All Of It (WNYC): A Preview of the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival

Host: Tiffany Hansen (in for Alison Stewart)
Air Date: May 1, 2024
Guests:

• Todd Stoll, Jazz Trumpeter & VP of Education at Jazz at Lincoln Center
• Sherman Irby, Lead Alto Saxophonist, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
• Paul Korn, Assistant Principal/Band Director, Susan E. Wagner High School
• The Susan E. Wagner High School Jazz Band (students)

Episode Overview

This episode spotlights the 29th annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival, hosted by Jazz at Lincoln Center, which celebrates the legendary Duke Ellington—whose 125th birthday would have been this week. The program features insightful conversations with educators and musicians, a focus on jazz education’s significance, and live performances from one of this year’s finalists, the Susan E. Wagner High School Jazz Band from Staten Island.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Legacy of Duke Ellington

• Relevance and Timelessness:
  • Both guests and host reflect on Ellington's enduring legacy in jazz and his unique blending of African American music with European classical traditions.
  • Sherman Irby:

    “He encompassed everything. The sophistication of melodic and harmonic ability, the mastery of those things. And so in his arrangements and his compositions, it had a sophistication that was timeless.” [10:57]

The Essentially Ellington Competition

• Monumental Opportunity:
  • The festival brings together 15 top high school jazz bands from across the country to compete and perform at Jazz at Lincoln Center, exposing young musicians to a national community of jazz enthusiasts.
  • Paul Korn:

    “We're about to go do one of the most fun things you can ever do—playing an instrument, surrounded by students all over the country who want to do the same thing.” [08:37]

• Selection Process:
  • Todd Stoll explains the competition’s structure, noting that bands submit recordings, are adjudicated by experts, and the country is divided into regions, with the top groups invited to NYC.
    • Todd Stoll:

      “It’s our 29th year. We’ve distributed almost 400,000 charts to over 7,000 schools, 55,000 bands. Over a million students have played this music every year.” [22:40]

The Educational Importance of Jazz

• Freedom and Discipline:
  • Jazz education cultivates both personal expression and group cooperation, echoing American cultural ideals.
  • Todd Stoll:

    “Teaching jazz, I believe, allows you the maximum amount of freedom of expression within the understanding of the sacrifice of what it means to be in a group." [17:15]

• Facing Adversity with Optimism:
  • The “blues aspect” of jazz teaches resilience and hope.
  • Stoll:

    “Things are not always going to be perfect, but we’ll be all right. We’ll get through this.” [17:54]

• Connecting Students with History:
  • Paul Korn describes teaching not just the music but the social and historical context, fostering a deeper appreciation among students.
    • Paul Korn:

      “We try to talk about the time period and, you know, social circumstances and just the reality of the country and the time.” [09:23]

    • He discusses the concept of “rent parties” and the roots of early Ellington works.

The Power and Philosophy of Imperfection in Jazz

• Authenticity Over Perfection:
  • Guests reinforce that Ellington’s music is about intention, emotion, and authenticity rather than note-for-note accuracy.
  • Sherman Irby:

    “Life is not perfect, you know, and jazz is a reflection of life. But the joy, just the act of doing it, that's the thing that you get out of it.” [07:15]

  • Todd Stoll (on Ellington’s philosophy):

    “Music is the art of the invisible. And Duke understood that.” [07:57]

  • Paul Korn:

    “We're never gonna sound like Duke Ellington. No one does. But we can have the same intent and desire behind it, and that's our goal.” [09:57]

The Challenge and Joy of Jazz Performance for Young Musicians

• Building Community:
  • Participation in competitions and events like Essentially Ellington strengthens bonds among students, both within individual schools and nationally.
  • Korn:

    “We were part of the New York community, but now we're more part of the United States community with all these other bands and directors and students...” [21:46]

• Encouraging New Generations:
  • Irby recalls how as a teen in Alabama, access to jazz was limited, highlighting the huge cultural progress competitions like Essentially Ellington represent.
  • Sherman Irby:

    “I'm from Alabama, and down there we didn't have, like, a first and jazz program in the high schools. That's why I said it's so fantastic that they have that here and that this movement is happening all over the country.” [18:51]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On passing down Ellington’s music:
  • Stoll:

    “The intent behind it is, you know, music is the art of the invisible. And Duke understood that.” [07:57]

• On the beauty of jazz:
  • Irby:

    “It's always something you can learn from it.” [06:33]

• On optimism and resilience:
  • Irby:

    “The optimism that comes after that, it just feels so good to have that. And that's, you know, again, it's about life. And I think that's the beauty of Duke Ellington's music. It does reflect life, the good and the bad.” [17:58]

• On the competition spirit:
  • Korn:

    “Competitions are good if you use them the right way... The competition doesn't define their intent and their authenticity. So it's a proud moment...” [21:46]

Featured Live Performances

(All performed by the Susan E. Wagner High School Jazz Band)

• Rent Party Blues (early Ellington, classic New Orleans roots) [02:13–05:58]
• Star Crossed Lovers (1958, from Ellington’s Shakespearean suite, depicts Romeo and Juliet) [12:57–?]
• Blues a la Machito (a Latin jazz piece, reflecting expanding access to previously unavailable repertoire) [23:44–24:22]

Important Timestamps

• 00:48: Episode begins; introduction and context for Essentially Ellington & Duke Ellington’s legacy
• 01:41: Guests introduced
• 02:13: Susan E. Wagner band performs “Rent Party Blues”
• 05:58: Discussion of the performance and Ellington's approach
• 09:23: Teaching the context/history of Ellington’s music
• 10:57: Why Ellington is foundational in jazz (Irby)
• 12:38: Introduction & performance of “Star Crossed Lovers”
• 17:15: The importance of jazz education (Stoll)
• 18:51: Irby on his first exposure to Ellington
• 20:21: Korn’s strategy for engaging students in jazz
• 21:46: Honor and community-building through jazz competitions
• 22:40: Stoll explains the competition selection process
• 23:44: Introduction and context for “Blues a la Machito”

The Essence

This episode captures the vibrant spirit of youth-driven jazz and elucidates why Duke Ellington remains a pillar of American music. Through passionate discussion and stirring live student performances, it highlights both the timelessness of jazz and the profound, unifying lessons it imparts to new generations.