ALL THAT AMERICAN JAZZ

It's as American as apple pie, hot dogs or the New York Yankees, yet somehow jazz continues to be perceived as a foreign art form.

"I asked a grade school class in Utah to tell me what they knew about jazz and someone said it was one of the teams that played basketball in the NBA," said Carol Comer, who is a Kansas City-based composer, teacher, writer, pianist and singer of jazz. "I just can't understand how something so indigenous to our culture could seem so foreign to so many people," said Comer, who was named Jazz Woman of the Year.

Comer recently conducted a jazz workshop at Southeast Missouri State. "That's one of the hippest campuses -- as far as jazz goes -- that I've been to in a while," she said.

Comer is an artist in residence in Missouri, Utah and Nevada. "I go to grade schools, high schools and colleges and conduct seminars and workshops to familiarize students with jazz," said Comer. "I love to show kids how much fun it can be by letting them play the color-coded xylophone. "It's interesting how youngsters seem uninhibited and willing to try new things. It seems the older we get the more conscious we are of how we look when we try new things."

Comer isn't likely to forget her visit to Southeast Missouri State and the Bootheel.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the all-district jazz concert put on by high school musicians from over 100 schools," she said. "There are some very talented high school jazz musicians in that area and in other parts of the state. I would bet my soul some of them will become professional musicians."

Interestingly enough, once musicians are exposed to jazz, they develop an appetite for more. According to Comer, however, getting that first taste is the key.

"My dad liked to listen to jazz, so that's how I picked it up," said Cape Girardeau Central High sophomore trumpet player Rob Giles. "It's a lot different than most types of music I've listened to and played," said Giles. "It's laid back. There's plenty of freedom to be as creative as you want."

Giles was one of the area musicians selected to participate in the all-district jazz concert. "I really enjoyed that all-district concert," said Giles. "I met an awesome saxophone player from Kansas City. I also met Mrs. Comer. I could tell she really loves jazz."

Central's Josh Miller, who plays the trombone, enjoys exploring the creative process through jazz. "I was first introduced to jazz three years ago and really liked it," said Miller, who is one of 20 Cape Central musicians who plays in the school's jazz band. Central will host a jazz festival April 15. "It's a great way to express the way you feel through music."

John Hearnes, who plays drums in Central's jazz band, became attracted to jazz upon realizing there were few rules to abide by. "You don't really read music off a page or anything," said Hearnes. "You have to pay attention to what everybody is playing and you just go from there. It's really a lot of fun."

Viewing jazz as a fun experience is the key, according to Comer. "The great thing about jazz is that it has so much to do with improvisation and freedom of expression," she said. "The thing that really bothers me, though, is that jazz is very popular around the world but not as much in the very place it was born. Schools stress creativity in all other art forms, but when it comes to music students are only permitted to note read."

Central band director Ron Nall indicated there are some talented jazz musicians who are able to perform in various festivals throughout the year. "There are some outstanding bands from here and other places in the state," he said. "We'll have our annual jazz festival April 15 and our jazz band just played during Pancake Day."

David Green, who is part of the Southeast Missouri State jazz trio called Faculty Three, believes improvisation is the very definition of jazz. "All jazz involves improvisation," said Green, who is a music instructor at Southeast. "In rock or rap, rhythm is the big thing. But in jazz its harmony and improvisation."

Now, if more people could just spend a few minutes with bossa and bop, ballads and blues. "Just to get them exposed to it and then let them decide where they want to go with it; that's my mission," said Comer. "If nothing else, I want people to know that jazz was born here with all the other things that make us proud to call ourselves American."