ARTS Thursday, February 7, 1991 The Michigan Daily Page 5 The newest kid on the sax 'You know you shoul( by Andrew J. Cahn Among jazz performers, fans, and critics, there has been much debate over whether today's jazz artists are innovative or retrospective. Some y that the inventiveness of this art worm ended somewhere in the mid- '70s with the arrival of Weather Re- port, but is this a fair assessment of the music released within the last 15 years? What about the new young performers like Roy Hargrove, Ther- ence Blanchard, and the Marsali? Of course, their works must have some sources, but this does not imply that what they do is directly copied from RAiles, Diz, or Bird. According to saxophonist Chris- topher Hollyday, who is barely old enough to stroll through the sacred gates of Rick's, today's jazz artists are looking both forward and backward. "It would be impossible to- try to recreate the great classic recordings," he says, "because I am not them, and have not been through 4he same experiences." V This attitude comes through on his first major-label release, Christopher Hollyday, which relied heavily on covers. Of course, Char- lie Parker was not present at the recording to recreate his performance on "Koko," nor does Hollyday at- tempt to claim, "If Bird was still alive, he would play this song this way." Instead, Hollyday combines .what he knows about playing with what he has been through and ap- plies this mixture to the standards. This still, however, does not answer the'question about innovation. Even his original material, like "No Second Quarter" and "Lady Street" from his latest releaser On Course, shows obvious signs of his appreciation of circa-1950s be-bop. Although Hollyday does look to the past, it is not possible for any music to entirely lack originality, for, as he says, "Music is a true art form which represents a person's inner- most thoughts and details." Even though the music is retrospective, as long as new people are playing it, Hollyday says that "there hasn't been much innovation since the later Miles recordings" in the mid-'70s, at least in terms of a new form of mu- sic. After this period, electric artists like Spyro Gyra gained much popu- larity, while the appeal of acoustic jazz diminished. Many artists, such as Chick Corea, were able to make the transition smoothly. Others were not as lucky, and many more had no desire to do so. Fortunately for these artists, acoustic jazz is now making a comeback. "Neither electric or acoustic jazz is better than the other," Hollyday says, "for each kind is going for different sounds. I like the sound I get from my alto, and I am always working ...on it." Like- wise, other artists are using electron- ics to form sounds which could not possibly be made by horns or strings. The new acoustic jazz, according to Hollyday, "could never have hap- pened without the stagnant '70s." He says it is unlikely that anyone will come around some day with a "new harmonic sense" of how to play. "The next kind of music willhave to do with total improvisation," he continues, which is basically what he and his associates are working toward. By bringing back the ideals of be-bop regarding form and struc- ture, artists like Hollyday can then build on the concept of improvisa- tion. CHRISTOPHER HOLLYDAY will be performing in the lobby of the Michigan Theater today at 5:01 p.m. Admission is free. by Beth Colquitt w hat better Valentine could a theater group offer the public than a sweet, lighthearted, boy-meets- girl musical? The Ann Arbor' Civic Theater is resurrecting Jerry Bock's and Sheldon Harnick's She Loves Me for the next two weekends, a simple and sweet evening of small-scale musical comedy for a Valentine's Day treat. Harnick is a noted lyricist, best known for Fiddler on the Roof and also responsible for 1989's colorful and fantastic Dragons, which premiered at Ann Arbor's Power Center. She Loves Me opened for the first time on Broadway in 1963 and closed only 300 performances later, largely due to the overshad- owing glitz of Hello, Dolly! Since its closing, the musical has developed a cult following with smaller theater groups, as well as popularity among the musical theater set. According to director Mary Anne Nemeth, She Loves M e is "full of wonderful songs.... They're showy songs I be glad' with good characterizations." The story is simple. Two par- fumerie employees, Amalia and George (Tracy Plester and Patrick Beller, respectively), have been falling for each other in anonymity for some time, al- though their face-to-face interac- tions are rather abrasive. Their re- lationship forms the main love story, which is complicated by other tangled and misinterpreted relations among their fellow em- ployees. "There's no heavy drama See LOVE, Page 7 w # w as ++ t Hollyday some variation must develop as a re- sult. "Oh, George, je t'aime, mon petit chou!" "Oh, Amalia, veux-tu coucher avec moi ce soir?" "Mais, oui, mon chere! Baisons maintenant!" I.° Mr. Ectemy doctors songs to fit their own illness 4: by Jeff Sheran The term "progressive cover band" is one of those oxymorons, like] "military intelligence" or "jumbo] shrimp." After all, how can a bunchi of guys playing other people's mu-'I sic actually present anything pro- gressive? Mr. Ectemy answers that ques- tion more forcefully than any otherI area band. The four University stu- dents, who vary from business to art majors, hammer out a performance; that is as equally diverse as the band members themselves. Not even on a free-form radio sta- tion can one hear the likes of Faith No More, Urban Dance Squad, Prince, the Cult, and Barry Manilow in one sitting. Mr. Ectemy's diverse play-list seems to reflect the trend in contemporary music toward combin- ing every conceivable genre. But devising a catchy play-list is the easy part - this band makes it work. Because each member belongs to his own original band, their fu- sion allows for unique interpreta- See SURGERY, Page 7 Wonder what MSA Really does?. Do you think they are wasting your money or blowing a lot of hot air? Come find out what it is really all about. MSA Mass Meeting MSA Chambers 3rd floor of Union Take the Time to Say Thank You!!! Submit Your Nominations for The University of Michigan Twelfth Annual Student Recognition Awards 1991 To honor outstanding student contributions through cocurricular activities Nomination forms available at: Student Organization Development Center, 2202 Michigan Union Campus Information Centers, Michigan Union and North Campus Commons Michigan League, Administrative Office Comprehensive Studies Program, 1018 Angell Hall Nominations are due on Wednesday, March 6, 1991 For further details, please call 763-5900 III fl Burnham Associates 543 Church Street (313) 761-1523 1001 S. FOREST 848 TAPPAN 5 CHURCH ST 610 S. FOREST 905,CHURCH ST 2506 GEDDES 515 WALNUT CLOSE TO CAMPUS WE PAY HEAT ! SECURITY BLDGS LAUNDRY FACILITIES ALSO: FURNISHED PARKINTG ON-SITE MANAGEMENT OPEN DAILY 8:30-5:30 SATURDAY 11:00-3:00 This Sunday February 10: Free Pizza 7 .:J'J-t.L "A SUPERBLY CRAFTED THRILLER... JULIAN SANDS AS THE WARLOCK IS PURE EVIL." -Vernon Scott, UPI 1 1,2, 3, BEDROOM APARTMENTS CALL OR COME SEE US TODAY! Become a Daily Photographer! Get into major U-M events for free. Stand on the sidelines at U-M football games! Meet "The Dude" "A FANTASY THRILLER... WORTH SEEING."-Daily Variety "...A FASCINATING HORROR ADVENTURE WHOSE THRILLS SPAN THE CENTURIES."-Fangoria Trailblazers and Troubadours: 40 Years of Modern Dance kd He's come from the past to destroy the future. Satan also has one son. TRIMARK PICTURES"' ARNOLD KOPELSON , STEVE MINER LW JULIAN SANDS, LORI SINGER, RICHARD E. GRANT "WARLOCK" F-usCARLFIULERTON&NEALMARTZ