsylvania converged for
a music assembly about jazz.
 The event
included
performances by the
Lakewood Jazz Ensemble and by high school jazz programs. Dave took part
as a guest performer with the Ensemble and as a
teacher during the high school performances.
Music director
Wilbur Whittmann has been producing the event for 20 years
and their have been many great guest performers, including: Maynard Ferguson, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry,
Slide Hampton, Louis Bellson, Arturo Sandoval, David
Garibaldi, and many more.
On Thursday,
Dave
rehearsed with the band late into the evening. On Friday, he
performed with the big band in the morning. Most of the
attendees were high school jazz musicians and their
teachers.
In the
afternoon, Dave observed high school big bands throughout
the
day, lending his input afterward.
After each high school performed three songs, Dave talked to the
students about their performance, offering plenty of
positive reinforcement and some constructive criticism.
 Dave
worked with the students to help them focus on the music -
what they are trying to say with their instruments. He
suggested that they sing their parts to get a sense of how
they want things to sound on their instruments. And he and
Wilbur
implored the students to become familiar with at least five
of the top players of their particular instruments to
understand how those instruments have been played best over
the years.
 At
one point, while giving input to some drummers and
percussionists in a high school band, the next high school
began setting up. Dave was told that the previous band had
to clear out, so Dave put up his hand and yelled "rhythm
section: follow me!"
Several
drummers, percussionists, a vibraphone player, and bassist
followed Dave to his dressing room where he continued the
lesson. In the dressing room, Dave stressed the importance
of grooving together and, when necessary, simplifying their
parts to balance the sound and put a better sense of feel
into the music.
Having played
with the best for nearly three decades, Dave has a very
complete understanding of all the aspects of music. From
working with horn sections to retuning a bass guitar (and
fixing up the bass amp), the students got the most out of
Dave's presence.
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Dave reads his charts |
Interview with the
local cable station |
A high school band
performs |
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A view from the
rhythm section |
Dave's kit before the
show |
Dave works on a
student's bass amp |
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