Music has always been a great teacher and nowhere was that more evident than an event I attended here in Dallas for Cedar Valley College. Cedar Valley is a predominantly Black College that’s a beacon for college students here in Texas where I live and work office when I’m not on the road.

I was on hand to co-host their annual fundraising event with the legendary ABC News anchor Gloria Campos. This year the event featured Kirk Whalum and Wayman Tisdale, two contemporary Jazz artists both with a southern collegiate pedigree. Kirk attended Texas Southern in Houston and Mr. Tisdale is an alumnus of the University of Oklahoma.

It was an evening of Jazz, Funk and Fun…whenever Wayman Tisdale takes the stage FUN is the operative word. Cresting at almost seven feet tall he’s well know for his infectious smile, boundless energy and God given musical talent…Wayman can’t read music…but it POURS out of his piccolo bass with reckless abandon! His 13 seasons in the NBA and his Olympic Gold Medal pale in comparison to his on stage “crash the backboard” attitude.  Kirk Whalum is something altogether different…his tireless Jazz studies, compositions and performances are meticulous. Kirk is a student of his craft; he sight reads intricate Jazz and Classical charts with the best of them. In his down time he reads relentlessly…including Barack Obama’s best seller the “Audacity of Hope” which I noticed placed along side his Bible and his saxophones in his dressing room.  
  
Needless to say the audacity of hope was effervescent at the Cedar Valley College dinner and concert at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. Students from the music program were featured performers on stage along side many of their idols including one of their own, professor Arlington Jones, who’s been touring as a sideman with both headliners for some time now. The students were exploding with joy and wonder and so were the parents, friends and extended families in attendance. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience.         

Gloria Campos and I were marveling at the energy and atmosphere the evening generated as we watched from the wings…then she was whisked off to prepare for her evening newscast at WFAA. “We’re in sweeps right now” she whispered as she flew out the backstage door. Sweeps mean it’s an audience rating period which means big money in the world of network news, a tenth of a rating point can mean millions of advertising dollars won or lost so duty called.  Without my sidekick I was left to enjoy some backstage conversation with the cats…Kirk’s brother Kevin Whalum (an incredible Jazz and Gospel vocalist), saxman Tom Braxton and Wayman’s college sweetheart, his wife Regina. They have become dear friends over the years so we love it when we can catch up!  

The fund raiser was an enormous success with more than $100,000 going to the school coffers but the evening’s ability to teach its students the lessons of serious study and musical collaboration was priceless!

You can hear Kirk Whalum’s Grammy nominated CD and even download a free song from “Roundtrip” right now as our Song of the Week at www.myjazznetwork.com
See you back here next week!

Stay tuned next week for more of Cameron’s Jazz Journals.

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