Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 October 1989 — Page 22

PAGE4B

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7,1989

Classic afternoon belonged to the college bands

By SUSAN MAXWELL Arts Writer “I came all the way from Cincinnati to see Jackson State whip Be-thune-Cookman College,” said Class of 1974 member Roy L. Jones, 37. His school pride would not only embedded on his shirt and hat but in the enthusiasm in his voice whenever he mentioned his alma mater. His classmate, Reggie Ellis, 39, of Cincinnati agreed. “They are pretty well matched up and they both are defense teams,” Ellis said. “ But Jackson State has more support here so that is going to make a difference.” Although which team was going to win this year’s Circle City Classic was on the minds of many alumni who came from all over the country to cheer their favorite team, the afternoon belonged to the bands and hundreds of participants who marched in this year’s Circle City Classic parade. “This has been a great parade,” said Jennifer Knight, 22, from Gary, IN. “I am routing for Jackson State and I got Bethune-Cookman pompoms but right now the bands or my favorite.” “I don’t know about the game that is going to be happening,” Betty Craig, 54, of Indianapolis said. “But I thought it was a beautiful day for a parade and it was a nice parade.” With the sun shining bright, a m ild breeze blowing and temperatures reaching the mid 70s, over 35,000

people lined Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Meridian Streets to watch die two hour parade. “This in one of the best I have seen in a long time,” said Clarice A. Foley, 58, of Indianapolis. “I enjoy the variety and the celebration of the parade. The crowd was really great and everyone was not disorderly and very polite. I plan to be back next year.” “I think that this is a great day for the black people who live in the city,” said Thomas Franklin, 70, of Indianapolis. “I hope that they continue to have something like this.” “An event like this does a good job for recruiting blacks for black coU lege,” Jones said. “Kids don’t know the schools but they know the colors and that is a good start.” Singer Barry White, who had many young ladies cheering him through the streets, was this year’s Grand Classic Marshall. He was follow by a host of other celebrities and well-known citizens who participated including Rapper Chuck D., basketball greats Oscar and Bailey Robinson, Circle City Classic Organizing Committeemember Joe Slash, Tom Binford, Bill and Rose Mays, Lelia G. Rhodes, National Alumni president, James Robinson, Local Alumni president, Helen Clay, president of the National Council of Negro Women, Judge Z. Mae Jimison, Deputy Mayor Paula Parker-Sawyer, Dr. Shirl Gilbert, assistant superintendent of Indianapolis Public School, Percy Clark, superintendent of Lawrence Township

School, Landon Turner and Ray Tolbert. The Circle City Classic Queen with her court rode on the WestEnd/Honey Sage Catering float as a host of masons, fraternities, sororities, business and private organizations followed. Among those were McDonalds, Boys Clubof America, Indiana Black Expo, Indiana Sport Corporation, Freetown V illage, Chrysler Foundry, King Solomon, Delta Sigma Theta, Starlight Steppers, Kappa Alpha Phi, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Atkinson Boys Club, Coca Cola Bottling, the Car Hoppers. Tyhesha Ray, 6, who attends school 107, enjoyed the cartoon characters and bands with her mother, Valorie Ray. "I want to be a cheerleader when I grow-up,”she said, fascinated by the dozens of cheerleaders present. The bands were the big hit this year and the crowd showed their appreciation by jamming along with them. “The bands were the best without a doubt,” said Philip Johnson, 37, of Youngstown, Ohio. “They all have been pretty good and I am having a good time.” Jackson State University brought their 150-plus band that started out with a step to electrify the crowd. “There goes the best band in the nation,” one young man shouted as they marched down Pennsylvania Street. It is no wonder why they are known as ‘The Sonic Boom of the South” with

their strong brass and percussion section. Dr. James A. Hefher and family followed the band. Although the Bethune-Cookman College band is smaller, they carried a good sound for their size. The cheerleaders were a big hit with the men in the crowd, with many of them shouting “We Love You” to them. But the musical credit can not bp given to only the university’s bands for there were many high school bands that did their share of keeping the spirit of the festivals going strong. North Division Blue Devils from Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Northwest Jr. High School Marching Band from Jackson, Mississippi; Robert Taft High School from Cincinnati, Ohio; and the J.W. Scott High School from Toledo, Ohio showed the crowd that they could keep up with the big schools by dazzling the crowd with their style and music. Other high school marching bands that were just as fantastic were: Wirt High School from Gary, IN.; Dunbar Vocation High School from Chicago, Muskegon High School from Muskegon, Mich.; and George Washington, Arlington, Broad Ripple, T. C. Howe High Schools from Indianapolis. “This has been a great parade,” said Terrell Golie,46, from Chicago. “This is the fust time that I have been in Indianapolis, but I will have to come back.”

