ARTS Friday, January 15, 1988 The Michigan Daily Heard Page 8 swings into By Alan Paul WEMU's winter Depot Town Jazz Series returns with a vengeance tomorrow night as J.C. Heard, De- troit drummer extraordinaire, pounds the skins with his 13 piece orches- tra. Heard, 70, has been swinging in bands both big and small for 50 years. In 1938 the Detroit native moved to New York to play behind piano great Teddy Wilson. Heard quickly rose to the top of the jazz world, recording with Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Bennie Goodman, Billie Holliday, and Lester Young, among many others. "For big bands Duke and Basie really stand out," the fast talking Heard said in an interview with the Daily last year. "They had the feel- ing and they had people in the band capable of bringing out what they wrote... and they knew how to bring out the individual. Duke didn't make everyone copy each other." Heard, who has played on over 1,500 albums and recently released his latest album, Some. of This, Some of That, continues to play mostly traditional big band jazz, a music he feels has ne due acclaim in Americ tinues to live on. "It (jazz) has never slowed down on accou roll and all that shit. died out...and never wi America's greatest art die out. But there's p They copy stuff quick the kids. It's just li hamburgers. They've1 ing with hamburgers,f pizza," Heard said with "You know -make a 1 Though he felt u here, Heard did find a his talents were more r 1953, after an all-sta Japan received an entht tion including a ticker Heard made Japan and home for five years, t sively and appearing in "When I said I was everyone thought I w tried to talk me into r them," Heard recalle Japanese gave me a c blank line and told me amount. They had hug us; they appreciated everyone 'go back to Depot ver gotten its staying here."' a. Yet it con- Eventually however, Hea the lure of home and returned died out, just Japanese wife and son to the] nt of rock and area. His hatred for rock mu But it never hiS belief that Americanst J1 because it's have the patience necessary1 form. It can't preciating jazz remains stro olitics today. clearly leaves a bad taste and sell it to mouth. ke fast food "You have to understandj got a war go- it's more like classical1 fried chicken, You've got to listen to it. I ia deep laugh. said a jazz musician can pla buck fast." but a rock musician can't ph nappreciated not unless (they've) had som home where ing. See, (in) jazz you have ecognized. In an imagination, feeling, a r jazz tour of Rock you don't need all that,' usiastic recep- said. -tape parade, "Everything's been done1 the Orient his Things like backbeats and ouring exten- beats that guys are doing three films. drums. That's all they cal goig to stay, Well, that stuff's been done eturning with playing that shit when I was a d. "Well, the Suzanne Lane, winner oft ontract with a cal category of WEMU's 198 e to fill in the Competition, will open the si e billboards of Heard tomorrow with her us. So I told singing. Lane is from Muskeg Harlem, I'm currently lives in Ann Arbor. Town The 1988 Depot Town Winter ard felt Jazz Series begins at 7 p.m. tomor- I with a row night with vocalist SUZANNE Det-oit LANE AND TRIO. J.C. HEARD sic and AND HIS ORCHESTRA take the do not stage at 8 p.m. for a concert set and for ap- two dance sets. The atmosphere is ng and mellow, the people friendly, the food in his cheap, and the music swinging. Call WEMU at 487-2229 for directions, jazz - or more information. music.- 4 Join. the Daily Arts Page Call: 763-0379 4 Detroiter J.C. Heard and his Orchestra will kick-off WEMU's winter Depot Town Jazz Series tonight for one concert set and two dance sets. AnnaArbor's own Suzanne Lane will open with her heart-felt jazz vocals. ..' The Alley Door is open to new alternatives By Beth Fertig To most students, the cramped, cluttered alley between the State Theater and Jason's is known as the easiest shortcut from State Street to the Modern Languages Building. Within a few weeks it might be bet- ter known as the site of Ann Arbor's newest club. The Alley Door opened last weekend and occupies what was for- merly Escoffier's interiors. It doesn't serve alcohol, but it does carry just about every type of juice and carbon- ated beverage you can imagine, as well as alcohol-free malt liquors, popcorn, and nachos. The Alley Door is also open all night - an impor- tant attribute in the Pan Tree-Free after hours. The club