Never the Same Way Twice: Florida State Does Cole Porter

Florida State University piano professor Bill Peterson wanted to ensure that two particular groups would have access to good, live music: students and prisoners.

Students, because young people in a formative time of life who see high quality live music can be inspired, and it adds to their cultural development. Prisoners, because they are in a dark time of their lives, and many are trying to move forward in a positive direction. Live music can inspire them in an entirely different and meaningful way. Peterson’s vision has become reality with American Jazz Masterpieces: Cole Porter.

American Jazz Masterpieces brings the songs of Cole Porter -- as performed by FSU Jazz students and faculty -- to audiences across the Florida Panhandle. The effort was kicked off by a free concert in Opperman Music Hall on The Florida State University campus. The performance featured the renowned FSU Jazz Studies faculty with special guest Inga Swearingen on vocals.

Peterson then took four of the program’s top jazz students on the road for a tour of schools and prisons. In addition to performing for the students and inmates, they held master classes in which they gave instruction on the finer points of playing jazz and improvising.

“Never the Same Way Twice” is an account of this tour complete with performances; interviews with students, inmates, and musicians; and a look into the class sessions. WFSU-TV producer Rob Diaz deVillegas and crew followed Peterson and his group to high schools in Graceville, Marianna, Wakulla, Tallahassee, and to the Wakulla Correctional Institution.

“Those guys are amazing,” said Luke McManus, a Wakulla High School student. “But the coolest part to me is they’re so laid back and they’re willing to come down to our level just to hang out with us and teach us. It’s great.”

“Never the Same Way Twice” is the first WFSU-TV production to be shot and edited in High Definition. The program premieres, in HD, Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 7:30 p.m. EDT, and will be shown again Sunday, Oct. 4, at 10 a.m. EDT. In addition, there will be multiple airings on 4FSU, Comcast Cable channel 4 in Leon, Gadsden and Wakulla Counties.