Sweet Dillard

Here's the problem that we have in this group.

There are cliques in the band.

And it funny, cause you got the white guys over here, they got their thing; no, I'm serious.

It's a group of the white guys, they do their thing.

You got a group of the black guys, some of them they don't know what to do.

Alright, look at them laughing.

That's the "get it" band clique over there.

I said it last week and I say it again, that's a bunch of sibling rivalries that you all have going on here.

You don't have to like each other, but you're going to respect each other.

Ben, stand up man.

Stand up will help too.

Put the stand down.

Here we go.

One, two, a one two ah ah ah ah... [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] I don't want my kids leaving my program and saying, yeah I really learned how to play a mean saxophone.

If they can't leave the program saying that they learned about life, about relationships...

I think that's the biggest thing when you start dealing with race.

To learn more about each other.

No musicality.

I love the energy, I just hated your volume.

Here's the problem with what you just played, it covers everything we are doing.

Here we go again from the top.

That's why we're working on this tune.

It's our closer.

With the closer you bring nothing but smoke.

[Music plays] [Radio announcer] Ladies and gentlemen welcome to a very special broadcast here on 88.

9 FM WDNA community public radio.

And a very special broadcast indeed because of WDNA's jazz gallery is full of some wonderful young men and women that are part of the Dillard Center for the Arts Jazz Ensemble.

[Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] Class of 2014.

That's a special class to me, you know why?

-Why?

-Because of your son.

It's my last one that's in high school.

That's why.

It's my last year, I'm very excited to be here with all you people.

My thing this is to focus on having fun and becoming a better musician overall and spread some love around in this band room, that's very important to me.

Here's the deal, when it comes to your education, only one person is going to be responsible for you and that's you.

You have to make sure you are taking all the classes that you need to be taking so you can graduate from high school.

If you're in 9th grade, try to make all A's.

If you're in 10th grade, try to make all A's.

If you're in 11th grade, try to make all A's.

If you're a senior and you made all A's you're set.

You're set if you made all A's those three years.

When I got out of college and got my first teaching job, it was in Lexington, Mississippi, I taught for like one month, and I got into an altercation with a student and I said I will never teach again cause the students are out of their minds.

[Marching band music plays] [Marching band music plays] In high school I used to work with the tuba section, I used to work with the brass section, I used to work with trombone section.

The band director he was teaching me then how to be a teacher, and I didn't even realize it.

Because I only saw education through the black experience.

The way we look at things on our side is different, that's just how the world is, it's different.

[Marching band music plays] [Marching band music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] When I got a chance to look at education through a predominately white experience it changed for me.

I can take the thinking from here and the thinking from here and put it together.

Man, that's going to be a win-win situation for me.

[singing] [singing] Ah one, two.

Hit it!

You're in for not in two.

Hit the piano.

The only thing that is dada is your talking to your daddy.

Hi, dada.

It's not in this music, take it out.

Son, as big as you are and as big as your hands are you got to hit the piano.

Hit it, play it.

Thank you!

I guess the times when I do feel a little angry or frustrated I'll go to the piano or something.

If I didn't have the keyboard there what else would I take out the frustration on?

The first time I heard him sing, I couldn't handle it.

That was the first time that I actually experienced something from his dad that transferred to him.

It was like listening to his dad, and I couldn't handle it.

I went into the room and cried and cried and then I came back and said "OK sing it again".

[Music and singing] [Music and singing] When his father died that was my number one worry.

About him not having a father figure in his life.

About him not having a male role model to say you know I'm proud of you, you don't have to do this to be a man, and things of that nature.

[Music and singing] Right now music helps me stay out of trouble, and it keeps me busy.

And what I want it to be in the future is a way for me to make money, and take care of a family.

[Student rumblings in background.]

[Student rumblings in background.]

[Student rumblings in background.]

The whole purpose behind a tuxedo is you're supposed to have the same colored tux, coat and pants; and they're supposed to match.

You're supposed to wash yourself up before you get in a tuxedo.

Also, you're supposed to comb you hair.

Even if you're aren't in school you still have to comb you're hair.

This picture here is going to go all over the country; you want to look any kind of way?

[Music and cheering] [Music plays on stage] [Music plays on stage] [Music plays on stage] [Music plays on stage] [Music plays on stage] [Music plays on stage] [Music plays on stage] [Music plays on stage] [Music plays on stage] [Music plays on stage] [Music plays on stage] [Music plays on stage] [Music plays on stage] [applause] [applause] Heat's On.

