Rambling With Ron By RON MOTT Jazzing It Up A lady one time was supposed to have asked Fats Waller: "What is jazz, Mr. Waller?" His reply was: "Madam, if you don't know by now don't mess with it." Fats was serious, but his answer didn't answer the ludy's question. People today are still asking . . . what is jazz? Jazz . . . sweet and hot, blue and cold is the music of North America. Its freedom, its happiness and youth would fit into no other place. Like many of us,-jazz had its roots started in a foreign clime, but its flower of maturity blossomed here. In the city of New Orleans, that one time or another lived under the French, Spanish, or American flags, is the birthplace of jazz. (There are a few that wouldn't agree to this, but for all practical purposes New Orleans was the cradle of jazz in its infancy). French Origins The French, who ruled New Orleans for 40 years, can la}' claim that they were the cause of jazz being started. Since the French had colonies all over the world it is only natural that the music of these far-flung places would find their way to New Orleans. The music of Africa, that the multitude of slaves brought with them, had a lasting effect. It is this music that gave birth to what we now know as jazz. Contrary to many opinions these native rhythms weren't always sad. A slave had enough trouble during the day and that is why his music at night was warm and lively. It helped ease the pain of bondage. However, when the occasion called for it, the slave's music would be sad. No one then or now sang the blues like these .people. From the heart, the drum and the lives of these people this music found its way into other instruments and then jazz was born. Most products flow down the Mississippi River, but New Orleans' largest export, jazz, went up the river to the big city of Chicago. Jazz was Being heard by more people than ever before and its popularity was staggering. New, exciting and considered by some to be "rather raw this new music had seemingly come into its own. 'Big Band' Sound Surprising to many, it had just started to grow. History now records the years 1922 - lf).'>2 as the Jazz Era. Jazz or what came to be called Dixieland gave way to a big band sound called "swing" and swing gave way to "bop" and so it goes and where it stops ... no one really knows. There is a difference in the musical construction of jazz as compared with the other music forms, but the real difference is that jazz belongs to all of us. It knows no social barriers, no racial'barriers and young and oJd alike hark to the sourTd of-ja'zzV1 ' I guess that is what jazz is ... your music — and to claim it, all you have to do is like it. If you like jazz you belong to one of the largest fan clubs in the world. If Fats Waller would have answered his question with, "Lady, jazz is your music, that's what it is," he would have been so right. THE CITIZEN Monday, April 27, 1959 3 Me Kee Explains Promissory Notes VANCOUVER (CP) — James Harrison McKee, controversial figure in the raising of some 8500,000 in pi*o-missory notes for mining ventures in British Columbia and California, met Canadian and United States government officials during the week-end to discuss the setup." The Province says in a CONNAUGHT elementary school's award-winning operetta presented at the Drama and Speech Arts Festival here this week-end, will be produced tonight and tomorrow in the school auditorium. Entitled Tom Sawyer, the story of a heart American boy in the 1800's, the operetta features in its cast Marily Nelson, Ivy Ponvick, Patricia Crowe, Eileen Knudsen, Linda Ward and Faye Leboe.1 —Vandervoort dispatch from Seattle that Mr. Me-Kee had talks with J. Stewart Smith, B.C. superintendent of brokers, Franklin Wood, U.S. postal inspector, and James E. Newton of the U.S. currency exchange commission. There was no statement on what transpired at the meeting. It was understood Mr. Smith may release a statement today. Mr. McKee's name sprang into the news last month when Attorney-General Kelso Roberts of Ontario ordered an investigation into methods used to raise funds for extracting gold from the sands of the Fraser River near Lillooet, B.C. The investigation is still In progress. Members of several Baptist churches in Ontario and B.C. advanced money for the project. Promissory notes to be redeem- THE BIG PAYMASTER Canada's forest resources and the industries based upon them provide more employment than any other activity except agriculture. ed last Oct. and April 1 were given to the contributors. The newspaper says Mr. Me-' Kee told a reporter the method of raising money by notes was all right and he thinks he can start paying it back this year. : "I never lined by own pockets with that money," he added. He said he had received "large ' sums" and much of it came; through Rev. Leslie Millin, a Baptist minister in Toronto. "What Not To Say To Your Husband" Knowing what not to say to her husoand, and when not to say it should be part of every woman's sixth sense. May Reader's Digest gives 10 well-tried rules "tested in every home and court" in the country about what you should never say. They'll help you to a sweeter marriage! Get your copy of Reader's Digest today.