1990_04 Insight April 1990

              Band lends proof that 'swing' is not dead
STEVEN LASHLEY
I     MANAONC EDTTOR	
Those old enough to remember
the 1930s recall when entertainment meant kicking back on the
sofa and listening to the Glenn
Miller Band on the radio.
For nearly three decades, the
era of brass, big bands and ballroom dancing were the sign of the
times. Benny Goodman and Count
Basie were popular. Swinging and
swaying with Sammy Kay was
fashionable.
With the advent of television
and the emergence of rock music
in the late 1950s, the Big Band
sound lost its dominance over the
entertainment industry. Some believe the sound died with the birth
of Elvis Presley.
But it would be hard to convince the Fresno Statesmen, an 18-
member band conducted by CSUF
professor Joe Lenigan, that the
sound is history.
"If s not dead for me and the
rest of the people of my generation," said Ed Avedisian, 65, a
saxophone player with the band.
"In fact, there are a lot of high
schools and colleges with these
jazz workshops and everything,
practicing the same sound we listened to back then.
"How can it be dead with all
that going on?"
The Statesmen are living proof
that the big band sound is alive
and well and playing at CSUF.
They play tunes such as "Strike
Up The Band," which was arranged by Count Basie and written by George Cerschwin, and
"Spain," which was arranged by
Alf Clausen and originally recorded by Al Jolson.
The band is actually a one-unit
extension class, properly known
as the Communi ty Jazz Workshop.
Although the official class
meets on Tuesday nights in Room
175of the Music Building the band
frequently plays at weddings,
anniversaries and fund-raisers in
the community.
Revenuegenerated by the band
is donated to the scholarship fund
of the Music Department. The
Statesmen have already donated
$35,000 to the fund through its
standard fee of $800 for a three-
hour session, said Rich Andersen,
a baritone saxophone player for
the band.
Andersen said the band originated in 1981 whenfivesaxophone
players decided to revive the big
band sound and began playing in
a neighborhood garage. Later that
summer, Bud Easton, one of the
members,approached Larry Sutherland, director of bands at CSUF,
with the hope of expanding the
band.
It was about then that Dr.
Sutherland suggested that maybe
we should make the band a class
and hire a professor to conduct
us," the 52-yearK)ld Andersen
said. "Of course, that meant we
had to pay tuition, but we couldn't
complain because it was an ideal
situation."
In the fall of 1982, the band
became an official class at CSUF.
Since that time, the band has
grown to 18 members and now
consists of three basic sections.
Included is the rhythm section,
which consists of a piano player,
an electric guitar player, a
drummer and an upright bass
player.
At the heart of the band is the
saxophone section, consisting of
one baritone, two alto and two
tenor sax players. The alto and
tenor sax players also play the
clarinet and flute.
The final section is the brass
family, which consists of four
trombones and three trumpets.
While the majority of the
members are generally middle-
aged men trying to relive the
sounds of yesteryear, the band
maintains a sense of diversity that
seems to attract all walks of life.
Sam Mooran is a balding trumpet player who fashions a bushy
brown mustache that partially
covers the mouthpiece of his instrument. His blue-and-white-
striped dress shirt barely covers
his portly stomach and his black
suspendersstretchacrosshischest
down to his designer Levis.
Taking his instrument from his
brown leather case, Mooran offers
his opinion of why the big band
sound lives on.
"A lot of people say rock and
roll is good music - hey, rock isn't
even good music," he said. "I know
a lot of people get offended by
that, basically by the way I said it.
"But the reason they get offended is because they didn't hear
the big band sound when they
were growing up. So, I guess you
can't blame them."
H«nry Gurr*fru/msignr
Members of the Fresno Statesmen practice their big band sounds In Room 175 in the Music Building earty last week. The group, led
by Joe Linnegan, is comprised of musicians from around the Fresno community including a junior high student, accountant and even
a few CSUF music majors.
John Vancura, 22, is certainly (jazz), and thaf s cool if you know members, he said his age doesn't of music is highly unlikely, if not
no veteran of the Big Band Era. He what you're doing. But if s best if affect his relationship with them, impossible,
sports a spiked hairdo, a faded you know the old stuff first."               "We are all.here because we "Actually,noneofuswillgoon
pair of 501s and a black T-shirt Perhaps the best example of the love music," he said. "Ifs not a to bigger things, in all hortcsty,"
bearing a picture of a yellow band's diversity is Lenigan, who power play. They need somebody Lenigansaid.'Tomakeourhouse
Happy Face with a bullet hole in was hired in December to replace to give them advice, to run their payments playing this kind of
its forehead. retiring Mark Marin as the band's rehearsals and take them where music - well, there just aren't too
But after watching the Hoover fifth conductor. they want to go. That's it. I'm no many guys out there doing it.
