Dear fellow groove-ossities,

This year's Berklee Convocation concert was a blast as usual. Tonight 09/07/01, Berklee conferred the degree of honorary doctorate on a youthful and sincere and sparkling 74 year old Elvin Jones. My favorite drummer of all time. Sharing the spotlight with him tonight was Al Kooper. Al was "so happy", he explained to the audience "When I get home tonight I'm going to ... laugh!"

Elvin Jones who's career started way back in the 1940's is still one of the world's preeminent performing artists in jazz.
His work especially with John Coletrane and with his own "Jazz Machine" changed the role of his instrument from time keeping to making abundantly personal and subtle statements of a complex artistic nature.

As a sideman, Elvin worked with many great artists of jazz history such as Charles Mingus, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Stan Getz and Donald Byrd.

Elvin had many insightful and inspiring witty and charming things to say to the incoming students tonight such as:

"If I could get this far without doin' any thing", Elvin joked, " What would have happened if I'd GONE to college. :-)"

(Elvin used the colloquial "what would've happened if I WENT..."). As usual Elvin proved dignified and personable using subtleties and an articulate grasp of the power of language while never sacrificing his funky unique self expression... My hero! :-).

"Magnificent artists such as Gunther Schuller and Max Roach taught at Berklee. It was inspiring to see [a school] who recognized jazz."
"If you played jazz music at that time you were (marginalized).
There was a myth that if we played jazz we ignored everything else. People like Max Ropach dispelled that myth. I felt there was hope. That's what we all live for."

"[Being here receiving this honorary doctorate] I feel like my reason for living... has materialized"

"I didn't do it (get famous) cause I was on the Burlesque stage"

"A higher purpose for all of us"

"I hope I can continue to inspire the young people to develop listen and apply themselves to what has already been done and drag yourself up by your boot straps..."

"I never have figured out how to do that... when your down: reach up! When I pulled on my bootstraps I kept getting lower." (laughter)

"I think my mother and father would be proud of me. And I am of them"

Up next was Al Kooper. Al reminisced about stealing his parents car and going to Randall's Island for a jazz concert featuring John Coletrane with Elvin on drums and he expressed great respect for Elvin's musicianship.

Al Kooper in his own right has been very important in the history of rock in our country. His signature organ work on Bob Dylan's Hit "Like a Rolling Stone" catapulted him into session notoriety. As a sideman he worked with Jimi Hendrix, The Who and The Rolling Stones and others.

He also founded the ever popular and influential Blood Sweat and Tears. He worked as an A&R man at Columbia Records and produced Mike Blumfield and Lynrd Skynrd to name a few. Al Kooper will be featured this Sunday at Sculler's jazz Club with Dr. Al Kooper and the Funky Factory. Hey, my Berklee faculty member Larry Finn will be backing him on drums. Yaaaay Larry! :-)

Kooper also had kind words for Berklee as Elvin had. Al Kooper said "I couldn't find the education I needed elsewhere." The other schools taught music Ed. "I needed something else." Al explained that he envied the students who were attending Berklee. At the time when Al was younger, Berklee was jazz and over his head. He was born too early to take advantage of Berklee's current diverse curriculum. "But" he said, looking the audience straight in the eye. "You are NOT born too early!" He inspired the incoming freshmen saying "It'll be tough, but when you graduate you'll be "overqualified." and "It's a lot better to be over qualified than under qualified" About the Berklee experience, Kooper said "It's fun and amazing but it's tough"

After the conferral of honorary doctorate on Elvin and Al, the commencement concert began with Cissy Strut by the Meters.
"Feel the Power and enjoy. This concert's for you," said the MC, and so we did.

The concert started even before the curtain rose. Nice effect.

Cissy Strut is one of my all time favorite tracks featuring ironically my other biggest influence after Elvin Jones, Zigaboo Modeliste. Oliver Rockberger plays wonderfully and sincerely on this Tom Stein arrangement. The tempo drags a bit but It's understandably difficult to keep the excitement up on such an abundantly exposed song, but the guitar solo does it. Very nice. Exciting!

Next was a piece called Every Little Thing... cool! A decidedly Bluegrass flavored piece. This piece has a New Orleans swing to it in places like DR. John.

Next was the Berklee Elvin Jones Tribute band, drums Kendrick Scott, bass Bark Kelley, vibes Warrend Wolf, tenor sax Walter Smith, piano Milton Fletcher.
Very subtle beginning.
Lots of space starting with Mark Kelley.
Walter definitely has the air which reminds me of John Coletrane, nice. Press roll from Kendric Scott.
This is incredible. I am sooooo feeling this.

Kendric's trip of three.... amazing.
Lots of ands lf one.

Very Elvinesque.
It is suddenly walking a laid back 4th beat... way back..... nice Kendrick...
Walter's "La" sits confidently in the mid to upper register and then settles down gradually to the lower octave with a peace which is natural and refreshing.

Milton Fletcher is suddenly exploring diads at this juncture. Milton Fletcher, Nice.
Kendrick! hits the flam with the grace note loud on Bass drum and the primary note on snare, the "one" ... but nicely laid back in time.

This concert has a wonderful quality of space and comfort not often heard in music.
Especially not among students.
They take a nice breath and launch into...

