Ambassadors of American jazz music

By NICK NGO

Jazz Band Director Susie Jones had one word to describe her group’s trip to Taiwan: “Incredible.”

“We were completely immersed in a foreign culture,” Jones said. “There was a tremendous amount of cultural exchange.”
For Michael Backus, guitar player, it was his first time to Taiwan. He said it was a good opportunity to try new things at a new place, surrounded by new people. He described the people of Taiwan as generally more laid back, being very open and like to give a lot. He learned that in the culture of the Taiwanese people, the more they give the more they receive.

“It just really changes your perspective on your own culture, when you get to experience someone else’s culture so deeply like that,” Backus said. “I thought it was one of the best experiences I ever had.”

Saxophone player Sam Solano also agrees with Backus on the differences between Taiwan and American culture.

“It’s good because you get exposed to other cultures, [there are] definitely some differences,” Solano said. “Their eating habits are much better than ours.”
The Mt. Hood Community College Jazz Band went to Taiwan Feb. 7 and returned Feb. 15.

The Jazz Band went to Taiwan to participate in the Taiwanese Lantern Celebration as part of the Goodwill Delegation Exchange with Portland’s Mayor Tom Potter, Rita Bladow, president of the Rose Festival Association and the Portland Kaohsiung Sister Association.

According to the PKSA website, “Each year an official city delegation from Portland and from Kaohsiung visit for several days. These visits provide first-hand contact among civic and government leaders and increase understanding of each other’s city.”

The Jazz Band got to see a lot of other performing arts. They were able to see what Taiwanese performances are like, in terms of dance and music. The festival showcased other international talents - one from Korea, one from Seattle, and an African group.

Jones said she was able to learn a little about the language, food, customs and superstitions of the Taiwan natives.

An example of what she learned was what the Taiwanese people thought of numbers. According to Jones, numbers are very important. It determines if they’re lucky or unlucky. They choose when to have their wedding according to a lucky number.

Another thing Jones picked up was the Taiwanese custom was the proper way of eating.

“We had to be a little careful about eating,” Jones said. “Not just eating with chopsticks but chopsticks etiquette. What to do with chopstick at the end of the meal.”

The group averaged one concert per day. Some days they performed two concerts, and there was one day when they didn’t play at all.

For some of the performances, Jones said there was a big crowd. Other performances were like the Rose Festival, where there is a stage set up and some people can come and watch, go to different booths or watch fireworks.

The band played songs like “It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing” by Duke Ellington, “1 O’ Clock Jump” by Count Basie and other contemporary music. According to Jones, the audience really got into the music for most of the performances. At some performances, the crowd even got up and started dancing.

“It was really different from what they were used to,” Jones said. “They’re not used to getting up and dancing; we provided very energetic music.”

Solano said it was shocking to see how excited people were while listening to their music.

“Especially the music we were introducing. It was something very new to their culture. They hear it every once and a while,” Solano said. “But it’s not every day they were listening to Miles Davis – not that we’re comparing ourselves to Miles Davis. But just listening to a different genre and seeing how they react.”

Besides visiting Kaohsiung, the Jazz Band also traveled to other cities in Taiwan. A person from the Kaohsiung city government put together their itinerary and set up the performances and tours.They visited Tainan, which Jones said is an old city with historical significance as it was the first capital of Taiwan. The Jazz Band also visited Taiwan’s first national park, Kenting National Park.

The band also went to perform at Shu-Te High School, where they “caused a riot,” said Solano. The school had an event where everybody comes back to school and the Jazz Band was playing music there. They played to a select audience and Solano said the students got out of their seats and were going wild.

“It wasn’t a bad riot, it was a good riot. Everybody had so much fun,” Backus said. “Instead of sitting down and paying attention, they were listening.”

Jones said that it wasn’t really a riot, it was just the audience getting into the energetic music.

“We got the audience on their feet,” she said.

When they left, they greeted the band again and the teachers thought it was neat because it never happened before.

They also performed at Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Monastery.

“We were hesitant at first,” Jones said. She explained they were careful not to do anything that would offend the temple and the monks there.

Solano said the visit to the Buddhist temple was his favorite part of the trip. The monks gave the band a private tour around the monastery.

“That was great because they explained their traditions and religion. It seemed pretty easy to understand. They weren’t trying to sell their religion,” Backus said, “just tell us about their customs.”

Jones describes the trip as a life changing experience, and she was honored that the Jazz Band were the ambassadors of American music.

“It was very much an honor. We took it really seriously,” Jones said. “We were thrilled to be able to represent not only Portland, but an American art form.”