| Jazz is an affirmation of life, a musical manifestation of spirit. And yet without its children –the next generation – jazz is truly dead. For any art to pass from generation to generation, from ancestor to inheritor, it calls for a community of teachers, instructors, mentors... storytellers. Listening to the solo and ensemble work leaves little doubt that Khalil Shaheed and the students of the Oaktown Jazz Workshops are continuing a tradition passed from generation to generation, and from teacher to student. And, as the music passes from one set of hands into another, it takes on a new meaning, a new context, and a new foundation from which the next generations can continue to build upon.
Wayne Saroyan
Jazz Critic |
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