ARTS The Michigan Daily Monday, March 20, 1989 Page 10 A BY JILL PISONI THERE are jazz classics from the Big Band era whose popularity will never fade. Yet jazz is con- tinuously changing. It is becom- ing more and more eclectic, bor- rowing from African, Indian, South American, and European classical ethnic cultures, to name just a few. Jazz is also experi- menting with different approaches to improvisation and composi- tion, emphasizing individual cre- ,tivity. This week, Ann Arbor has a chance to see both the new and the old jazz styles in action. The University Jazz Ensembles, big and small bands from the south- east Michigan area, and students and professionals are pooling their energies to entertain Ann Arbor with hours and hours of jazz al- most every night of the week. Unfortunately, we're catching Jazz Week at the half-way point. The effort started Friday night at the U-Club with sets from three of the University's six five-piece ensembles. The groups played many of their originals along with standards from the Univer- sity jazz repertoire. This opening taste of jazz was followed by a 24-hour Jazzathon in South Quad. And the effort continues this week. What's going on? Why are so many jazz artists coordinating their time and skills with such an out-and-out effort? The University North Coast Jazz Ensemble, a 20-piece band, has been asked to play this sum- mer at the most prestigious inter- national Jazz Festival in the world - the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. The gathering of Jazz artists this week is a celebration - and also an appeal for funds. Although the performances this week are free, the coordinators are asking for donations to help the Jazz Ensemble get to Switzerland. The band needs $30,000 in or- der to make the trip. So far, they Jazz or bust Stupidity, history An ingenious mix : The University North Coast Jazz Ensemble needs $30.000 - or else JESSICA GREENE/Doily Andrew Dahlke of the University North Coast Jazz Ensemble performs a sax solo in Saturday night's 24- hour Jazzathon at South Quad, one of the events of Jazz Week. have raised all but $12,000. Their deadline is April 1. If they don't have sufficient funds by then, they'll have to cancel. Cancel a performance at the most presti- gious Jazz Festival in the world?! They'll have no other choice. Montreux, for the University's North Coast Jazz Ensemble, means performing among the top jazz artists of the world. The University's Ensemble faced fierce competition - only a handful of university bands are chosen each year. They were invited by a Montreux representative who heard them play last spring in the annual Jazz Festival hosted by Notre Dame. This was quite an honor since this is only the sec- ond year of a full Jazz Studies program at the University. The University's Director of Jazz Studies, Ed Surath, believes that "it is significant for Ameri- can jazz groups to perform in Eu- rope, especially at the university level." It is ironic that while jazz is America's unique contribution to world culture, there is a higher appreciation for jazz in Europe than in the U.S. Professor Surath has first hand experience with this - he per- formed at Montreux last year as a professional artist with Frank Gambale, a top, up-and-coming guitarist who plays with the Chick Corea Band. With this background, Surath knows it would be "valuable for our students to experience that level of appreciation from Euro- pean audiences." Apparently, shown through their support and efforts to make the trip possible, jazz artists throughout the south- east Michigan area agree. And so Jazz Week continues. Tuesday night at the Bird of Par- adise catch local professionals such as James Dapogny and Ed Surath playing it up in what Surath refers to as a "fund raising reception." Wednesday night at Rackham Auditorium is an evening with Ed Surath and friends. Two of Surath's ensembles will play their sets. One is known as the Faculty Improvisational Ensemble, but they're in the midst of changing names. The other, the Ed Surath Ensemble. is a six-piece group. The week culminates Thursday night ith the University's North Coast Ensemble playing some of what they would like to perform at Montreux this summer. The set will cons.st of a mixture of Big See Jazz, Page 12 BY DAVID LUBLINER First there were Crosby and Hope, then came Redford and Newman, and now arrives the latest in great cinematic duos: Bill and Ted. This sur- prisingly humorous comedy, sort of a cross between Back to the Future and Fast Times at Ridgemont High, sends our new heroic stars back in time, all for the purpose of helping them pass a history exam. Bill and Ted's class assignment is to discuss how a famous historical f- gure might react to life in present day San Dimas, California. What's a beC- ter way than to actually go back in time, nab someone like Abraham