Damn this swings. This time I know I got chills in my arms. I wasn't sure if it was perhaps a draft last time it happened. Whoooo! Walter let's it rip with substance dancing and squirming. This difficult Berklee audience is screaming Mark looks like a grouper fish... haha wonderful expressive stage presence.

They sustain the energy well and then the arrangement changes as a surprise.

Walter Fletcher -nice piano solo and Scott Kendrick supports and builds up to a climax nicely....

I was feeling they brought the energy way down. Now I see why. Nice. Fury is a good word for the drum solo.
Here's where the role of time keeping is not necessary when the drummer uses color and phrasing so nicely.
This band has a unified and expressive sound. Tight. Warm well rehearsed but not stiff. The obligatory long Elvinesque ending Wow !

I give this band a special "x" point for a tremendously moving artistic quality.

Next Nia Allen performs I Turn to You.
Whitney look out! Who's on the friggin bass.... lol it's Jacob Forsland. Cool! This arrangement develops nicely with the horns not entering until the third verse.
Nice mix. The chills still keep on coming.

Nia has an abandon which is inspiring and relaxed and she seems like a relaxed channel for some powerful powerful energy. "I turn to you.. " I have tears welling up that the abrupt ending did not take away.

The next two songs I Can't Stop from Crying and I Love You More than You'll Ever Know were written by Al Kooper.

Those chills just don't stop coming. Whooo! You should hear this.... Fantastic. Great stage presence Alyssa Miles could oqifviofo paoi make a grown man curse. How's my typing. I cant see in the dark, lol I'll read this later before I post it on my site... lol

I just had a revelation: If you wish to achieve metarythms in life more consistently, please set the atmosphere and stage carefully when you speak to people like a musician does when he/she's playing music
save the important things for when the atmosphere is right. Elvin does that when he speaks! :-)

Again this musical section didn't need to end at this point but it feels very fulfilling that it does come to a coda here with Oliver Rothberger and Alyssa Miles in a trading cadenza wheeeeeee whooooo!
No mike! Very effective. Growling and space included. U go girl! This is very effective .

The next song: "I love You More Than You'll Ever Now", Tom Stein is conducting this one. I'm not sure of the arrangement.
-Alyssa Miles-
Sultry song with attitude. I Love You More than You'll Ever Know. She must have enjoyed the guitar solo. She motions to him but it almost looks like she's asking him to turn down.

Carrie Turner starts. Let ‘er rip with just a phrase. No counting no nothin' whoo this is sexy and rockin' again with strong country overtones... Let ‘er rip, let'er fly confident. Nice dancing on her part with the background singers.
Background singers pleasant and professional.

If you're gonna say goodbye let ‘er rip. Let'er fly.

Then came Peg by Donald Fagen.
Alyssa Miles is back full of personality once again this time doing Donald Fagen's "Peg".
She's gettin phone numbers from this guy in the audience. lol Tony Escapa on the two and four in the bass drum. Watch out.

For the encore Nia starts with no microphone . oooops!

You Were My Friend.
Joan is sweet. Almost as sweet as Nia. Uh ohh now we have three divas on-stage. Four! Lol five with the let'er rip singer Carrie Turner and Chryssi Poland.
Five divas. This is like the five friggin"sopranoaltotenors".
You Were My Friend na NA NA! Tony is noticeable during a time when it's not necessary to be noticeable. He is quite proficient, though.
Very nice "tutti" work from all the vocalists Jason! Nice!

Overall this concert is fantastic. New Orleans flavor is permeating this piece again along with a gospel overtone. Jason Joseph captures a sexy male aura -pensive and musical- and expressive. I was filled with sadness. Drummer over plays a bit it seems. The lyrics reflect passion but the relaxed vibe of the music doesn't seem to warrant the standing and playing on cymbals or the Elvinesque ending. But you gotta hand it to Tony . There's no escaping Mr. Escapa's infectious enthusiastic energy. :-)

The Berklee Commencement Concert 2001 was fantastic, and my hat is off to the honorary doctorate recipients: Elvin Jones and Al Kooper!

Peace Y'all...

Personnel:

Berklee Jazz-rock Ensemble
Lead Vocals: Nia Allen, Jason Ajoseph, Alyssa Miles, Chrissi Poland and Carrie Turner

Background vocals: Dee Lavender, Laura Thomas and Yvonne Williams

Drums: Tony Escapa
Percussion: Gustava Beaujardin
Bass: Jacob Forsland
Piano: Oliver Rockberger
Guitar: Andrew Martin, Michael Ruzitschka (really made it exciting) and Emir Isilay

Trumpet: John Boulin and Raymond Monteiro

Trombone: Kevin Williams

Alto Sax: Katia Endemann
Tenor Sax: Gilad Ronen

Concert directed by the "Yo" Team:
Bob Rose Executive Producer, Assistant Vice President for Special Programs
Ken Zambello Coordinator, Associate Professor
Tom Stein Associate professor
Richard Evans Professor
Donna McElroy Vocal Coordinator, Associate Professor Theodora "Tedi" Mara Yo
Team Student Assistant

Brad Berger -Stage Manager-
John Di Lazzaro -Stage Manager
Dave Tozeski -House Manager-
Cathy Horn Box Office Manager
Reggie Lofton Video Production Manager