If you found yourself walking down the 9000s hallway on Oct. 13, you might have heard tunes of smooth jazz delivered by a medley of lively instruments. Each note was passionately played, complimenting each other to form a student-led impromptu jazz session.
Students from Newton and Needham high schools who were enrolled in a jazz course were invited to an event hosted by Newton South last week, and they had the opportunity to be mentored by seasoned players Gene Perla and Adam Nussbaum.
Bass player, music composer, and teacher Gene Perla first became interested in jazz as a junior in high school after familiarizing himself with artists like Ted Heath and Nat King Cole. He would then go on to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where he continued his concentration on piano jazz from high school, but switched to bass when he jokingly “realized that [he] could make life a lot easier for [himself] if [he] switched to an instrument that only played one note at a time.”
Perla mentioned that the number of music programs has increased since he studied at Berklee in 1964 and that the number of music programs there are today opens up opportunities for young musicians.
“When I went to Berklee, there was only one other jazz school in the world, and that was the University of North Texas,” he said. “Now, there are jazz programs in virtually every university, and programs like here in this high school.”
In addition to orchestra, symphonic band, and vocal ensembles, South’s music department offers two curricular categories related to jazz: jazz improvisation, ranging from levels 1-4, which may require certain prerequisites or an audition, and jazz ensembles, which perform traditional and contemporary jazz pieces.
Jazz drummer Adam Nussbaum spent his early childhood years playing the piano and drums, later entering the City College of New York in 1975 to concentrate on advancing his music career. He has gained decades of experience as a drummer from playing in several jazz groups, collaborating with artists like Eliane Elias, Randy Brecker, Gary Burton, and Toots Thielemans. What drew him into jazz was his “love for the music and the interactivity of the situation.”
Nussbaum said that he hopes jazz musicians will go beyond simply playing jazz and learn about its history.
“You need to understand the past and the present if you want to have an idea about doing something for the future,” he said.
Perla shared a similar hope as Nussbaum in that he advised young musicians to learn about the history of jazz music and its influence on present-day music.
“In terms of learning, listening and going back in history is important,” he said. “What would the early recordings sound like? And when you go to the next generation of music, do you hear similar music from the earlier generations?”
Listening in all its aspects is vital for learning to be a better musician, whether it is listening to your team members or different artists. Senior Ziv Dudnik agrees, and said that he listens to artists he likes and is inspired by them.
“I listen to jazz artists like Wynton Kelly, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Red Garland,” he said. “I take a bit of every single one of them and incorporate it into my playing.”
Student musicians found a sense of camaraderie with jazz itself, through an emotional connection with the genre, or simply just the opportunity to play music along with jazz tunes.
Senior Zeke Deveaux-Turner said that he enjoys jazz because he is able to express himself.
“I feel like [jazz] encompasses your personality,” he said. “Whether you’re playing solo or improvising, you can feel what the person is trying to express, and I feel like I am able to express myself through jazz.”
Junior Yasen Dimitrov said that while he might not love jazz itself, the program provides him a space to pursue his musical interests.
“To be honest, I don’t [like jazz], I just enjoy playing music,” he said. “[The program] is the only place where I am able to play guitar at school.”
After sitting through hours of mentoring and improvising endless strings of notes and melodies, the event with Perla and Nussbaum ended. The experience was unforgettable, and it gave students a lot to take away.
Dimitrov concluded that “you have to focus on the groove of what you’re playing, rather than the notes you’re playing.”
Deveaux-Turner took away that “[you have to] listen to your bandmates; they’re your team. It’s not just you that is playing.”
One anonymous senior said that “music is meant to be an exchange of ideas and emotions, and that it is more than what’s on the paper.”
Perla said that he enjoys speaking with young musicians and that sharing his own experiences reminds him of the teachers who guided him when he was in their position.
“I love to meet and speak with young people because it’s exciting and energizing to see so many who are interested in getting involved in [jazz],” he said. “It is fulfilling because I remember when I was in school, there were teachers that were really intent on teaching me as best as they could.”
Similar to Perla, Nussbaum said that he enjoys giving back to the community that has given him so much.
“I enjoy paying forward so much of what I have been so grateful to receive,” he said.
Like the students, both mentors Adam Nussbaum and Gene Perla had their own takeaways from their time at South. Nussbaum leaves us with one piece of advice.
“Enjoy the process. Stay humble and try to work with your fellow man,” he said. “It is a journey—there’s never a destination, it keeps on going.”