____________ Police Hunt Lynching Mob POPLARVILLE, Miss. (AP) — The rape trial of Mack Charles Parker was on the circuit court docket today as federal and state agencies pressed a growing investigation into the kidnapping of the 23-year-old Negro feared to have been lynched by a mob. A statement by the chief of the Mississippi highway patrol, William Hood, .showed hope had vanished of finding Parker alive. "We arc here until every lead is exhausted and every clue run down," Hood .said. "We are making the search for the body as "well as for the perpetrators of this crime." After me abduction defence lawyer Ft. Jess Brown suggested that Parker be tried in absentia but District Attorney Vernon Broome rejected the idea. "Nobody," Broome said, "can lie tried in absentia for a capital offence in Mississippi." Parker was charged with raping a 24-year-old white mother last February. The woman, who was three months pregnant, said the attack took place in the presence of her five-year-old daughter. The FBI sent more than 50 agents into the area. Combining forces with local police and the more than 60 highway patrolmen, they split into groups of two and three men to cover the area. One- group found John Reyer, 0»i. ¦wlio owns a 40-acre truck farm about four miles north of here. Reyer said ho was about 25 feet away when the raiders left the Pearl River County courthouse and dumped Parker VANCOUVER (CPI — Students arc "loaded down" with loo many crests and cups because of "lobbying by sports, drama and music enthusiasts," the B.C. School Trustees Association said today. in.a brief to the Chant commission on education, the association said that as a result teachers face a number of "stuffed shirts and other problem children." The brief wi\s released to the press in advopee of delivery. In a car and drove off. Reyer, apparently the most important witness to the getaway, said two to five others cars left -in different directions. "Nobody didn't speak," Reyer recalled. "Nobody said nothing to me. "I saw all the men wore masks. I realized I was in the wrong place. I went on. t didn't look back." Several items of stained clothing were discovered about 20 miles from here but there was no indication they were connected with Parker. (Continued from Page I) speech class was captured by the Grade 6 group fronv-Kin.u George V school. Judy Ewanch'uk won the girl's elocution class to take the cup offered by Mrs. R. J. Cameron. There was no winner of the boy's elocution cup donated by festival association as there was no score high enough to warrant its presentation. Gonriaught Elementary presented the winning operetta, "Tom Sawyer"'. Attendance at the festival this year was very poor and of- ALL taxis in Prince George are being dispatched from a single stand since the five companies amalgamated last week. Above, dispatcher Carol Lilley is at the dispatching table of a radio system which controls the 22 cars operating in the city. Taxi operators claim the new arrangement will give quicker, more efficient service to customers. —Vandervooi't Valley Fruit Blossoms Killed by Late Frost PENTICTON (CP) — Four days ago buds on cherry trees in British Columbia's fertile Okanagan V alley were exploded into blossom by balmy spring breezes and warm temperatures. Growers anticipated another small fruit bumper crop. Merchants planned for the arrival of thousands of people who come every year to see the valley in its finest splendor. The gaiety of blossom time, with its color and festivals, was coming. But Thursday night the picture changed. Frost struck. Thousands of the pink blossoms turned brown, shrivelled and died. Growers and government horticulturists are calculating the damage, but this Is expected to take a few weeks, The cherry buds which escaped Thursday night's frost, fell Friday night. Only a few survived. Kelowna district horticulturist Frank. Morton said the frost has "for all intents and purposes" wiped out this year's cherry crop. Last year growers sent 78,000 crates to the fresh fruit market, a bumper crop. Some growers have said they may ask permission to ship canning and processing quality cherries ttJ the fresh fruit market this year. One horticulturist said: "We have to be frozen out and hailed .MARGUERITE (CP) — A woman and two children were drowned Sunday when a car in which they were riding crashed through ;i ferry guard chain and plunged into the Fraser River. Oscar Laycock, also in the car, smashed a window and swam to the surface and safety. Police have not released the names of the victims. Police said the car drove onto a small river ferry, near this small Cariboo community in north central B.C. It suddenly leaped forward, s m ashed through a guard chain at' the opposite end of the ferry and plunged into 30 feet of water. Divers today will attempt to recover the bodies. Police said the trio had no chance of survival. out half a dozen times before we harvest a crop," Geoff Alington, a Kaleden district cherry orchard owner, reported he had Jost at least 20 per cent of his crop. Like many other growers, he had lit smudge pots among his trees'to keep the temperature above the critical 25-degree level but suffered heavy damage when the wind made the smudge fires ineffectual. A CAR TO SUIT YOUR BUDGET THE LITTLE CAR WITH BIG CAR PERFORMANCE Fully Equipped Gives 20% more power AND IS YOURS FOR LESS THAN For Economy For Luxury ONLY MERCEDES-BENZ Can Give You That Continental Feeling. TOPS IN PERFORMANCE, ENDURANCE Built Especiallly for Luxurious Comfort WES? END HOT0!S LID. Your HILLMAN —MERCEDES —DKW DEALER And the Home of INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER TRUCKS m 835 THIRD AVENUE LOggn 4-5101 flcials estimate it at only that of former years. half Canadian Legion Provincial Convention To be held in Prince George, B.C., May 17-20 Registration May 16 and 17 CANADIAN LEGION —BRANCH No. 43 A SUPERS WHISKY IN A SMART DECANTER This advertisement is not published or jdispjayea^ by .the Liquor Control Board or by trie 'iGoVerrimenFbf British'" Columbia. Mmm—can you smell that steak, broiled to perfection over charcoal embers? Even hamburgers and hot dogs take on appetite appeal when they're cooked on your own backyard barbecue grill. An nnfrlnnr cunnar ic n cum rnro (-m- cum. outdoor supper is a sure cure for summer-jaded appetites and so easy to pre- e pare. I his extremely simple but efficient grill is-built with standard 8"xl6" units, yet the long grill area gives plenty of cooking space. Working space, however, is not as extensive as on other units. for Enjoyment this Summer Your famiJy will have hours and hours of fun with even the simplest of barbecue pifs shown here and you'll notice Dad relieving Mother of a lot of cooking chores too. rince George Concrete Products Ltd. NORTH NECHAKO ROAD or phone after hours to A. Lawrence, LO 4-7127 — K. Lawrence, LO 4-7452 LOgan 4-5050