DAVE BENNETT WILL BE FEATURED THIS WEEK AT THE DIRTY DOG JAZZ CAFÉ
Expect the unexpected along with the expected when Dave Bennett brings his band to the Dirty Dog this week. Earlier in the week on Monday night there will be a jam session that will run from 6:30 PM to 9:45 PM.
DETROIT JAZZ FESTIVAL JAM
This Monday the Dirty Dog Jazz Café will open its door to some young musicians. They will be joined by some of Detroit’s best jazz artists for this month’s jam session.
The Detroit Jazz Festival sponsors the jam sessions as part of their year long effort to help keep jazz alive in our community. We get a chance to support both the kids and the teachers and mentors who will make a special effort to show up on a forecasted cold winter night in February. We also get a chance to see jazz blossom in our backyard. It doesn’t get much better than this.
Starting this week until September the Dirty Dog Jazz Café will host an open jam on the third Monday of each month. Anyone lucky enough to have heard about these evenings will be treated to some serious musical strutting as the young musicians unpack their best stuff and put forward their challenges to any old thinking. The evening usually seems to build in intensity as the night goes on. What will be on display will be a room full of wisdom and enlightenment.
IT WILL BE AN OPEN JAM
Anyone who can get their car door unfrozen, their instrument loaded in their car and can find their way to the Dirty dog will get a chance to share some music with their peers. If you stop by you will get a glimpse of something pretty uplifting. Young people of all ages will be alternating between playing musical instruments and listening to others. There will be some cats just starting to find their way and others who will deserve to do a little strutting.
The house band band will include Buddy Budson on piano, Marion Hayden on bass, John Douglas on trumpet and Sean Dobbins on drums. This is an assemblage of Detroit’s finest players and teachers and an unexpected treat for some young musicians and lucky fans of jazz. There will be some serious teaching by by example and inclusion.
HERE ARE THE TEACHERS, ARTISTS AND BACKERS THAT HAVE STEPPED UP.
TEACHERS
I had one teacher that always comes to mind when I have been asked who was my favorite teacher. I don’t remember her name and I didn’t really like her. She was one tough egg. She never let anyone off the hook. When I was one of her math students, I thought that she was ruthless. Even the weakest student was asked to publicly search for the right answer. She was relentless. The more hesitant you were, the more you were called on. Even when I had the answer I never raised my hand. I went to the board often, as she regularly had the seemingly least prepared go up to the chalkboard and complete the equation. Despite her lack of people skills I will always consider her the best teacher I have ever had. She cared about us so much that she wanted each of us to understand math as well as to learn math.
“TELL ME AND I FORGET. TEACH ME AND I MAY REMEMBER. INVOLVE ME AND I LEARN” Benjamin Franklin
” THE DELICATE BALANCE OF MENTORING SOMEONE IS NOT CREATING THEM IN YOUR OWN IMAGE, BUT GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE THEMSELVES.” Steven Spielberg
My favorite teacher did what good teachers do, She engaged and involved the individual students. We were asked (well not quite asked) to contribute. I would have learned something just listening to her instructions, but I really understood the math because I had been asked to participate. To succeed in her class I had to conquer the subject and learn to raise my hand. The students came up with the answers and left her class with an understanding of the process. I have read of many studies that show that an effective teacher is that teacher who draws the students into the conversation. They have a willingness to allow the students feel that they are equally responsible for their education.
I am not sure I got a chance to say “thank you”. I probably had the chance, but this wasn’t part of my teen age vocabulary.
Lately I have been witness to a slew of young musicians entering Detroit’s jazz scene. They obviously are products of today’s teachers and mentors. Jazz has always been taught in Detroit just like my favorite teacher taught. They know and understand their subject and seem to instinctively understand how to engage their young students.
Detroit has a tradition of tough instruction that demands hard work and focus combined with a sense of tradition
I have always thought that Detroit is where jazz chooses to go to school. Detroit certainly has always had a tradition of producing A list jazz artists. More importantly, for decades they have had A list teachers. They are in the schools and in neighborhoods and playing alongside the young players at the clubs and on their recordings.
Detroit gives talent a chance to shine. Come on in out of the cold and catch their light.
John Osler
THIS WEEK AT THE DIRTY DOG JAZZ CAFÉ
February 20 -23
DAVE BENNETT
DAVE BENNETT
For all four nights the place will be packed. it will be jammed with those who have an appreciation of our jazz roots. They will be treated to being only feet away from musicians who share their love of jazz and will be playing it about as well as anybody can. They will unabashedly play music that makes one feel good to be alive.
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