National Public Radio’s popular

jazz program American Jazz Radio Festival presents the world radio premiere of “Epitaph”—a recently discovered 30-year-old work by the late

jazz composer Charles Mingus. Mingus prophetically said upon

the completion of the work in 1960, “I

wrote it for my tombstone.” On Oct. 7, National Public Radio

will air this 19-part, two-hour composition in its historic June 5, 1989, performance in Washington, D.C., commemorating the 10th anniversary

of Mingus’ death.

One of the most important figure in 20th-century jazz, Mingus was a virtuoso double bass player, accomplished pianist, bandleader, and composer. Grove’s New Dictionary of Jan says of Mingus, “His accomplishments surpass in historic and stylistic breadth those of any other

major figure in jazz.”

At the height of an outstanding career, Mingus, died in Mexico Jan. 5,

1979, at age 56.

It was not until 1988 thaimusicologist Andrew Homzy discovered the score for“Epitaph” in an old box stored

Know Your Entertainers

By Clem Tiggs

No. 178 in a series

CHARLES MINGUS This week’s star is the late Charles Mingus, Acoustic Bass, Composer and Arranger. The National Public Radio, will broadcast the premiere of one of the most stunning Jazz Creations of tfte Century—Charles Mingus” epic Masterpiece... “Epitaph” was recorded live on stage at Washington, D.C.s Wolf Trap Farm Park. Sue Mingus sister of Charles, “put it just right.” “His music is a living tombstone because I took his ashes and spread them over the Ganges River in India," said Sue. Charles wrote his Epitaph, 20 years before his death, over 500 pages and 4,000 measures of music. It took 5 months and 30 musicians to get the music together and perform

it

The group that will go on the road, will be called “Mingus Dynasty.” They will tour the Midwest, before going to Japan. ' This writer thinks that music should be shared with all the generations to come in order to grow. Everybody needs to be exposed to the music life line. I had some fun when I met Mr. Mingus, in the early 1970s in Indianapolis and was very glad to share some laughter with him. Goodbye Mingus, wherever you are. That’s A Rap

As he traveled throughout the United States, South America, Japan, and Europe, Mingus wrote compositions such as ‘Tijuana Moods,” “The Clown,” “Mingus Dynasty,” “The Black Saint and ihe Sinner Lady,” and “Let My Children Hear Music,’’ which gave him world recognition as a creator and leader in jaz?, adding to his international reputation as a top jazz

bassist.

“‘Epitaph’ is an inclusive work,” writes The New York Times, "a compendium of Mingus’ music from his snappiest be-bop to his darkest ruminations; the scope of his genius is reflected in the scopeof the piece. It is fierce, passionate, complex work, and we are lucky that it has resurfaced.” Says Sue Mingus of the National Public Radio premiere, “I’m particularly please that NPR has taken the initiative to lead the way in presenting this music around the country. Mingus would be very pleased.” American Jazz Radio Festival is produced by NPR member station WBGO-FM/Newark, New Jersey. Host is Michael Bourne, and producer

is Bccca Pulliam.

Funding for American Jazz Radio Festival is provided by the New Jersey StatcCouncil on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, NPR member stations, and the NPR Arts and

Performance Fund.

NPR TRANSMISSION DATE: Saturday, at 10p.m., E.T.

Mingus 9 Epitaph on NPR Oct, 7

at the home of Mingus’ widow. Sue

Graham Mingus.

A challengi ng and thought-provok-ing composition, “Epitaph” comprises a collection of ballads, earthy blues, gospel sections, and more abstract movements such as “The Children’s Hour of Dream,” “Wolverine Blues,” and “Peggy’s Blue Skylight.” The composition is performed by a 30-piccc all-star orchestra, led by composer-conductor extraordinaire

Gunther Schuller.

The orchestra includes world-re-nowned jazz musicians including saxophonists John Handy, George Adams, and Jerome Richardson; trumpeters Wynton Marsalis and Randy Brecker; and pianist Sir Roland Hanna,

among many others.

The work is a fitting tribute to Mingus, bom on a military base in Nogales, Arizona, in 1922, and raised in Watts. His earliest musical influences came from the church and the music of Duke Ellington. Mingus began his formal music training with trombone and cello lessons. At age 15, Mingus traded his cello for the suing bass, which would become his instrument for the rest of

his life.

