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JJ 10/84: The Jazz Doctors

Forty years ago, before the global jazz-education boom, Mark Gilbert spent a day at Charles Alexander's Combo Improvisation Clinic at Goldsmiths, featuring Jamey Aebersold, David Baker, Todd Coolman, Howard Roberts, Jerry Coker, Hal Galper, Slide Hampton and others. First published in Jazz Journal October 1984

Last year, Charles Alexander of the International Jazz Federation brought two of America’s better known jazz educators to London’s Goldsmiths’ College to hold a jazz improvisation clinic. Encouraged by the keen response, Alexander this year organised another clinic with an expanded teaching faculty. Last year’s tutors, Jamey Aebersold and David Baker, were joined by Todd Coolman, John McNeil, Steve Er­quiaga, John Lasenring, Ed Soph, Howard Roberts, Mike Shannon, Jerry Coker, Fred Boaden, Hal Galper, Slide Hampton and George Bouchard.

The Combo Improvisation Clinic ran six days, from August 27-September 1, and attracted 107 students, some of them com­ing from as far afield as Scotland and Northern Ireland. 17 students were assisted by £100 scholarships from various sponsors, including a number of household-name rock musicians. Charles Alexander said he was very pleased with the enrolment level, though the operation only broke even thanks to financial support from the Gulbenkian Foundation, the Hinrichsen Foundation, the British Council Visiting Arts Unit and business sponsors including Marks & Spencer and IBM.

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On the first day, students were au­ditioned and grouped into combos according to their ability. Their time was then di­vided between theory classes, combo re­hearsal and instrument master classes. At the end of the week, students were able to perform with their combos in concert.

I spent one day at Goldsmiths’, but just five minutes was enough to sense the in­spiration generated by these tutors. Dry theory was brought to life, and it seemed there would never be time to master it all before the next gig.

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If, by the end of the week, anyone was left doubting the ability of these teachers to practise what they preach, they had only to visit the Bull’s Head at Barnes for immedi­ate conversion. Tutors played two nights at the noted south west London venue, and on Friday 31st a sextet showed us how be­bop might be played, with David Baker outstanding for his original and eccentric approach to Yardbird Suite. The highest point of the evening was a set by guitarist Steve Erquiaga, drummer Ed Soph and bassist Todd Coolman, who played an astonishing batch of modern tunes.

Plans are already laid for another clinic next year, and the dates will be August 18-23. Potential students need have no doubts about the value of this experience.

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