High graduate slap the strings of Only 30, Lenigan is no stranger better than they are and they are "Look at the ages of most of
his upright bass, it is evident that to the big band sound. His father no better than I am." these guys. I mean, come on, most
the Big Band sound is not restricted was a saxophone and bass player        Avedisian agrees: "1 just con- of them are established members
to those over 40. while his mother was a jazz pian- sider him a legitimate musician in the community. I'm sure they
"This is a great band to work ist. Both played with many of the who understands music." wouldn't mind throwing a few
your chops, because with jazz big bands of the era, including        But Lenigan understands more extra bucks into their pockets, but
you're dealing with a lot of tradi- Glenn Miller's than just music. He isalso a realist thaf s not the objective,
tions," Vancura said. "A lot of While Lenigan is significantly and recognizes that the opportu- "Ifs a case of these guys want-
younger guys just go into fusion younger than most of the band nity for advancement in this type ing a place to play."
Fees
continued from page 1
The twooptional fees often bring about the loudest complaints from students.
The health services fee, which is being raised to
$12 in the fall from$10,supportselective immunizations, physical exams required for employment,
physical therapy services and free orthopedic supplies.
The Parking Fee of $54 allows students to park in
student parking lots. Many students elect not to
park on campus, and use Shaw A venueor the neighboring side streets to desert their cars while attending classes.
Despite all the fees, Steve Mortensen, a CSUF
graduate, thinks students are still getting a great
deal.
Mortensen attended CSUFafter transferring from
Fresno City College in 1970. He graduated with a
degree in recreation in 1973.
Mortensen paid $84 per semester when he attended CSUF. The fee increase will affect him in
eight years when his son will be able to go to college.
He defends the rising cost of college by saying,
"Even at $84, students used to complain."
"I'm just so high on the CSU system and the value
of education you receive for your dollars," he
said.
"Even with the fee increase, there's not a better
value anywhere."
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S       *d          PLAZA
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Now Available 1 & 2 Bedrooms
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5469 N. Cedar Ave.
Fresno, California 93710
431-8122
Phones
continued from page 1
chines, i.e., television, computers,        "Definitely, a life loses depth she said. "But it is frustrating
Nintendo, and less-end less with when its emotional gratification when I get a machine and not a
people,"  she  said.  "Even  our comes from a machine and not person."
emotions seem to he intertwined another person." Back in admissions, Travis-El-
with   machines,   for  example,        That the system is efficient isn't lis considers a computer display
our love of our cars and our ste- especially soothing to Berliner. and points to the screen's bottom
rcos.                                                    "I can see an argument for it," Jforncr.
-Alpha Xi Delta
Would like to congratulate its Alumni,
Elizabeth LyCes
for being elected Fresno City-County
1990 Woman of the Year
1   I   ■                                                               III
"Academe: A Crucible
For Cultural Diversity"
A Conference Designed to Improve
Race Relations In The Academic Community
APRIL 5-6
PRO(
iRAM SCHEDULE
Thursday, April 5,1990
Mediation Programs at Colleges
6:00 p.m.   REGISTRATION
and Universities"
Main CafeteriaLobby
RENA GRANT. Ombudsman
7:00 p.m.   OPENING REMARKS
UC Santa Cruz
Upstairs Cafeteria
C.  "Matching Diverse Teaching
7:30 p.m.   KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Styles Wilt) Culturally Diverse
HONORABLK WILLIE IIROWN JR                 Learning Modes"
Speaker of the House
DR. EMILY "RUSTY" WADSWORTII
California Assembly
Director
8:30 p.m. RECEPTION
Interdisciplinary Education Program
Vintage Room
Northeastern Illinois University
12.00p.m. LUNCH
Eastside of the Residence Dining Hall
Keynote Speaker TBA
Friday, April 6,1990
1:30p.m. CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS
8:30a.m. REGISTRATION
D. "Women of Color and Curriculum Reform"
DR. LEA YBARRA, Chair
9:00a.m. WELCOME
Conference Instructions
Chicano and Latin American Studies
CSU, Fresno
9:30a.m.  PLENARY SESSION:
Final Report-Attorney General's
DR. WENDY NG
Asian Studies and Sociology
San Jose Slate University
Religious and Minority Violence
MS. SHARON KLISMs.ri.tian/ Professor
.,                       Women's Studies
iijorma               Q%u ^^
DR. LUANA ROSS
Native American Studies
MARTY MERCADO, Chief. Ca
State Attorney Generals Office
Office of Community and Consum
Montana Stale University
10:30a.m. CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS
E. "Cross Cultural Retreats: A Viable
A. "Strategies to Enhance the
Strategy For Understanding Diversity"
_-	
Relationship Between the Rates
Student panelists report on their experiences
A Personal Commitment"
F. "Campus Harassment Policies and the First
DR. JAMES RENICK,
Amendment Challenge"
DR. ANNETTE LOPEZ, Dean of Affirmative
Associate Provost
George Mason University
Action, CSU Chancellor's Office
B. "Conflict. Resolution and
Pre repstrsbon knot $1500 Indudes metis, r
3:00pm. CLOSING REMARKS
rtreshmsnts. and conhrerv mttmiSt  On site re&samion is t!0 00