Mingus’ professional career began in 1940 when lie joined drummer Lee Young’s band, and later performed with greats such as Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Art Tatum, and

Duke Ellington.

Sing the blues BSI pres suggests By ELAINE ANDERSON Hi! As president of the Blues Society of Indiana (BSI), I’ll be inviting you to take a look at what’s happening on the Indianapolis blues

scene.

BSI has been around for over three years, and we arc always looking for new ways to get the word out about the music we love. There is something I’d like to ask you to share.with me. As soon as you leant of an upcoming blues happening, write or call me. I can't keep up with it all, and often I leam of events when it’s too late to publicize them. By the way, you don’t need to be a musician or club owner in order to write or call. I’ll be delighted to hear from all blues lovers who have news to share. The sooner you let me know what’s happening, the better your chances will be of getting it in print. All you need to do is call 317-244-7599 or write The Indianapolis Recorder, 2901 N. Tacoma Ave, Indianapolis, IN. 462181 Together we can get the word out! Let's start with the blues calendar for Oct 2-19: Oct. 6 and 7 — Harvey and the Blue tones at Mugwumps, 608 Massachusetts; LiT Hoover and the Electroluxe, Slippery Noodle, 372 S. Me-

ridian.

ELAINE ANDERSON Oct. 11 — Mannish Boys at the Patio, 6308 N. Guilford. Oct. 12-14 — Brightwood Blues Band, Slippery Noodle. Oct.14—All Nighters at Mugwumps. Oct. 15 — Blues Society of Indiana party (everyone welcome) at Bowsprit, 7402 Michigan Road. Oct. 19 — All Nighters at Slippery Noodle. Every Saturday Night — Lefty Bates and the Headhunters at Bow-

sprit.

Every Saturday and Sunday — Jeff Lee and Coahuon ally's, 3219E. Michigan. Every Monday Night—blues jam at Ty’s. Every Tuesday Night — jam at the Patio. Every Wednesday — jam at the Slippery Noodle.

Hamptons here

The Hampton Sisters Band opens for Holly Near Sunday, Oct. 8 at 2:30 p.m. The show takes place in the Caleb Mills Auditorium at Shortridge Junior High School Performing Arts Center. For ticket information, call 635-PLAY. From left: Tamar Whitted, Virtue Whitted, and Aletra

Hampton (seated).

J L J l _ D J ^ ✓—v -y- J I- -v (“1 rv->

1 Z[ £_i r J r;^ I i d f;

L|^CSLi U LjjJ Ljj|.. J

For the Family • Eagle Library at 3325 Lowry Road will present a Halloween program at 7 p.m. Oct. 19. For more information, call 291-0509. Center Stage Marion College will open its mainstage season with Phedre Oct. 12. For more information, call 929-0292. **• The Performing Arts Department of North Central High School presents Fiddler on the Roof Nov. 2-4’. For more information, call 259-5301. *** David Meek opens the Phoenix Theatre underground series with his oneman show “Here I Am.” For more information, call 635-7529. The Dance Ballet Hispanico performs Oct. 11-15 at the Indiana Repertory Theatre Upperstage. For more information, call 634-8484. Audition Notices Artists and arts organizations are being sought by the Indiana Arts Commission to participate in its touring and arts education programs. For details and an application, contact the IAC at 47 S. Pennsylvania Sl, Sixth Floor, Indianapolis, Ind. 46204. Deadline is Oct. 16. **» The Indiana Department of Transportation is sponsoring a contest for a new agency seal. The winning design will show up on Indiana department vehicles, equipment, stationary, displays and printed materials.Entries will be accepted through Oct. 17. For more information, call Karen Cecil at 235-5115.

MIDTOWN CLUB 2145 N. TALBOTT 923-9886

ENTERTAINMENT

SIDE D00R(1)

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT 10 P.M.-2 A.M. OCTOBER 6th & 7th THE NO ID BAND

MAIN ROOM (2)

THURSDAY NIGHT WPZZ Ladies Night FRIDAY NIGHT OCTOBER 6,1989 Alpha Kappa Alpha MATINEE 5 - 9 P.M.

EVERY WEDNESDAY 8P.M. - MIDNIGHT "Comedy Night Live" at Faces FEATURING COMEDIANS, MAGICIANS & MORE CALL 923-9886 FOR RESERVATIONS