What's up???

[djwesp]

I can't stand driving I40 in Arkansas. Everyone drives way too fast, especially the trucks, for such a poorly maintained road.



Jonesboro, eh? That's a pretty.... well.... random town out in the middle of nowhere. Suprising it is that big or would have much respect for Jazz, Bloke.

[Tom Mason]

I can't stand driving I40 in Arkansas. Everyone drives way too fast, especially the trucks, for such a poorly maintained road.



Jonesboro, eh? That's a pretty.... well.... random town out in the middle of nowhere. Suprising it is that big or would have much respect for Jazz, Bloke.

Jonesboro, Arkansas is literally an oasis for education, culture (including band music), and safe/civil society. When I go over there to play, I see no "bad neighborhoods" nor any of this ridiculous race-division stuff. One of the last times our jazz band played over there, it was for the local Rotary Club (about 40/60 white/black, btw, rather than the typical all-white thing), which was a re-invite by them from a previous performance.

Jonesboro High School has a BAND FACILITY that is - in a word - UNBELIEVABLE. Besides the multiple gigantic band rooms and equipment to die for, the band has its own (are you ready for this?) INDOOR air-conditioned practice marching field, which is part of the facility. Besides this physical facility, the Jonesboro High School Band lives up to its resources. Our jazz band went over there to play for their jazz band and do a clinic last year. When we finished, they wanted to play for us. In four minutes flat, they had their chairs/stands/instruments/music and were tuned up and ready to play. With minimal direction (just like a "real" jazz band) they played three varying selections for us and sounded like a typical All-State jazz band.

Yep, Jonesboro (roughly an hour from downtown Memphis) is a GREAT place. Last night, Ed Owen (the tuba guru at Arkansas State) showed up to hear us play. Needless to say, I took that as a great compliment.

Arkansas currently has some great tuba resources in Ed Owen and Ben Pierce.

How did you like JHS's bass player?

He was one of my private students, as is the bassist for the tribe (ASU's top jazz band). The bassist this year at JHS is also one of mine.

If you want to see a model of band efficiency, it is at Jonesboro. There is a top notch faculty, and facilities to match. The most important component in this is a set of students that care about their performance. Students are lining up at the door for Saturday lessons, and the students are insulted if they don't earn the first division rating at contest. (unlike other programs where the students only care about where they are eating after contest).

Jonesboro is not a place where you are going to earn a living by playing, but there is a rising sector of the community that cares about the arts. I don't know how often Bloke is there, but I am playing in the area 2 or 3 times a month. Their drama efforts are turning out 200 or more auditioners per casting, the local symphony is getting better and more playing dates, and the sky is not cloudy all day.

[djwesp]

Jonesboro, Arkansas is literally an oasis for education, culture (including band music), and safe/civil society. When I go over there to play, I see no "bad neighborhoods" nor any of this ridiculous race-division stuff. One of the last times our jazz band played over there, it was for the local Rotary Club (about 40/60 white/black, btw, rather than the typical all-white thing), which was a re-invite by them from a previous performance.

Jonesboro High School has a BAND FACILITY that is - in a word - UNBELIEVABLE. Besides the multiple gigantic band rooms and equipment to die for, the band has its own (are you ready for this?) INDOOR air-conditioned practice marching field, which is part of the facility. Besides this physical facility, the Jonesboro High School Band lives up to its resources. Our jazz band went over there to play for their jazz band and do a clinic last year. When we finished, they wanted to play for us. In four minutes flat, they had their chairs/stands/instruments/music and were tuned up and ready to play. With minimal direction (just like a "real" jazz band) they played three varying selections for us and sounded like a typical All-State jazz band.

Yep, Jonesboro (roughly an hour from downtown Memphis) is a GREAT place. Last night, Ed Owen (the tuba guru at Arkansas State) showed up to hear us play. Needless to say, I took that as a great compliment.

Arkansas currently has some great tuba resources in Ed Owen and Ben Pierce.

Ed Owen is a wonderful guy. We studied under the same Andy Anders at ATU.


I think you took my comment a little far, Bloke. I used to live close to Jonesboro. I wasn't intending anything on the racial diversity of the town or anything. But it LITERALLY is a town out in the middle of the delta, with not much around it. It just seems out of place.

There is some nice music down there, but itusually isn't thought of as Jazz. That area is all about country music, a little farther south, however, is all about The King Biscuit Blues Festival, and of course Memphis Blues/Jazz.

JHS is in fact one of the top tier bands in the state, but they hardly sit alone at the top. Arkansas is increasingly finding itself to be Oklahoma/Texas Lite, in the way they treat band programs. Cabot, Jonesboro, Marion, Arkadelphia, Lake Hamilton, Van Buren... they all pour a lot of money into it and have excellent facilities and equipment.

(who wasn't contributing to an Arkansas stereotype, I've struggled against one my entire life)

Ed Owen also does an EXCELLENT Orchestral Masterclass. (in case anyone else reads this, feed him, pay for his travel, and get him to present one!)

[djwesp]

I would have met you in Tunica, Elephant.



I wouldn't have given you gambling money,but I would have bought you some good BBQ and schooled you at the poker tables.

No free money? Aww . . .

Isn't Tunica Tom Mason's neck of the woods? We could get the three of us together and go pitch rocks at bloke's old "urban" store.

I could give you a couple bucks and you could cruise out at the pennies and nickel slots.


(they would eventually bring you a free drink, eventually)