Lin- coln, and bring him back to 1989? This is all done by way of a phone booth, the time machine used in this ridiculous, albeit amusing, adventure. Alex Winter (The Lost Boys) is Bill S. Preston, Esq., your "average", American high school student who thinks that Julius Caesar is a "salad dres- sing dude." His good friend Ted "Theodore" Logan, played by Keanu Reeves (River's Edge, Dangerous Liaisons) rivals Bill's stupidity. He believes that Joan of Arc was Noah's wife. (But hey, can't you see the potential confusion there?) George Carlin costars as Rufus, an unexplained character from the future, who educates our fine young men on the advantages of time travel. Un- fortunately, Carlin's part is rather unnecessary, and his comic talent is put to waste here. One warning should be made before seeing the film: If you couldn't stand to listen to the voice of Jeff Spiccoli in Fast Times, then stay clear of these hip California guys. Try these samplings: Bill: Strange things are afoot tonight at the Circle K. Ted: But hey dude, it has been a most triumphant and unprecedented day. Bill: Party on, Dude. Bill and Ted (together): Excellent. Winter and Reeves are extremely convincing, however, in their portrayals of these insanely dumb kids. No one plays stupid better than these guys. Their performances are so believable that it's easy to take their idiosyncracis for granted. After a while, Bill and Ted become just two normal high school seniors who want to graduate and form their own rock band. As long as you are willing to suspend all rational thought, this movie can be a lot of fun. Travelling through time they bring back such notables'as Napoleon, Joan of Arc, Socrates, Billy the Kid, Sigmund Freud, Beethoven, and Genghis Khan, and then mistakingly let them run rampant in a crowded mall. The results are hilarious. Napoleon ends up at Waterloop, the local water-ride park, sliding around with eight-year-old kids in his underwear and red Speedo bathing cap. And Genghis Khan goes berserk with a couple of baseball bats in a sporting goods store. This is silly stuff, but it works. Much of the fun of this film comes the fact that it doesn't fall into the trap of taking itself too seriously. It never loses its sense of sarcasm, even while delivering a small, innocent message. The heroes live their lives by one simple motto: "Be excellent to each other." And for all their stupidity it's still good advice. Although it's doubtful that Bill and Ted will match their esteemed pre- decessors in making an impact on cinematic history, their appeal does last for at least as long as this adventure. Excellent may be an exaggeration, but an enjoyable one nevertheless. Mehta, Israeli Players vary styles, quality BY TONY SILBER ZUBIN Mehta and the Israel Phil- harmonic displayed their virtuosic range at a standing-room only Hill Auditorium last Tuesday night. Playing selections by Johannes Brahms, Arnold Schoenberg, and Is- raeli Mark Kopytman, the orchestra mixed styles and performance quali- ties in their first visit to Ann Arbor since 1976. The concert began with Schoen- berg's Verklarte Nacht, a piece writ- ten for a string orchestra. Mdhta and the ensemble-seemed rushed through this selection and generally unen- thused. The piece was not as rich sounding as it could have been andl aside from the three principle violinists, the players seemed to be running through it with a play-by- the numbers lack of intensity. I Memories by Kopytman wad next. This called for a full orchestra of 125 and the services of contralto Gila Bashari who has also performed See Mehta, Page 11 Apply within. The University of Michigan SCHOOL OF MUSIC :.. Monday Michigan Youth Organizations- March 20 Michigan Youth Band, conducted by Donald Schleicher; Michigan Youth Symphony, conducted by Louis Bergonzi Britten, A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Dello Joio, Scenes From The Louvre Hill, 7:30 p.m. FREE For up-to-date information on School of Music Events, call the 24-Hour Music Hotline: 763-4726 We haven't come close to realizing the complete potential here. Which is why we need the most talented MacintoshTM programmers to bring their vision, imagination and experience to Apple. 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MP, 20525 Mariani Ave., MS 39-A, Cupertino, CA 95014. Apple Computer has a corporate commitment to the principle of diversity. In that spirit, we welcome applications from all individuals including women, minorities and disabled individuals. ©1989 Apple Computer, Inc. Apple, the Apple logo and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple computer, Inc. FREE TUTORING available in all lower level Math, Science, and Engineering Courses Rm. 307 East Lounge UGLi Mon,Wed,Thur 7-11 pm BURSLEY Mon,Wed SOUTH QUAD 8-10 pm R.1A m ninn ?1I7 lPRnnmt ?ufrwiWer .lJ1g1 xv~A lll AA lYVllA, Y.. P .0-1v iaJ