The Loud Minority

in response to article in People's Post, 7 November 2006

I found Melissa Papier’s article “Thanks for the Music” very interesting and I’m glad that she has stopped judging artists whose music sounds weird, and its probably the result of growing up on diet of music that has been force fed upon her by top 40 radio stations, and MTV.

Now that she has stopped judging she should begin her journey of discovery of just what music is happening in our communities beyond the so-called “pop” culture.
There’s a whole new generation of young musicians who have been inspired by some of the people that she’s interviewed like Alvin Dyers and Camillo Lombard, and this inspiration is making them play the music with a passion.

If people in our communities like, Melissa, and I don’t mean any disrespect to anybody, stopped being scared of “different and weird”
they will discover a whole new world unfolding that really emobodies the ethos of what the new South Africa should be.

Young people are discovering how music can empower them, the music in the jazz genre is bringing people from all cultures and communities together, and showing them how they are one when they share a passion and dedication for the music.

Here in Strandfontein we already have a quiet revolution unfolding with some of the next generation of musicians proving that once this music grabs you, you don’t want to let go.

On Thursday nights at ArtapArt, a quiet little venue in Muizenberg, you will find brothers, Darrin and Nathan English, Jerome Williams, joining in with some cats from UCT, and even visits from sax supremo Buddy Wells, having a blow at a jam session that will give you an inclination of the joy that this music can bring to young lives.

While other young people of their age drool over their ‘mix-it’ these young cats are getting into some Miles Davis, and Thelonius Monk, and most of it is completely unrehearsed.

On any night it is difficult to tell you who will be playing what instrument, because you will find Darrin switching from trumpet and flugelhorn, to piano and then drums, Jerome easily sits down at the keyboards after a blow on sax, Darrin’s brother is just starting out in the music, but he gets his chance to sit in on drums.

Don’t be fooled by the age of these cats they have a real interest in what they are doing, and when a tune really gets going its like a big band swinging into action, and it’s a pleasure to watch the joy on their faces when they appreciate some of the solos that happen.

These young people are the role models that we need to hold up for the community to see, and maybe they can become the inspiration for others of their age who will see that there is a way to fight the negative influences that are so rife in many of our communities.

For the love of Jazz
Gary van Dyk
Strandfontein

PS: I am including some pics of the Joungster’s Jam to show you what I’m talking about

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