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Frederick Spek

Saxophonist, singer, composer, concert band member, band leader

About Me

My Jazz Story

Fred Spek loves the old moldy-fig jazz players, and those who play and give good service to the song. He enjoys learning melodies by listening. Early projects were art-rock and avant-garde. Many young muscians want to be different and often are, owing to the fact that they haven't really learned their musics yet. Fred digs old time jazz. It is fun! The infectious melodies and snappy rhythms bring joy and humorous relief from the trials of everyday life. He grew up with religious music, and liked some of it but later, when he heard swing and rock, realized what was missing! His church's hymnal book even stated that the music, "must not be syncopated". What! Crazy, man! Jazz music is (was originally) improvised and swung. It grew from "ragging the time" (ragged-time meter), a change from less syncopated classical and marching band music. The meaning (definition) has changed so much over the decades. What is jazz to you?