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February 2006: Gary Motley

Director of Jazz Studies Gary Motley Gets the 2006 Emory Jazz Festival Underway

“I try to give my students an appreciation for the art form of jazz and the people who developed this genre,” says Gary Motley, Emory’s director of jazz studies and award-winning jazz pianist. “Jazz is a uniquely American art form that celebrates the sum of life’s experiences.” Motley’s students and all jazz lovers in the community will have the opportunity to witness Motley’s words in action with the varied events of the 2006 Emory Jazz Festival, which Motley has helped organize and which takes place at the Schwartz Center from Feb. 9 to Feb. 11. This year’s festival features alto saxophonist Wess “Warmdaddy” Anderson from Baton Rouge, who joins friends and collaborators in the Gary Motley Trio on the Schwartz Center stage for an exciting evening of jazz and blues (Feb. 10 at 8 p.m.).

“Wess Anderson is one of the most respected alto saxophonists of his generation,” says Motley. The Gary Motley Trio features Motley on piano, Paul Keller on bass, and Pete Siers on drums. “Paul and Pete have worked with many of today’s industry leaders, from Diana Krall to Russell Malone,” says Motley. The day before Warmdaddy appears with the Gary Motley Trio, he leads a jazz improvisation class (10 a.m.) and a “Perspectives on Performance” saxophone masterclass (2:30 p.m.); the public is welcome to observe both classes. The festival closes on Saturday, Feb. 11, with a free concert by the Emory Big Band. All festival events take place at the Schwartz Center and, with the exception of the Feb. 10 concert, are free. For information or tickets to the Feb. 10 concert, call 404-727-5050 or go to www.arts.emory.edu.

For this month’s artist profile, Motley answered a few questions about his life, work, and the 2006 Emory Jazz Festival.

Q: What drew you to the piano and to jazz?
A: My mother loved the piano and exposed me to jazz at an early age. She played gospel and classical music. The piano was always at the center of our family social life. My sisters also played while my brothers sang. While my siblings didn't pursue professional careers in music, as I did, they certainly have a love and appreciation for the arts. That was my mother's goal. She was very happy about that.

Q: When did you come to Emory?
A: I came to Emory in 1996 after returning to Atlanta from traveling and performing with several nationally recognized artists. I started out teaching a course in jazz improvisation and everything else developed from there. I became director of jazz studies in 2004.

Q: How has the jazz program changed over the years?
A: The jazz program at Emory is constantly evolving. The big band was originally organized by an Emory student in 1974. Since that time, classes in jazz history and improvisation have been added. I organized a single student combo when I arrived at Emory in 1996. The combos have steadily grown in size and interest, resulting in our existing four combos. Part of our mission is to develop more opportunities for performance and awareness. We are experiencing an influx of students with exceptional musical ability who also want to pursue a liberal arts education. Our mission is to provide that education while giving the students varied opportunities for creative expression.

We have experienced tremendous growth in our music program, especially jazz, in the last two years, with record numbers of students inquiring and auditioning for the various ensembles. Most of the major institutions around the country have jazz studies programs. Having a recognized jazz program is a plus for us in that it allows us to attract exceptional students to our program.

Q: When did the Emory Jazz Festival get started?
A: The Jazz Fest was started by former director of wind studies John Lynch in the mid-nineties as a way of showcasing the Emory Big Band.

Q: Will this year’s Big Band performance differ from those of previous years?
A: In previous years the band consisted primarily of member of the community. The band now consists primarily of Emory students along with alumni, members of the community, and even children of faculty and staff.

Q: What other projects do you have planned around the campus this semester?
A:  Students will have plenty of opportunities to learn, both from experience and from exposure to professional musicians, during the spring semester. During the Jazz Festival, Anderson, Keller and Siers will spend time with the students in a variety of settings to give them performance advice as well as insight into the music industry.

Later this spring, we have more Jazz in the Lab, which gives student combos performance experience in various locations around the campus.

On Thursday night, March 30, at 8:00 p.m. in the Schwartz Center, the four student jazz combos will give their first stand-alone concert. Then, on April 25, trumpeter Philip Harper will be the featured soloist with the Emory Big Band.

Q: What is the most basic thing you try to teach your students?
 A: I try to give my students an appreciation for the art form and the people who developed this genre.

Q: Of all your experiences working with other jazz musicians, does any one stand out the most?
A: Working with Dave Brubeck was the single-most significant experience of my career to date. He is an incredible musician and an even more incredible person. That’s a combination you don’t find everyday.

Q: What other projects do you have going on in your own professional life away from Emory?
A: I am currently doing a lot of composing and arranging. This ranges from works for the Vega String Quartet to the Children’s Choir of St. Bede’s Episcopal Church. Ironically, most of the work that I'm doing is either jazz or jazz-influenced. To me, jazz is a style of music. The element of improvisation really works to my advantage as a composer. Further, it's a different form of musical gratification when you are able to share you musical ideas with others. It's sort of like being an actor for many years and suddenly becoming a director. You bring the experience and skills into a different arena.

Q: Do you have interests apart from jazz?
A: Lately I’ve been enjoying photography. I’ve got a couple of cameras that I’ve been toying with. It’s a great way to relax when I want to take a break from the music. After so many years of diligent work in the industry, it’s nice to actually have a hobby. Go figure.

Edited by Nancy Condon
Communications Coordinator
Arts at Emory

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