Honoring a Jazz Legend
by Jessica Levine '98

Hartt Dean Malcolm Morrison

Since 1970, when The Hartt School appointed the great alto saxophonist Jackie McLean as a teaching associate in Afro-American music, jazz has become a dynamic, palpable presence at the University of Hartford. In 1980, the department of African-American music was founded with McLean as its director. The program accepted its first class of 10 students in the 1981-82 academic year. Today, under McLean's leadership, the department continues to thrive, with approximately 12 students entering each year.

In full tribute to his remarkable achievement, The Hartt School has renamed the department as The Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz. Dean Malcolm Morrison announced the new name on Nov. 17 at the Hartt Gala celebrating the 30th anniversary of McLean's involvement with the University. The evening was filled with music that encompassed all of Hartt's jazz history, from Sue Terry, Hartt's first jazz graduate, to the School's current students.

Gil Noble

The dinner began with a surprise appearance by Gil Noble, host of ABC-TV's "Like It Is," who is a lifelong friend of McLean's. Noble recalled their childhood days, growing up on the streets of Harlem, playing stickball and causing trouble. Later, after hearing jazz saxophone, Jackie began to disappear from the streets, he said. When Noble went to McLean's apartment to look for him, he found him practicing jazz by listening to a recording and playing it over and over until he had perfected each lick. Noble said he knew then that his friend Jackie would go far.

The celebration brought together current jazz students and alumni, as well as percussionists and dancers from The Artists Collective, directed by McLean's wife, Dollie, for a memorable evening. Performances by Hartt students of jazz, music theatre, and dance paid homage to McLean's legacy of jazz at Hartt and throughout the world.

The evening's concert began with African drummers from The Artists Collective marching up the Lincoln Theater aisles. Dressed in native attire, they pounded out the roots of jazz and the history that influenced and inspired the music of Jackie McLean. Young dancers from The Collective joined the drummers on stage, delighting the audience with their dexterity and artistry.

Then, as the lights dimmed and the house grew dark, a video message of congratulations appeared. Bill Cosby, in his singular comedic style, spoke directly to McLean, praising his work.

Throughout the night, the music echoed through the theater, giving listeners a chance to hear the quality of jazz that McLean has brought to The Hartt School. Students from the Dance Division performed a newly choreographed work to McLean's "Rockin' and Rhythm." The Music Theatre students toasted the jazz master with the music of one of the honoree's favorite artists, Duke Ellington. With numbers from Sophisticated Ladies and other Ellington standards, they highlighted the influence that jazz has had on other kinds of music and in other parts of the world.

A highlight of the evening was the return of Sue Terry and other Hartt alumni, including Jimmy Greene '97; Peter Greenfogel '97; Tony Leone '92; Wayne Escoffery '97; Kris Allen '97; Aya Beckles, Steve Davis '89, a Hartt faculty member; Mary Davis; Eric Matthews '95; Allen Palmer '91; Tom Petrycha; Antoine Roney; and Julius Tolentino '97.