Heat's On, that's the title of that piece, Heat's On.

[Music plays on stage] [Music plays on stage] [Music plays on stage] [Music and singing] [Music and singing] I've been in the church since day one.

It plays a main factor in my life.

My great-grandad is the pastor of my church.

Great grandmother is the co-pastor.

My auntie is the assistant pastor; it goes on and on.

But basically my family makes up the church.

The band is going to Chicago, to the Midwest International clinic; but I'm not going with the band, not this year.

I know that it hurts Mr. Dorsey because he loves to see his seniors in the class participating, showing the younger players what's up, and what they need to be doing.

I don't ever want my kids to feel like they can't do something.

I hate to discipline my kids even though they think I get enjoyment out of it, I really don't.

Musically he deserves, he's worked hard to get to that point, but academically, no, he does not.

Hey, playtime over.

Hey, you just hit me.

[Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] Yeah, alright.

Alright help me out here.

-What do you want me to do?

-Tempo.

-On this tune?

-Yeah.

You know what's happening, it's a hard tempo.

Ah, one, two, three... Mr. Dorsey has figured out that it's not about him; it's about the students.

[Music plays] [Music plays] That's rare that a band director can humble themselves so that the sound grows.

That's humility.

You know jazz is the Africanization of western music.

In order for us to find a groove we all got find our African roots.

All of us, to play this music.

And we all got them.

[Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] The soloist is telling a story, and you're really supporting them, and you're supposed to help them out.

And not be egotistical about it.

Sydney is really, really reserved.

1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4...

When she performs she performs like she's 35 years old.

Drumming seems so natural, no facial expressions, she just plays, and she plays it very very well.

[Music plays] [Music plays] Of course she gets upset when I call her a drummer, she's a percussionist.

But with what I grew up with she's a really good drummer.

[Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] There's Georgia, American Samoa, California, New York, Maryland and Pittsburg.

My dad he's in the military, he's a coronel in the army.

He does come home once a month, and it's different from your normal nuclear family.

Going to a school like Dillard you can be influenced quite easily, and so you have to have a goal.

My goal is music and education.

I want them to be balanced.

I want to be a good musician and a good student.

What sold me on Dillard was the actual visit.

My wife and me went up to Dillard, and I actually sat through one of Mr. Dorsey's classes.

His class ran like a military formation.

Allright, listen up.

When you're told to come over here, come over here.

Don't you leave and go anywhere else.

That's the first thing.

How many of you want to be like Mr. Dorsey?

OK.

It's not a dictatorship OK, and at one time my program was run like a dictatorship.

But now because the kids have been empowered, you know it's different.

And because they've been empowered I think I get more out of them.

[Music plays] [Music and singing] [Music and singing] [Music and singing] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] Good job, Dillard.

Awesome, man.

Thank you.

People want to find, they be looking for stuff to try to knock you off.

Everybody's trying to, they're like, yeah that swing you got these kids doing.

How are you doing that?

I have my kids listening to your stuff religiously.

And I'm like OK, but I have my kids listening to the jazz masters.

The performance you put on today it should inspire you to go home and practice, and I'm going to get these lines down.

And remember we want to be great, but we are also trying to uplift our members in our band too.

OK.

If something seems like it's difficult, help them.

And have each other's back.

Love each other, I'm serious, I'm telling you if you continue doing that you're going to feel it and hear it in your music.

You guys just put on a first-class show.

They know who Dillard is.

They know who you are.

And you put it to rest though today.

So I just want you to know I appreciate you.

You all did a great job, you really did.

So give yourselves a round of applause.

[applause] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] Yeah man, we got to work on that ending.

We got to work on that ending.

[Music plays] Anybody got some sizzle at the end back there?

Sizzle?

No?

Some of you guys got to be more aggressive.

Try to get up in the upper register.

Stop staying downstairs all the time.

You end with the G, go for the double C. I know you don't have it down, but you should go for that stuff.

Humming Go for that!

Go for it.

You got to do it here in class.

Range is built by trying to get it.

[Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] Deliver the bad news.

Mr. Dorsey sir, we had a communication failure with the hard drives, and so we have to take that take again please.

-OK, very good.

-Thank you sir.

Let's take it from the top.

Just on that first scoop.

Just on that first scoop we're not together.

I want, let me just hear the lead players.

Just from the top.

To be a leader in this band you have to try to understand Mr. Dorsey and not go against his ways.

