Getting in an educational groove

PALMER - More than 40 people gathered in the Palmer Public Library Sunday to listen and learn a little about the history of jazz from a local jazz group, Bill Tull & Friends.

The Friends of the Palmer Public Library sponsored the interactive educational experience with the goal of bringing a little Sunday-afternoon entertainment into downtown Palmer.

Tull played the clarinet and, in between tunes, delved into jazz facts, trivia and little hints to help the audience better appreciate an often rich but complicated musical genre. At the end of one number, Tull tried to explain how rhythm and mechanics dictate how and why the band decided to end the song.

"You might not know why we ended there," he said, "but hopefully you could feel it."

If the hearty applause and swaying shoulders were any indication, the audience was certainly connecting on many levels.

Tull also explained that the term "shadow bands" refers to bands that play the arrangements of certain jazz greats.

Event coordinator Chris Walker said the Sunday-afternoon events take place on the third Sunday of each month as a way to both engage and educate the community in a way that goes beyond the pages of a book. Throughout the winter, her group has sponsored various musical and literary events.

"Education is important," she said. "The purpose of the library is education."

Valley resident Horace Heffner said he found out about the concert online and just wanted to come down to listen to jazz. His wife, Sheila Heffner, said she also learned something about the music when musician Marty Kenney put away his bass guitar and pulled out a violin for a few tunes.

"I learned violin could be used in jazz," she said.

While nightclubs, smoky bars and concert halls might be more common venues for live jazz, keyboardist Duane Couch said he enjoyed his first time playing for a library crowd.

"People are more focused on the music here," he said.

Towards the end of the performance, the band played the jazz standard, "Summertime."

"How about 'Summertime,'" Tull said as he looked out on the sunny February afternoon. "We're on the way; we're over the hump."

The next event by the Friends of the Palmer Public Library takes place March 6, when the Matanuska String Orchestra plays. The events are free and coffee and refreshments are provided.

For more information about future events, log onto www.matsulibraries.org/palmer/fol.html or call the library at 745-4690.

Contact Joel Davidson at 352-2266, or joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.