Know Your Roots

The teen with the massive portable stereo stepped aboard the train at 14th St. after the doors closed and announced to the crowded car that he was a high school student, and that several of his fellow students had recorded a jazz CD.

"It has 37 jazz songs on it," he said, "and we're selling these CDs for $2 each. We're trying to raise money to start our own business." It was a noble cause, we thought, and considered reaching for our wallet.

Before playing a sample, he explained, "I listen to hiphop, but I also listen to jazz music. I think it's important that we remember our musical roots." Then he hit a button, and a song started playing. A song, we might add, that was immediately recognizable. It was "Rise," which had been a moderately big Top 40 and disco hit when it was released in 1979.

Funny thing was, it was no high school jazz ensemble playing it-it was the original recording. Funnier still was the fact that "Rise" was recorded by Herb Alpert, one of the whitest men who ever lived.