But try to understand him, and usually Mr. Dorsey's right.

For the most part most of you guys, you do work.

You do work.

But in a group like this here you really don't want to have dead weight.

You ever heard that term, dead weight?

Dead weight is when you have people in your group but they're not putting 100 percent into it.

They're just there because, well you know I've been doing this for four years so you know I'm just trying to graduate.

Oh, I almost forget.

I got a call today at 10: 59.

We've been invited back to Ellington.

This is the fifth year in a row.

Hey man you should be in it to win it.

And just remember there are 14 other bands that are in it to win it.

You kinda have to go inside yourself, and think how can I make a name for myself.

What do I have to do so people can recognize me.

So me personally, I went home and I studied and I listened, practiced as hard as I could, took advice, and eventually I was awarded for that hard work; when I got my award at Ellington.

After last year, after we lost, it was like, oh man thism is it.

This is the last year for me and for the other seniors.

Gotta really really work.

I'm kinda anxious.

I mean I'm a junior now, and this maybe might be my last time going to Ellington if you don't make it next year.

I'm a little too nervous.

A lot of reasons, this is my first time, it's an overwhelming experience.

Everyone can't get there.

I definitely am really excited.

Though at the moment I'm a little bit more worried about immediate things, like I have a few essays due tomorrow, and schoolwork.

So.

Maybe that's a problem, actually.

[Group singing Happy Birthday to you] [Group singing Happy Birthday to you] The day that we found out this year that we were going back to Essentially Ellington was also the day of what would be my cousin Richie's 21st birthday.

When I was 12 my 16-year-old cousin was killed by a drunk driver, and I felt that I wanted a passion, I wanted something to continue where he left off, and that something became music.

And it was just around that time that music became a huge part of my life.

There are other people in the band who've lost relatives, and if someone's sad one day I don't know if they're going through that type of thing.

And that really just made me try to respect everyone and what they are going through.

Nobody's better than anybody.

With money, without money, with height, being short, fat, skinny, white, black, it doesn't matter, people are all the same.

I would say there's more expectation for consistency being the band director's son.

People expect you to be at the top of your game all the time.

[Music plays] [Music plays] What I'd actually love to do moving on from high school is going into engineering.

I want to be stable so I can create opportunities for other musicians to play.

I'd rather assist musicians than just worry about myself.

[Music plays] [Music plays] When I first told him, I was worried.

I thought he'd be disappointed, but he let me know that he was OK with my decision.

Music was just to teach us a lesson in hard work, and just to find another avenue for us to connect actually, as father and son.

He is very open to the idea, and he supports it completely.

[Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] OK this next tune is an Ellington favorite, this one's entitled Perdido.

[Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [applause] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] How are you doing this evening sir?

My name's Chris, nice to meet you.

I'm the upright bassist.

Yes.

I'm Ben.

Saxophone.

Oh, you're the one with the saxophone.

-We were enjoying you.

-Thank you.

Every single student on the stages appreciates every person that comes out, seriously.

Gratefully.

Are you enjoying the night?

-Excellent music.

-Thank you, thank you.

I'm not going to be playing the next tune so if you wouldn't mind accompanying me on the stage to dance.

I mean, I'm not the best dancer, but... [Music plays] [Music plays] [applause] This one doesn't have strings on it.

But this is the one I'm fixing up and I'm gonna use for college.

If I didn't find Mr. Dorsey's class, I don't know where I'd be.

I was a really bad kid, I was stealing cars and selling drugs.

It really changed my life for the better.

Just music itself, and Mr. Dorsey.

I've dealt with this with my mother and my whole family situation probably since I was like 6 or 7- years old.

My mother used to detail yachts for all the rich boat owners.

She slipped and she had a herniated disc in her back so they were prescribing her painkillers, and she got really addicted to them.

And then it just got worse and worse and worse.

Seeing my mom go from my mommy to, I guess just this other person really, it just tore me apart and I couldn't really stay there to watch it.

Well this is the shed, literally a woodshed, where I shed.

Well, explaining my situation, most of the time I really don't.

Those guys are so close to me that honestly it wasn't hard to explain to them.

They see that I'm not like that.

After high school, well I'm hoping, I actually just got back from New York, I went to Parsons, the New School for jazz and I just had an audition there.

I thought it went really well and hopefully that's the plan to go to New York.

You wanna know something funny about this actually?

This is supposed to be the trophy wall for me and my brother and sister, and I'm only person that has something.

How many of you understand the importance of music education in our public school system?

