k UNIVERSITYOF NEW HAI'PSHIRE OUR THIRTY-FOURTHPROGRAM RAY SMITH'S DECADESOF JAZZ Featurlng: JIMMYMAZZY ..... Banio,Vocals JEFFHUGHES ... Cornel JOHN BATTIS .. Clarinel RICHARDGIORDANO .... Piano ALEHRENFRIED .... .. ... Bass RAYSMITH ...... Drums SPONSOREDBY THE DEPARTMENTOF MUSIC, AND THENEW HAMPSHIRE LIBBABYOF TRADITIONALJAZZ 8 PM. MONDAY MARCH1'1, 1985 STRAFFORDROOM MEMORIALUNION DUBHAM,NEW HAMPSHIRE THE ARTISTS RAYSMITH'S DECADES OF JAZZ To the uninitiated,the nom de plumeol tonight'sensemble might seem puzzling; despite the imaginaliveif seldomaccuratery descriptive designations attached to popurir groupsof today,it is hardlycommon to namea jazzcombo for a time span.The secret.of course. liesin anolherof the mullipleprofessional identities of its leader.Rav smith's radio oro- gram,similarly titled, has beenbroadcast weekly on WGBH-FMin Bbstonfor 13vears (Fridayevenings at 6:30),forrowing an equivalentnumber of yearson suburbansiations. lt servesas a modelof intelligentand interestingprogramming; jazz emerges as a diverse panoramaof individualand collectiveeftorts far richerin varietvand detailthan the star- consciousmentality of so many currentpresentations ever reveals. And Ray'sprimary source ot material is his copious personalrecord collection, a resourcehe has been devel- oping with loveand wisdomsince 1936. Tonight'sprogram will certainlybe informedby the samebreadth ot perspectiveand good humor that is found in Bay'sbroadcasts, and his commentsabout each selection will illumi- nateus aboutthe wealthot the heritage.Many of us will be hearinga majorityol these piecesfor the very tirsttime, our experiencethus beingenhanced by newlyconfronting that which is reallyold underthe sun. Ray'sexperience as performerover several of lhe decadesin questionhas keot him inti_ matelyinvolved with the livingrealities of traditionaljazz in New Englandand elsewhere. Forexample, he wasthe originaldrummer with the New BlackEagtes, played with the YankeeRhylhm Kingstor somelime, and appearedat UNH lastfall with the Bent partv Revellers.The pres€ntgroup has beenaclive as a unit only since 1983,although its membershave pertormed together in variousother combinations over many years, sucn beingthe not unhealthyfate oi so manyitinerant practitioners of lhe art. Jimmy Mazzyis one of the mosttruly uniquetalents that an audiencewill everencounter (no exaggeration).His tastein tunesand lyricstor his buoyantvocal style leads him to rare itemsthat challengeeven Ray's archival acumen, and his banjoplaying can convertthose who havesuccumbed to the heresyof guitar-orienledmodernism. (An open and unbiased view of historyshows us that the guitaris no moreaccurately thought of as a refinedsuc- cessorlo the baniothan the pianois to the harpsichord.They are in fact ditferentinstru- mentswith differentpurposes and potentialities.)Jimmy hasappeared twice before on our series,in alternatesettings, one of whichgenerated the firstrecording issued by the New HampshireLibrary ot Ttadilional Jazz. Jeff Hughes'.likelhe remainingmembers of the ensembre,is makinghis first appearance here.A memberwith Jimmyof the New yankeeRhythm Kings, his graceluland metodic- ally imaginativecornet lreshly evokes lhe spiritol Bix Beiderbecke,(no clichein this case).Academics among us wilt notethat Jeff is pursuinga doctoratein biologyat the Universityof Bhode lsland. o N A k R E S RAY SMITH'S DECADESOF JAZZ ClarinetistJohn Battisis a graduateof the BostonConservatory, and has devotedhis life principallyto teaching.A nativeand residentot Newburyport,Mass., he has long been admiredin the seacoastarea lor the scopeand flexibililyof his musicalabilities. RichardGiordano honed his styleon the pianisticsolidity ol the Jamesp Johnsonschool. and is well-complementedby the superblyrhythmical bass of Al Ehrenlried.a Bobbv Hackettalumnus. Onceagain we enjoy the fruitsof yearsof collectiveexperience coalescing in a new explo_ rationof tradition,not in the senseol comfortabtyrehashing the lamiliar,but much moie in the spiritof a historicalvitality which demonstratesthat tradition is not a closed.sinqle-vo- lumebook, limited edition. Tape recorders and camerasarc not penilled due lo conlnctual ar:?,ngemenls- coope ration is rcq u ested. THE SERIES The UNH TraditionalJazz Series began in 1979.lt promotesthe enjoymentand under- standingol the art throughconcerts featuring musicians ol regional,national, and interna- tionalprominence. The programrepresenls a uniqueendeavor to expandinlerest and honoroutstanding talent and achievement. Musicianswishing to do so are encouragedto oflertheir recordings for saleor mail order duringintermission; a brielannouncement may be made.The sponsorshave no financial interestin such salesbeyond offering a courtesyservice to the artistsand the public. ProgramNotes - PaulVerrette Production- DavidSeiler THE SCHEDULE Seplember17 Rent Parly Revellers October 15 Doc Cheathamand ClarenceHulchenrider - with the TJS euartet November12 Dick Hyman: Hlstoric Piano December3 While Heat Swing Orcheslra February11 Jack Bumer: "No Easy pleces" March 11 Ray Smith's Decadesot Jazz April 15 Ruby Brafl - with the TJS Ouartet May 13 Original Salty Dogs wlth Carol Lelgh.