What do you get when you combine a unique drummer, with a few swaggering saxophones players, Dr Martin Luther King' legacy and a host of hand claps, foot stomps and finger snaps?
Well you get a tribute to Dr Martin Luther King from the 2007 African-American Jazz Caucus and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (AAJC/HBCU) All-Star Big Band.
This band, comprised of carefully picked talent from six HBCUs, brought the noise, the funk and all types of head bopping rhythm with soulful renditions of classic Jazz.
Held in Harlem, New York at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture this tribute to Dr King' legacy proved that Jazz is an important part of today's society.
'This is positive proof and a testimonial that young African Americans are dedicated to and recognize that Jazz is an important component in the multi-verse of the African Diaspora and African American Culture," said Larry Ridley, Founder of the AAJC/HBCU Student All-Star Big Band.
Ridley, who is also a Jazz Artist and Professor Emeritus at Rutgers University, says that the most important element of the big band is to nurture and mentor young African American talent.
This and much more was portrayed as the big band stepped on stage and did what they do best: PERFORM.
The audience was pulled in at first bite with a number entitled 'Spinning the Webb.'
Written by Chick Webb and performed by celebrated soul-stress, Ella Fitzgerald, 'Spinning the Webb' pulled at your heart and made the strongest want to break down and cry.
The events mood quickly spun out of control with a selection titled 'Come Sunday' written by Duke Ellington and performed by Mahalia Jackson.
I actually had to sit back and think for a second' 'Are these really students playing classic Jazz like this?'
After a few more trips around the Jazz globe the big band threw you into a dancehall with its rendition of 'Mosaic.'
This piece, written by Cedar Walton and performed by Legendary drummer Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, was a very challenging piece for the band.
But Drummer Clifton Wallace of North Carolina Central University (NCCU) made this piece his own, during his solo, with so many different riffs and runs. I almost cut a step myself.
ALMOST.
With only 20 spots to fill, the AAJC auditioned students from all the HBCUs surrounding the world.
Senior jazz studies Major Justin Martin, of NCCU, is happy that he was accepted into the band.
'I was ecstatic and kind of shocked,' said Martin who spoke about his acceptance into the 2007 big band after three years of rejection.
'It makes you feel good when someone else like the big band notices your progress and growth.'
With six universities in attendance NCCU, dominated the big band with 11 students, one of which was added because another student from another HBCU could not attend.
'We feel good about the caliber of student that this program has been able to attract,' said Dr. James H. Ammons, Chancellor of NCCU.
'It is a testimony to student's hard work & dedication.'
Clearly Chancellor Ammons has something to be boastful about.
Other universities that were represented in this year's big band are The University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Clafin College, Jackson State University, Texas Southern University and Clark Atlanta University.
This event, held yearly since 2002, was held on January 14, 2007 at 3pm in the Langston Hughes Auditorium inside the Schomburg Center.
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is a subsidiary of the New York Public Library System.
To audition for next years big band and for more info on the AAJC/HBCU Student All-Star Big Band and the AAJC visit www.AAJC.us.