We can go home, Chris.

We got the wrong crowd, we can go home, they already know all of this.

These guys you're looking at have first prize in the United States of America two of the last three years.

[applause] These guys are serious.

Not having money, that's been a part of my life, so that's not a big deal.

You know, when you don't have money.

This seems to go along with the territory.

Always never enough money.

You've heard that one before, haven't you?

I'm not really supposed to be soliciting on school property, but that's why I carry it in a duffle bag.

MM's, Twix, Snickers, hot sausages, pickled eggs, Rice Crispys, Gummy Bears, basically every candy that you can name.

I'm raising the money for Ellington, $850.

Hot sausages, yeah, that sells the most at Dillard.

[Crowd noise] How's the year working out for you?

Pretty good, I can't complain.

What's your college prospects looking like right now?

That's it, I haven't really heard back from anyone.

Who were you hoping to hear back from?

Well, someone.

The band is everything for Kim.

Music for Kim is both a release and also a challenge.

He is a perfectionist, so sometimes he's really hard on himself, and doesn't allow himself to enjoy doing what he's doing.

But most of the time, yes, it's what he wants to do for the rest of his life.

I was diagnosed with high functioning Aspergers, and the way Mr. Dorsey addresses this is that pretty much everyone has some sort of problem mentally in some way and we all have to find a way to overcome it.

I know what my strengths are and I know what my weaknesses are.

Do you know yours?

Can you put your pride to the side?

Some of you guys can't put your pride to the side, that's the problem we have in our band.

Kim needs honesty from his teachers and Mr. Dorsey gives him that.

He feels really uncomfortable when people give him compliments because he doesn't always feel he deserves them.

But if Mr. Dorsey gives Kim a compliment then he believes it.

Basically when he's going off for the most part I just try to listen, because if he's going off he's definitely got a very good reason for it.

You don't need no sweets.

You got enough freaking energy.

You wait until afterwards to get your sweets, I'm serious.

Don't lose your mind in the rhythm section, don't you guys lose your mind just cause you're seniors.

Don't lose your mind.

I'll freaking cut the songs off right here on stage.

Do you hear what I'm saying?

I need clean playing from you guys, clean, clean playing.

I want this stuff played in tune, and I want precision.

Precision, do you hear me?

This one is entitled Oculpaca, and once again it's one of the Ellington pieces that looks like we're going to be playing in May.

So, take a listen.

Here we go.

One, two, ah, ah, ah ah.

[Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] Bass pitch is not right, man.

Zachary McKinney on drums.

[applause] Abeed Janjua on bass.

[applause] And then my main man Ulysses McClover on piano.

[applause] Without this, you don't need this.

Seriously, this is what happens to over 75 percent of high school jazz bands and middle school jazz bands.

They're so concerned with this, they forget all the work needs to be done over here too.

This is where the work has to be done, in the rhythm section.

That's the secret, OK?

Yes.

[applause] This is entitled Things to Come.

You know, I got the comment sheets back and do you know the comment sheets they said it's a bit slow.

I'm like, wow, what can I say?

Yeah.

Man!

One, two, one, two, ah, ah, ah, ah.

[Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [Music plays] [applause] Patrick Bartley.

Well from growing up in neighborhoods that I've grown up in I've always sort of seen, I've been on the inside looking out and the outside looking in, as to what has been going on right outside the school.

That influences what goes on inside the school, and I think this is the most important thing that can be done for a school like this.

And the fact that he's able to do that is incredible.

So, how do you feel about yesterday's performance?

I feel like when we played them yesterday we had that same kind of attitude that we didn't have to put as much focus into them because we already, at one point played them alright, and I think that's a big problem.

We have to always tune in and always listen.

and everything And make sure everything goes through the lead trumpet, and following his articulation.

I don't think everybody's listening.

It's like running it through a synthesizer.

And, you can actually get the rhythmic style right, and some of the dynamics.

But you can't really contour the individual notes, you can't get all individual attacks and all of that.

Sometimes, we weren't really listening.

Cause I know sometimes I wasn't really listening.

I think we have to find a way to make everything feel as good as the one or two that did feel good last night.

I give a simple instruction.

Don't go and eat the sweets.

Some of you guys wanted to act like pure asses about a darn cupcake.

Cupcake.

I can't stand no kid telling me about their rights.

Alright?

You can have all the rights you want in your world, in your momma's house, but when you step up in here, that's why there's only two rules up in here.

Rule number one.

