I got a most pleasant surprise today while checking my voice mail. A gentleman named Emile De Cosmo had left a message saying that he had run across my post on jazz contrafacts while researching the topic online, and inviting me to call him back. Emile mentioned that he is a jazz educator who has written twenty-six books, and wondered whether maybe I’d heard of his material.
Are you kidding? Heck yes, I’d heard of his books, and of Emile. I’ve known of Emile since back in my college jazz studies days, when I first encountered an ad in Downbeat for his Polytonal Rhythm Series and ordered one of the books from that series. Good grief–Emile De Cosmo, calling me? What an honor!
Of course I returned Emile’s call, and we had a most enjoyable chat. Besides being a passionate and thoughtful jazz educator, Emile is a genuinely nice, warm, down-to-earth guy, easy to talk to and well worth listening to. Unfortunately, our conversation got cut short by a bad signal on my cell phone, but I look forward to reconnecting with Emile and picking up where we left off. At 84 years old, he’s still going strong, writing books and developing his didactic concepts in jazz. He may be retired from university instruction, but the educator in him doesn’t appear to have taken so much as a breather.
Having visited Emile’s site, I’m struck by how much thought and time the man has invested into perfecting his ideas about helping others develop a fluent technique and “big ears.” The Polytonal Rhythm Series was a magnum opus in itself, but Emile and his wife, Laura, have developed more material over the years. With my interest reawakened, I purchased The Diatonic Cycle and have my sights set on The Path to Jazz Improvisation. I’m also intrigued by The Tritone Cycle, but that can wait. I expect that I’ll have my hands full for a while with the first book once it arrives. The timing is perfect; I’ve been wanting something to help me expand my saxophone practice in a different direction.
Emile, if you read this post, it was great talking with you! I look forward to our next chat. Keep up the great work!
Ciao sono Paolo, scrivo dall’Italia. Volevo sapere come posso avere il libro di “emile de cosmo- politonale Rhythm serie “. Vi ringrazio e Buon 2011.
Paolo
Hi, Paolo! I think you’re the first comment I’ve gotten that’s written in a foreign language. Thanks for taking the time to drop me a note! Since I don’t speak Italian, I don’t understand your comment, but I see that you’ve referenced an article of mine on my friend Emile de Cosmo’s Polytonal Rhythm Series, so I’m taking the merit of your words on good faith. Emile is the embodiment of a jazz educator, and any of his works will enrich a musician’s practice library. All the best to you, Paulo!
Hi,
I studied alto sax privately with Emile De Cosmo in 1979-80 in Jersey City. He was an excellent Teacher. Using the Bysantine scales and the Learning and using the Polytonal series gave me my ears. It made my brain go different places than traditional scales and training could do. That helped my improv skill and and took me really inside the music. I haven’t played in years due to an injury, but I am so glad to see it is doing well.
Hi I was just “Google”ing my dad’s name and came across this article. Thank you for your review, it made my day. I have a video of my dad, mom, brother and cousins jamming out after a rough day for the family. He got everyone to get together and improv.It really made everyone’s night. It’s hard to believe a man in his 80′s still has his chops. Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/7tsRJBU0mCk