“Everyone up here has a unique story,” began Jerome Jennings, a jazz drummer, teacher and teen mentor. He motioned to the three other guests standing beside him and introduced Yoyoi Ikawa at the piano, Endea Owens on bass guitar and lead vocalist Milton Suggs. “Each has their own way of how they came into this artistry, so you can ask anything of us.”
With that, he and the band delved into a rendition of “Cherokee,” an upbeat jazz tune.
In the true spirit of jazz, this group of performers came together on this day to form a makeshift band. They joined Class 11’s American Experience course, an interdisciplinary class in English, History and Arts, to enhance their current studies of jazz and blues and highlight the music’s rich history.
When the song ended, Mr. Jennings asked, “How many people know who Eleanora Fagan is?” and a hush fell over the room. “No? What about Billie Holiday?”
Many students confirmed they knew the famous “Strange Fruit” singer and Mr. Jennings said, “Well, now you know what her real name is!” He also noted that Billie Holiday hails from Baltimore, Maryland, and was a powerful influence in the world of jazz and beyond.
“The older I get, the more this song resonates with me,” he said before the band began a version of her thought-provoking ballad “God Bless the Child.”
“The blues started in the deep South of the United States,” Mr. Jennings remarked when the music ceased. “And it is the building block of much of the music you hear today. Who knows some famous blues artists?”
The 11th graders offered suggestions including Tracy Chapman, B.B. King, and Bessie Smith. Mr. Jennings noted that rapper Kanye West could be considered an example of a current artist who uses jazz influence in his music.
The band played one more cover song titled, “Goin’ to Chicago,” before taking questions from the students. The first one asked, “How did you all get into jazz?”
“When I was 15, I was an exchange student in Portland, Oregon. I’m from Japan,” Ms. Ikawa shared, noting that she knew how to play the piano but had never heard jazz music. “I couldn’t speak English, but I could converse through music.”
Ms. Owens explained that her high school band needed a jazz bassist, so she decided to give it a try. She continued to teach herself how to play throughout college. “I came from a musical family,” added Mr. Suggs. “My grandpa sang around in Chicago and my father was a jazz bassist. I was always aware of the music, but I became serious right after college.”
Mr. Jennings explained that he has always been immersed in the music. “My mom gave me a blues record when I was young, and my teachers helped propel me into it. I’ve had so many mentors who believed in me.”
“Improv is a key component of jazz,” Mr. Jennings said in response to a student who asked how much improvisation was in their performance. “Musicians are always trying to flavor up and keep things interesting.”
“It’s a conversation, we influence each other in the moment,” Ms. Owens added. To demonstrate, Ms. Ikawa began to play seemingly random black keys on the piano and Ms. Owens and Mr. Jennings joined in to create a soulful impromptu melody.
A third student asked if the guests could talk about the musical scales used in jazz, to which they responded: None! “We use what are called ‘molds,’” Ms. Owens explained. “There is a blues scale though, and you can hear that sound in most jazz songs.” (On cue, Ms. Iwaka played an example of a high-octave blues scale.)
History teacher Jonathan Ruelens asked the band members where students should start if they wished to learn more about jazz music.
“It’s all about what sound, instrument or tone you like. There are so many options out there,” said Mr. Suggs. “A personal favorite of mine is ‘Concert by the Sea’ by Earl Garner.”
Mr. Jennings stressed that there are myriad ways to become invested in music, and not to be discouraged if you listen to one song you don’t like. “It’s like a sphere,” he stated. “You can’t name the starting point.”
The musicians also touched on the way jazz can stylistically change over time. “Jazz is always evolving,” said Mr. Jennings, explaining that it often depends on what’s happening culturally. For example, Miles Davis brought electronic music into jazz in the 1980s – when the computer was gaining popularity.
Before parting ways, the group shared locations where students of all ages could hear live jazz music. “I love being here with y’all,” Mr. Jennings concluded. “Remember, New York City is one of the meccas of music!”