Rule number two.

Ok and if you don't like it remember there are other high schools in Ft. Fauderdale, OK.

There are other schools here, you don't have to be here.

If I was running the band I would want to do that.

Like, I would take a break from the competition thing for a while.

But again we're talking about Mr. Dorsey, there's a lot of pressure.

There's a lot of pressure.

I feel that, I don't necessarily have the experience with that, but I understand how that can be very stressful.

OK, another thing, man, when you get up to do a solo, don't let the crowd see you sweat, Kim.

If you should falter, you're still going to have enough vocabulary to get through the solo.

But don't be acting out and getting all upset on stage.

We don't want to see that bullcrap.

That's why it's called what?

Jazz what, improvisation.

It's called improvisation.

So, improvise.

You got enough vocabulary to improvise some hip stuff.

Do that next time.

Gee!

[TV announcer] Patrick Bartley, 19 years old on alto saxophone.

Russell Hall, 18 on bass.

A lot of people have said jazz is freedom.

Other people say it's a sound of the black community.

To me it's the ultimate example of our potential as human beings.

That what jazz is to me.

Mr. Dorsey will always tell somebody off, but you know he always rallies at the last moment and gives you that big triumphant speech.

And it's funny because he just spent the entire year telling you- you're sorry, you're trifling, you don't swing, you can't read.

-Ask your mom.

-Go to your momma, ask her, momma why am I so trifling?

If there's anyplace we can do what they just did, it would be in this program.

Sometimes I have to step back and I have to ask myself questions.

Why am I doing this?

Am I doing this for accolades?

Am I doing this because I want to get the best I can out of the students.

So they see that if you try your best, and you do the best you can you may not always win.

But it's better than not trying your best.

Wednesday April 30th has been set aside just for you to share publically with us your college of choice.

We're so excited you made a decision to pursue higher education.

It is the key to your future.

So before we come up I want the class of 2014 to make some noise.

[Students cheering] My name is Kim Morton and I want to thank my parents for all the support they've given me, my teachers for understanding why I've been absent all the time doing auditions.

I'll be attending the University of Miami majoring in music performance.

Thank you.

My name is Zach Auslander and I'll be attending the Berklee College of Music.

I love you mom.

Hi, my name is Ben Stocker and I will be attending Michigan State University.

Go green.

FSU's FAMU College of Engineering to pursue my career as a mechanical engineer.

This is the one.

Hold on, turn around.

Jazz, baby, jazz.

We're going to keep this going.

I'm proud of you.

But I'll be even more proud if you bring me a number one home.

Bring number one home next week, bring number one.

Come on, guys, you can do it.

[Music plays] [Music plays] -What are we making here?

-Ramon noodles.

You got a lot of experience with those?

Yeah.

I don't want the disappointment of not even placing.

Like, I want to at least place, cause last year we didn't place.

And it didn't feel good.

And like especially for the guys that were there when they won, and to not even place at all.

I bet it feels even worse for them.

So that's probably why a lot more people, and especially the seniors are really focused.

What does music mean to you?

Oh man.

Music is what makes people feel good.

Music is what triggers a person's emotions.

Music is that Sunday morning when you go to church and like it's a church you've never been to before, but everybody welcome's you with open arms and stuff.

Yeah.

How are you guys enjoying being here so far?

Good.

You guys ready to go hear some bands?

yes!

All right, good.

[Music playing] [Music playing] It's nerve-racking a little bit, you know, listening to you know some of the better bands from yesterday.

And you know how much energy you know they put into it, and having to play on the first day, and we have to come out and perform at the same level and even at a higher level than they did.

Mr. Dorsey just said for the seniors this is our last performance ever, with Dillard.

Go out there and swing hard, and have fun doing it.

-So what you come to do?

-Swing!

-So what you come to do?

-Swing!

-So what you gonna to do?

-Swing!

OK, let's go do it.

[Announcer] From Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, the Dillard Center for the Arts Jazz Ensemble.

There you go.

[Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] -He's a big boy, huh?

-Yeah.

He's looking just like his daddy.

[Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] The most important thing to me has been keeping them occupied with something positive.

[Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] Even when you talk to the kids, or you go somewhere where they are and they're playing, and it's all about the music.

It's all about the music, and I think that's a good thing.

[Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] Look at those size 14 shoes going.

[Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] -Look at him.

Look at him.

-He is styling.

-He's styling.

-OK. [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [Music playing] [applause] Yes!

[applause] [applause]