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Jazz Studies
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Its Genesis and Evolution
The 1950s
A number of large and small ensembles enjoyed some degree of
prominence but there was no official relationship between these
groups and the university. However, the personnel of these groups
often consisted predominantly of I.U. students. Some of the
bandleaders were Wayne Luby, Fred Dale, Ed Yates, Al Cobine, and
David Baker. The bands functioned largely as dance bands, who filled
the musical needs of fraternities, sororities, university functions
(proms, military balls, etc).
Through these years there was a vibrant and thriving jam session
scene at fraternity houses, music school practice rooms (much to the
dismay of the music administration), Trees Center, and virtually
anyplace else with a functional piano. These sessions included such
student alumni as saxophonists Jerry Coker, Al Cobine, David Niver,
Paul Plummer, John Pierce, Fred Fox, John Hardy, Dave Young, George
Bright, Jim Houston, Roger Pemberton, Bob Cowart, and Rich Henry;
trumpet players Al Kiger, Jerry Tyree, Dominic Spera, Lee Katzman,
David Hardiman, Dick Washburn, Verne Kressler, and Fred Dale;
trombonists Buddy Baker, Bill Hanna, Tillman Buggs, Tom Ringo, Jim
Hewitt, David Baker, and Morgan O'Dell; pianists Jack Coker, Roger
Dickerson, Donald Pickett, Jack Wilson, Al Plank, Lanny Hartley, and
Morris Hubbard; bassists Larry Ridley, Bill Takas, Ray Luby, Max
Hartstein, Bernie Holley; drummers Joe Hunt. Visiting players
included Cannonball and Nat Adderley, Leroy Vinnegar, Wes
Montgomery, Benny Barth, Harold Jones, Andy Simpkins, Les Spann, Lou
Ciotti, Ed Haley, Virgil Jones, and Freddie Hubbard.
In 1953 the Fred Dale Band consisting of a majority of I.U. students
entered a Metronome magazine Collegiate Jazz Band Contest. This was
among the first of such contests and was adjudicated by tapes. The
band included Al Kiger, Jerry Coker, Al Cobine, Buddy Baker, and
David Baker. The band was a co-winner of this national contest along
with the band from UCLA. The prize was a monetary award and a
recording for a small label.
Further attention on the national level regarding jazz came to I.U.
as a result of a highly acclaimed album on Fantasy Records by
then-student Jerry Coker. It was called Modern Music from Indiana
University and was released in 1955. It included other students Bob
Cowart (tenor sax), Fred Fox and Roger Pemberton (baritone sax), Al
Kiger (trumpet), and Jim Hewitt (trombone).
In 1959 a jazz band comprised of I.U. students and musicians from
Indianapolis and Richmond, Indiana headed by David Baker and
representing Indiana University was named Best Band at the first
Notre Dame Jazz Festival.
The 1960s
# 1959-1960. In 1960 jazz ensembles were set up on a minor ensemble
basis and Edwin "Buddy" Baker, an experienced jazz musician and
splendid trombone player, was appointed to head an incipient jazz
program.
# 1960. The new jazz ensemble was given a new academic status in
that the jazz ensembles were added to the School of Music curriculum
for credit and courses in stylistic analysis and arranging for the
jazz medium were offered.
# 1961-1962. Roger Max Pemberton was appointed as Lecturer in Music.
He was assigned to direct one of the organized jazz bands and to
teach arranging.
# 1964-1965. Jerry Coker, a graduate assistant, replaced Buddy
Baker, who relocated to the University of Northern Colorado. At the
same time, Roger Pemberton resigned and moved to New York City.
# 1965-1966. Jerry Coker was appointed part-time Lecturer in Music.
Tom Wirtel, a graduate student, led a second ensemble.
# 1966-1967. Jerry Coker left to teach at the University of Miami at
Coral Gables, Florida. David Baker was hired as Instructor in Music
and chair of the jazz program, with instructions to design and
institute a degree-granting program in jazz studies.
# 1968-1969. The baccalaureate in Jazz Studies was approved and jazz
band became a major ensemble.
The 1970s to present
# 1970-1974. The degree program flourished and two more bands were
added, bringing the number to four bands. Classes in jazz history,
black music, jazz improvisation, jazz styles and analysis, and small
group jazz rounded out the curriculum. The classes were all taught
by a single teacher, David Baker, with the aid of four teaching
assistants.
# August 1975. Dr. George Ross, saxophonist and Ph.D. from the
Eastman School of Music, was hired at the rank of Assistant
Professor of Music.
# August 1977. Dominic Spera (trumpet) replaced George Ross and was
hired at the rank of Associate Professor of Music. Mr. Spera came to
Indiana University from the University at Wisconsin Eau Claire,
where he had headed a successful program. He was later promoted to
the rank of Professor of Music and retired in 1997 with the rank of
Professor Emeritus.
# 1979. The Masters Degree program in Jazz Studies was approved.
# 1992. Michael Lucas (piano) was transferred from the Modern Dance
program in the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation
to a part-time role in the jazz department, teaching jazz piano
class. In January 2000 he became full-time faculty in the jazz
department.
# January 1997. Dr. Luke Gillespie (piano) was hired on a split
appointment in General Studies and Jazz Studies.
# August 1997. Patrick Harbison (trumpet) was hired at the rank of
Associate Professor. He came to Indiana University from the faculty
of the University of Cincinnati-Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.
# August 1997. Dr. Thomas Walsh (saxophone) was hired at the rank of
Assistant Professor to teach the jazz saxophone majors and the
classical overload.
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