Do u think flutes belong in jazz band?
Yes, definitely. Sometimes a sax player will double on flute. Most jazz band charts don’t have a flute part. Check out Yusef Lateef’s music, (in addition to Herbie Mann). He played some killer jazz/blues flute. I’d say see if you can download some of his tunes, along with Herbie Mann, and give them to your band leader on a CD. This may change his mind and he will definitely appreciate the effort. Good luck. I played flute in concert band but piano in jazz band. This was in the 1960’s and flute in a jazz band was unheard of. I believe you can win him over!
If you’re really serious about playing flute in jazz band, you should really throw yourself into it and research famous jazz flutists, because there have been many. If you make an effort to learn your role as a flute player, maybe there’s room for you after all. I think what your instructor is trying to say is flutes are not traditional jazz instruments. They’re appeared in popular jazz here and there, but the genre wasn’t built on the flute. Your instructor isn’t only teaching you guys how to play in a jazz setting, but is also trying to promote an appreciation for jazz music among his/her students. There’s a productive way to go about convincing your teacher that they should allow a flute in jazz band, but protesting is not one of them. Research some famous jazz flutists, and then ask your prof why they are so against the flute, and try to convince them otherwise.
