Mom and Dad

The year was 1982. Marcia Miget and I were Jazz artists-in-residence at the University of Montana in Missoula. It was part of a program created by Larry Ridley called the Jazz Artists In Schools Program supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. It was a life-changing opportunity to bring Jazz music to greater prominence within American music education.

The original Jazz Artists-In-Schools lineup comes to Des Moines Standing from left: Kenny Barron, Charles Rouse, Horace Arnold and Willie Thomas. Seated from Left: Yours truly, Marcia Miget, William Fielder and Program Director and bass legend Larry Ridley

In talking to young students I wanted to give to them a sense of connection to wisdom shared between generations. I remembered how my perceptions of my parents changed as time and my parenthood put miles on my experience-ometer.

I chose music from the so-called Swing era (roughly 1920-1960) which was influential for many reasons. American Swing was so powerful because it opened a creative space large enough to combine European- and African musical elements to the exaltation of both.

With the interaction of African- and European-American musicians and songwriters, it was natural that the music would contain salient elements from many cultures. Jazz improvisation birthed from the Blues, became the 20th century’s most powerful musical force. Combining the essence of Jazz’s rhythmic vitality with musing about my parents resulted in a song entitled “Mom and Dad”

Future Dad Ellsworth Brown celebrate with future Mom Mary Alice’s graduation from Los Angeles City College Spring 1949

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Mom and Dad

Music and Lyrics Dartanyan Brown ASCAP

I used to think that Mom and Dad

Were sometimes kinda Square

Like when they told me to “sit up straight” and comb my hair.

But one I found out a thing or two about ol’ mom and dad

I found out that they knew a lot,

And I sure am glad

That they took the time to tell me

Just the things to do and what was right…..both Day and Night

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I did not understand their talk about

Responsibility

Runnin’ round and playin’ games

Was all that I could see.

But then one day while runnin’ round I ran into a wall

No matter how I Jived around, that wall just wouldn’t fall

I had to remember Mom and Dad

And how they tried to tell me

Kid, Do Something Right…Both Day and Nite

[Vocal Scat Solo]

Well, Things are going pretty good now

I think I’ve got a clue and you know that clue came just in time

Cause today I’m 32

And children, I’ve got a boy and girl

Comin’ up behind

And you know it’s gonna take a lot of tryin’ to keep them both in line

I just remember Mom and Dad and how they tried to tell me

Do Something Right….both day and night

[Vocal solo on fade…]

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Production notes:

Vocals and Guitars: D. Brown

Recorded, engineeered and mastered San Rafael, California

Dartanyan Brown Music®

Dartanyan credits the great Eddie Jefferson and Betty Carter as his primary vocal influences