DownBeat August 1991 [antikvár]

ON THE BEATDOWPEAT August 1991Butch, Until That Timeby Frank Alkyere never played an instrument, couldn't play a lick. I saw him pick up a trumpet once. He pursed his lips, squinched his eyes, and ripped one of the saddest blurps ever uncorked. Then he laughed aiid did it again, for the next half hour.Still, John J. (Butch) Maher may have been one of jazz' most vital voices of the past decade.He proudly served this magazine since 1983, the last 18 months as publisher. While overseeing the success of Down Beat became his faithful duty, encouraging young musicians and supporting music education was his passion.Ask Bunky Green at the University of North Florida. He knew a Butch Maher that coddled and fussed over a little music education festival called Musicfest U.S.A. Bunky saw the twinkle in Butch's eyes as the likes of Christopher Hollyday, Joey DeFrancesco, Roy Hargrove, Delfeayo Marsalis as well as hundreds of good, everydaystudent musicians played their hearts out.Or, ask Bart Marantz, director of jazz studies at Booker T. Washington Arts Magnet in Dallas. He brought Roy Hargrove and a host of other players to Musicfest each year as well as entering them in Down Beat's annual Student Music Awards. Next year, his classy Arts Jazz Festival in Dallas will begin offering an annual $1,000 scholarship to a deserving young musician in Butch's name."The greatest gift anyone can give is their personal time to advance the aspirations of othersto aid in making their lives more productive and meaningful," Mr. Green said. "That's what John Maher was about, and words are inadequate to express how much he will be missed. Every student that has participated in Musicfest U.S.A. will forever sing his praises through their instruments. And, history will record him as a great contributor to America's native art form-jazz.""I met John eight years ago when f came to Texas to teach," N^-. Marantz said. "Much of the success we have received was because of him and his commitment to jazz and jazz education. He was the force behind the Down Beat Student Music Awards, Musicfest U.S.A., and Down Beat's Auditions column. He was also a rare friend who will be remembered for a long time to come."Sadly, Butch Maher died in May, far too soon, at the age of 43 of cancer. He left us as a young man who probably didn't fully understand how important he was to the music.He never played a note, but the song of Butch Maher's life and accomplishments will always be as sweet as Satcluno's trumpet, Bird's sax, or Ellington's concertos. Good-John J. (Bufch) Maherbye, Butch. We'll see ya backstage, after the standing ovation.Butch Maher knew a thing or two about stylehe was a sharp dresser with a dear eye for design. We dedicate the new look inside this magazine to his memory. We've added a few new wrinkles and wrapped the whole thing in an Armani suit. This is the Down Beat Butch Maher wanted to see. It's the Down Beat he believed our readers deserve. Hope ya dig it, Butch.DBDOWPEATAugust 1991 - Volume 58 - No. 8PUBLISHER John Maher EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Frank Alkyer MANAGING EDITOR John Ephland ASSOCIATE EDITOR Dsve Helland DESIGN Jay Crawford Design PRODUCTION MGR. Glofia Baldwin CIRCULATION MGR. Elaine Rizleris PRESIDENT Jack MaherCONTRIBUTORS: Larry Birnbaum, Fred Bouchard. Michael Bourne, Tom Copi, Owen Cordle, Lauren Deulsch. John Diliberto, Leonard Fealher, Mitchell Feldman, Andy Freeberg, Elaine Gutegian, Frank-John Hadley, Peter Kostakis, Art Lange, John Lilweiler. Howard Mandel. John McDonough, Gill Milkowski, Paul Natkin. Dan Oullelto, Bon Sandmel, Gene Sanloio, Milchell Seidel, Bill Shoemaker, Jack Sohmer, Stephanie Slein, Robin Tolleson. Ron Welburn. Pele Welding, Kevin Whitehead, Josef Woodard, Scott Yanowcorrespondents: Albar^y. NY. Georgia Urban; Atlanta. Dorolhy Pearce; Auslin. Michael Poinl; Baltimore. Fred Douglass; Boslon. Fred Bouchard; Búllalo, John P Lockhart; Chicago. Jim De Jong; Cincinnati, Bob Nave; Cleveland, C. A. Colombi; Detroil, Michael G Naslos; Las Vegas, Brian Sanders. Los Angeles, Zan Slewart; Minneapolis, Mary Snyder; Nashville. Dave Jenkins; New Orleans, Joel Simpson; Philadelphia. Russell Woessner; Phoenix, Roberl Henschen; Pittsburgh. David J. Fabilli; San Francisco. Michael Handler; Seattle. Joseph R Murphy; Toronto. Mark Miller; Vancouver, Vern Monlgomery; Washington, DC. W. A. Brower; Argentina, Max Seligmann; Australia, Erie Myers; Brazil. Chrislopher Pickard. Finland. Roger Freundlich; Great Britain, Brian Prieslley; India. Vinod Advani; llaly, Ruggero Sliassi; Jamaica, Maureen Sheridan; Japaa Shoichi Yul; Notherlands, Jaap Lüdeke; Norway, Randi Hullin; Poland, Charles Gans; Senegambia, Oko Draime. Soulh Ali ico, Howard Belling, Sweden, Lars Lyslodl.EDITORIAL/ADVERTISINGPRODUCTION/OFFICE/