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Music
Indy Jazz Fest
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Larry Ridley: a jazz reason for Indy
by Chuck Workman Jun 12, 2002

Hanging out after the Indy Jazz Fest

There is a reason for every season. In this case, it"s about the season of jazz and why we celebrate with the Indy Jazz Fest. Larry Ridley, bassist extraordinaire and educator, has been enshrined in the Jazz Hall of Fame. Growing up here in Indy, Ridley was extremely active, playing in the Indy bebop movement with Freddie Hubbard, James Spaulding and Killer Ray Appleton. Talking about jazz with Ridley reveals a very dedicated, passionate activist about the art he continues to serve. Having performed with most major jazz artists of the past four decades, he also holds degrees in music education and taught at Rutgers University as a professor of jazz studies. Ridley is an ardent supporter of Indy"s contribution to the composite world of jazz. "It"s important for us here in Indianapolis to take pride in our contribution. One of my beefs for the longest time has been this overemphasis on New Orleans being the birthplace of jazz. Eubie Blake, Eddie Barafield, Garbin Buschell and all of these guys like Doc Cheatem and Coleman Haekins. I have sat at the feet of these masters and posed questions. In their own way, they have all said the same thing. Wherever there was a significant group of people of African descent there was always some form of improvised hot music." Ridley adds, "That name jazz was sort of bandied about. When rock and roll first started they had all sorts of categorical titles they tried to apply to the music. When King Oliver went to Chicago off the riverboat, the musicians in Chicago were standing on the dock there, saying, "Come on in here, King Oliver, and teach us how to play jazz." They were already playing a form of jazz." The state of jazz today is a concern for Ridley; he worries about the current trend of forgetting its core. "I think the state of jazz is sort of in a mixed area; I say that because there are a number of factors that are involved in terms of how jazz has been codified and included in academic programs and in terms of how the industry has been responding to all of this. In my opinion, a lot of the things that have happened in the course of jazz historically have been that the music has come from the root - the root being the African-American experience. Others from other ethnic persuasions become involved, but recognize the roots and lend their own expertise to it. This is one of the things I try to stress in my teachings and was a part of the academic program at Rutgers." Dr. Larry Ridley is currently serving in an advisory capacity to the Madame Walker Theatre Center"s jazz activities. His latest CD is titled Other Voices on the Naima Label. Afterhours venues There is a segment of jazz fans who can"t get enough of the creative storytelling performed by jazz artists at the Indy Jazz Fest. These are the 24/7 fans who live for the magic of afterhours sessions with jazz artists informally gathering in some venue for the post grad school of jazz fondly known as the jam session. There will be a few sessions going on around town but, like the music, they happen spontaneously and you never know who is going to show up. From my best guess and info, here are places you might want to check into after the stages go dark in Military Park. The Chatterbox is definitely the jazz hang for downtown. Though limited in seating, some legendary jam sessions have taken place between national and local jazz artists in this room. Historically, they have been known to turn off the clock here and go to sunup. Friday, June 14, Beeblebrox will be on the bandstand and holding a CD release party for their new double live CD, Reat Brox, recorded at the Jazz Kitchen early last year. Saturday, one of the rapidly rising vocalists in jazz, Cynthia Layne & Friends, will be on the bandstand. Both nights the music starts at 10:30 p.m. In the Adam"s Mark Hotel Downtown Tiffany Rose Lounge, the Frank Puzzullo Quartet will on the bandstand both Friday, June 14 and Saturday, June 15 starting at 7:30 p.m. Puzzullo, who favors bebop jazz, has hosted some classic jams in the past. The Jazz Kitchen has a strong lineup for Indy Jazz Fest week. The swinging piano of the Steve Allee Trio, with guest tenor sax from New York"s Rob Dixon, perform Friday, June 14 from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. and Saturday, June 15 they start at 11 p.m. and go until 3 a.m. One of the best jazz fusion groups around, the Yellowjackets, will open the evening"s activities. The Jazz Kitchen has provided some unforgettable nights of impromptu jam sessions. This is a major hang for jazz fans and artists. The Jazz Cooker has Gin &Tonic playing Friday, June 14 from 7 p.m. until 1 a.m. Saturday, June 15, Jeb"s Jam Band takes the bandstand at 10:30 p.m. going until 2 a.m. Looking at the regular jazz activity for the week ... Jazz on the Avenue in the Madame Walker Theatre Center will groove down with the sounds of Greg Bacon on Friday, June 14 from 6 to 10 p.m. Rick"s Cafe Boatyard will host a Father"s Day Jazz Brunch featuring Conga Jazz playing from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tim Brickley takes the bandstand starting at 7 p.m. The Indiana Historical Society will host its free Concerts on the Canal Thursday, June 13 at 5 p.m. featuring Jack Gilfoy"s Quintet with guest Mary Moss. Jammin" at the Jorg in the Eiteljorg Museum features Conga Jazz with its Latin accent jazz sound from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Legendary saxophonist "Pookie" Johnson"s Trio is performing each Thursday in June from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Adams Restaurant, 40 S. Main in Zionsville. Indy Jazz Fest: artist play dates & times Jazz Heritage Stage Friday, June 14 4:30 p.m. Y Zone Gospel Choir 5:15 Aaron Parks Trio APA Cole Porter Jazz Winner 6:15 Indiana Avenue Revisited 8:15 Arturo Sandoval Jazz Heritage Stage Saturday, June 15 12 p.m. Indy Women in Jazz: Featuring Cathy Morris, Mary Moss and Monika Herzig 2 Frank Glover 3:15 Fourplay 5 Yellowjackets 6:45 Spyro Gyra 8:30 Roy Haynes "Birds of a Feather" Tribute to Charlie Parker featuring Nicholas Payton, Kenny Garrett, Christian McBride and Dave Kikoski Jazz Village Henri"s Bar 11:30 a.m. Dwight Edwards 1:30 p.m. Larry Calland"s Conga Jazz 3:30 Harry Miedema & Deep 6 5:30 Bill Lancton & Coalition 7:30 Free Market Society Jazz Village Missile Room 12:30 Beeblebrox 2:30 Max Allen & the Jam Band 4:30 Jack Gilfoy Quintet "Spirituals of Swing" 6:30 Paul Holdman Band 8:30 Indiana Avenue Revisited American Music Stage 12 p.m. Middletown & the Citizens Band 1:30 Peter Case 2:45 Norah Jones 4 Richard Thompson 5:45 Bruce Hornsby 7:30 Steve Earle 9:15 Aretha Franklin Sunday, June 16 Jazz Heritage Stage 12:15 p.m. Buselli/Wallerab Jazz Orchestra 1:30 Steve Allee Quartet 3 David Sanbor 5 David Benoit 6:45 Dianne Reeves Chuck Workman is the producer/host of the Sunday Morning Jazz Show at 107.9 WTPI.

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