is owned by Mark His- elman, a graduate of the University Engineering school who also owns the clothing store at the front of the building. Its manager and promoter, Archie O'Connor, is an enterprising 1985 graduate of Community High School. "We're trying to make a place where people who live in the com- munity can go," explains Hiselman. "To create an Ann Arbor scene, kind of like an artistic brain-trust so we can possibly emanate from this area new things... film, poetry readings... Where people can go, unwind, and dance for a little while after the bars close. We want to concentrate on lo- cal talent, too." The Alley Door may succeed on its schedule alone, as it's open from 11:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Its calendar spot- lights film and video nights, cultural music specials, and dance nights. Local bands will be showcased on Fridays and Saturdays. "Rather than go to Denny's or Grandma Lee's and eat their grand slam breakfast, (patrons) can see artists," O'Connor explains, outlin- ing the void he hopes to fill. "This is a place for students, artists, the town in general. There won't be pressure from the bar scene either 'cause we're non-alcoholic." O'Connor might be young, but he says his experience with the local music scene has given him valuable insights for promoting a new club. Like Hiselman, he's enthusiastic about the Alley Door's prospects. With his lanky build and long curly hair, he resembles a healthy Peter Buck. He paces, nervously, aware of the difficulties of opening a new business in the Ann Arbor of today. "All my close friends, my brother - have been in bands," he says, de- tailing his background. "I've been surrounded by music. I've arranged shows for people, whether a club or party. This is just a stepping stone for me to start my own production company some day." Word spread quickly last weekend about the Alley Door's opening night, and on Friday the place was packed to its 190-capacity, forcing the management to turn people away at the door. The next night things were considerably calmer; in fact the place was barely filled as the Eels took the stage. But then again, this is only the beginning in an industry that has its share of peaks and val- leys. From State Street it's hard to get an idea of how big the club is - that is, until you walk into the alley and begin to pick up the sounds of a band. Its interior is larger than the Halfway Inn, but smaller than the Pig. Escoffier's lattices remain intact just over the steps, along with the circular structure where a cork tree once grew. The sound system is still in the works, and band members are not elevated on any sort of stage but are free to mingle within the "audience" realm. Candle-lit tables are off on the sides and up the steps in back and provide for a cozy set- ting. The Alley Door has been closed all week to finish its renovations, but its regular schedule starts this weekend. The Groove Biscuits and Flashback will play tonight and to- morrow, respectively; Monday will feature films and videos by local artists; and cultural music, dance night, and open mikes will follow in the weekly schedule. I a ll 4 4 .3 5iu 9 1A i I I p , r a ".+ a.' .. . .. - 4 I PMUNIN.- L [UXX X XXXXL V XXXXXXX-XI7q PAn. /Amn. a. -1.1 ....... .............. "00 ' * MICHIGRAS W Hud a -~ 1~~J 15 COUPON $1.50 OFD{ \dult lening 1TICKET. Good thru1121188' COUPON Doily Photo by JOHN MUNSON new club The Alley Door, artists, and the town in BRING IN THIS AD FOR A GREAT MOVIE DEAL! (ONE TICKET PER COUPON) Archie O'Connor, manager of Ann Arbor's hopes to create a place "for students, general" to relax after hours. Immediate Occupancy For Winter Term All apartments located on central campus Flexable Terms Maximum Space for Minimum Price Lots of Parking 721 S. Forest, Ann Arbor We Pay Heat 1700 Geddes, Ann Arbor (313) 761-152 1215 Hill, Ann Arbor 543 Church Stree1 and others... Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Barbra Streisand Richard Dreyfuss NUTS(R) I'VE HEARD THE MERMAIDS SINGING UIP n 1 .,-- MAURICE I / I V I "U . 19 700000000000000000000000-AX FU Mass Meeting / [ )o0 .--- Mon. Jan. 18 7pm IThe University of Michigan SCHOOL OF MUSIC 71 4: uweo0dc c7 14r Sat., Jan. 16 Chamber Music Concert featuring Robert Bloom (oboist of NBC Symphony under Toscanini), conductor, and University Wind Ensemble Telemann: Concerto for flute, oboe, Our three-year and two-year scholarships won't make college easier. i I