Winnipeg children's entertainer thinks jazz musicians can learn a lick or two from kids

Go potty before you play.

—Al Simmons

Renowned entertainer Al Simmons is performing Feb. 18 at the Park Theatre with three of Winnipeg's finest jazz musicians, including the maestro himself, Ron Paley on accordion.

Al has had a long standing love affair with jazz and he gets downright philosophical here on SCENE looking at how jazz musicians could learn a lick or two from children and vice-versa.


Here's Al Simmons:
Healthy and happy young kids have a natural free flowing playfulness about them. The fact that kids do not yet understand the complexities of communication doesn't stop them from talking. They can begin a sentence without a care in the world as to where it will end up. To us it sounds like a jumble of thoughts and made up words but it is free flowing jazz in its purest form. Their play is the same. Imaginations run rampant. Anything is possible. Every moment a new task is explored and sometimes conquered.

If two children are playing well together they take turns and work cooperatively. Cooperation is key, and at a young age they seem to understand and often play by a few simple rules.

Instead of playing on a play structure, talented musicians like Daniel Koulack, Greg Lowe and Ron Paley play within a chord-structure. When you watch and listen to them play you will notice that they too are letting their imaginations run rampant while following the same simple rules.

Rules:
Stay within the play structure
Share
Take turns
Have fun
Every now and then it is ok to go nuts but calm down afterwards
Watch
Listen  
Learn
Time is important
Go potty before you play

What to expect at Al Simmons's Jazz Festival Show:

I've always enjoyed the playfulness of jazz. Especially the music of the 20's and 30's. It's thrilling to listen to musicians improvising on a theme and swapping licks-the music seemingly flowing through them spontaneously.  In my performances I love ad-libbing. I think all audiences get a thrill when they realize that what they are listening to or watching is really unfolding in an unpredictable way before their eyes. I've been known to go off on a tangent of impromptu madness when something unforeseen happens during a show.

I have come to love the unexpected because, if I follow my natural comic intuition, the audience and I are usually led to some hilarious conclusion. 

If you combine my love of winging it with three of Winnipeg's top musical improvisers where will we lead each other? We have rehearsed so we have a general idea of how the concert will go, but with each one of us adding to what the other is doing who knows what the cumulative effect will be.

During the show I'll be singing some Al standards as well as some jazz standards and a bunch of new stuff too. Every tune will have elements of the incredible musicianship of Dan, Greg and Ron with a zany twist.