Ghana Police Band
A professor of music from the University of California, Professor Dr Benjamin Boone, has urged musicians to take jazz music seriously since its root is traced to Africa.
He said, “Jazz is a very important music in the United States and it came from the music of Ghana. Ghanaians must be proud of it since it is part of the history of Ghana and the relationship between the United States of America and Ghana.”
The music professor, who is also a Fulbright Scholar to the University of Ghana, made these remarks when he met the Ghana Police Band to teach them about some of the techniques involved in playing jazz music.
Personnel were taken through breathing skills, vocals, types of jazz music available, jazz music repertoires, among others.
He pointed out that people believe music is medicine; it uplift ones minds, it also has the power to elevate and bring people down, hence “when you put yourself into it, make it right.”
Giving the genesis of how jazz music started, Prof Boone, who is also the 2017 provost award winner for excellence in teaching from the University of California, United States of America, hinted that jazz music is a particular style of music that came from African but developed in New Orleans with blended African ideas.
He revealed that its style, rhythm, vocal techniques, dance techniques are also blended with blues music from the United States.
“There are many classical musicians who cannot play jazz as it is a specialised music but it is influenced by the development of all western popular music, including, Western funk, among others,” Prof Boone stated.
He said, “Without jazz, one would have no hip-hop, no rap, because jazz music influences those music. Jazz and blues, one gets popular music like rock and roll.”
The Deputy Director in-charge of the Ghana Police Central Band, DSP Kofi Agyeman-Badu, mentioned that jazz music is part of their medleys of songs selected for the band’s centenary celebration this year.
He said personnel need to know the new techniques in jazz composition and performance and do it better.
“In fact, most musicians play jazz music but something, the musicians do not even know what they are playing is jazz and play anyhow,” DSP Agyeman-Badu disclosed.
He explained that after the orientation by Prof Boone, the band will host a jazz concert with a group from the United States.
The Director in-charge of the Ghana Police Band, Superintendent Dr Frank Hukporti, expressed his appreciation to Prof Boone for sharing his life experience with the band and teaching personnel some of the tips in jazz.
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey
lindatenyah@gmail.com