From SOKA University Campus Green: Jazz Monsters Concerts Series

Blackbird Audio/Gallery

Jim Merod wears many, many hats:

On SOKA University’s campus, he’s usually addressed as Professor Merod. In the audio press, he’s known for reviewing not only high-end audio components but also recording equipment and recorded music. He also owns BluePort Jazz, a CD label of impeccably great recordings of Jazz musicians at the top of their craft.

To see him in action wearing any one of these “hats” is to see a master in action. Yet, I’m reminded of a day a couple of years ago when I entered the compound at “Casa Merod”, to find him in yet another “hat”; that of doting grandfather walking around casually beside his granddaughter Paloma, who was maybe 2 1/2 years old then. It was almost a slow motion scene from a movie, the way the sun lit them and the foliage in the background as Paloma meandered around in some child-way of going from this thing to that on the deck. Jim’s arms hung loosely at his sides as he kept close to her. It was then that I was brought out of my quiet observation by some mechanical sound - a clickity, click, click , click from a digital SLR camera casually suspended in his hand, randomly snapping photos, clearly not composed - from weird angles (had to be) capturing Paloma chattering away as they walked. Ah, the luxury of digital cameras; keep the nice shots and bounce the rest.
These photos are found everywhere you look in Jim’s home. Tender moments, frozen frames of quality time with his family, work related photos of Jazz greats, some professionally taken, while others clearly spontaneous opportunities of Jim talking with or shaking hands with Jazz artists.
To be a guest in Jim and Maeve Merod’s home is truly an honor and to enter into a conversation with Jim about his encyclopedic experiences, recording some of the top names in the Jazz music industry - well, it’s truly a treat.

So, when Jim Merod calls this guy to suggest that he and his family drive up for an evening of music under the canopy of a Southern California sky, we just had to go.
You see, yet another hat that Jim wears is that of coordinator of the campus concert program at SOKA University, where he teaches Humanities, Literature & Music History. (I’m sure my labored writing will come back to haunt me now). Anyway, this season being named “Jazz Monsters Concert Series” *, how could we not go?

*Jim credits SUA Provost Tomoko Takahashi for inspiring the Jazz Monsters Series.

The University encourages concert goers to bring along low beach chairs or blankets on which to spread out on the venue’s circular lawn. Many brought along picnic baskets while others crossed the lawn area to the campus Bistro which is wonderfully stocked with good, healthy food.
The band is set up, perched on one end of the concrete lip surrounding the green. Let me tell you, this campus is gorgeous.

Shortly after our arrival we came across Jim en-route to his station along side of the stage. Greeting us with good cheer, we walked with him to his hiding spot, away from any concertgoer’s view. He’s truly the wizard behind the curtain, manning the electronic contraptions that he uses to record the magic of the moment; when a group of musicians come together to play and their combined effort becomes a moment of serendipity.

The concert began with a brief introduction of the band by Jim Merod and a presentation to Band leader Phil Norman, inducting the band into SOKA University’s hall of Jazz greats.

The Phil Norman Tentet originated in the fall of 1995 in West Los Angeles. Made up of a ten member group plus Phil Norman’s tenor sax and is backed by another ten arrangers, who play at different venues, mostly around Southern California.
Their latest CD release, “Totally” Live at the Catalina Jazz Club, stayed on JazzWeek’s nationwide Top 50 play list chart for 24 straight weeks!

For Friday night’s concert, the band was made up as follows:

Francisco Torres, Trombone
Brad Dutz, Percussion
Bob Sommers, Trumpet
Alan Broadbent, Piano
Dick Weller, Drums
Joel Hamilton, Bass
Larry Koonse, Guitar
Phil Norman, Tenor Sax
Roger Neumann, Baritone Sax
Ron Stout, Trumpet
Kim Richmond, Alto Sax.

The music was great fun. The band played songs from their latest CD and took a moment to give a nod to a dearly departed friend and member of the group, Grammy and Emmy award winning Bob Florence, a pianist who’s abilities were called upon for many of the bands arrangements.

This talent pool runs very deep with these musicians, keeping these jazz standards fresh and relative. Dizzy Gillespie’s “A Night in Tunisia” came at us in a 5/4 timing with slightly different punctuation that made me keep guessing (and smiling) at where they might go next. Their rendition of “Autumn Leaves” also resonated with me as did “Hymn to Her”.

With so many very talented musicians in one group, the music comes across as a tight, cohesive effort but not “stiff” at all. The fluidity of this band is testament to their seasoned experience and ability to present well known, well rehearsed music without losing that sense of spontaneity for their audience. ... A 5 star performance at a 5 star venue!

Jim gesturing to the band as he gets into the groove of the moment.

Jazz Monsters Calendar 2009 - 2010

New York Jazz Greats
GRANT STEWART & TARDO HAMMER QUARTET
Friday, Sept 11, 2009, Founders Hall

LUTHER HUGHES CANNONBALL-COLTRANE PROJECT
Friday, Oct 23, 2009 Founders Hall

PAUL MEYER & BOB MAGNUSSON DUO Friday, Nov 20, 2009 Founders Hall

PETER SPAGUE & GEOFFREY KEEZER QUARTET
Friday, Jan 22, 2010 Founders Hall

BOB MAGNUSSON QUINTET
Friday, Feb 26, 2010 Founders Hall

JON MAYER QUARTET WITH PLAS JOHNSON
Friday, Mar 26, 2010 Founders Hall

JOSH NELSON’S VERY HIP TRIO
WITH SPECIAL GUEST (NOT TO BE MISSED)
Wed, May 26, 2010 Founders Hall
Under the stars on the Campus Green

SOKA University of America

Phone: 949 . 480 . 4000
1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

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