I graduated from and still live near one of the top rated jazz programs in the country and often visit with some of my friends who are now on the faculty. Most of them say the kids entering as freshman have great chops - better than in years past - but have no concept of the jazz idium. Most of these faculty frienes played with people like Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, etc during their college days. Who are the kids going to play with today? For that matter - who are they going to listen to so they can learn?

Hammer