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The African American Museum in Philadelphia Reclaims its Jazz Roots with the Wells Fargo presents:
Paris ‘til Sunday: Jazz Weekend April 29 to May 1, 2011
(Philadelphia, PA) --- As part of its year-long 35th Anniversary celebration, the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) returns to its roots, offering a weekend of legendary and emerging jazz artists. The Wells Fargo presents Paris ‘til Sunday Jazz Weekend was developed in conjunction with AAMP’s participation in the French themed Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA). The weekend will feature known artists in diverse headline concerts, featuring the legendary Heath Brothers band, with Jimmy Heath on saxophone and Albert “Tootie” Heath on drums. Bassist Gerald Veasley brings his band, performing in a rare musical coupling with violinist John Blake. Closing out the weekend will be one of the young lions of hard bop, pianist Orrin Evans. For the first time in over 10 years, the very popular Jazz ‘til Sunrise (J2S) all night jazz party comes back to the Museum with continuous jazz on two stages. Performers will include local icon Bootsie Barnes and his Philly All Stars band, the acclaimed guitarist Monnette Sudler, incomparable pianist Dennis Fortune in a newly formed group Manifest 3 – with Mike Cruse on Bass, Gerald Smith on guitar and Butch Reid on drums, and the always entertaining local favorite, Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble.
“We are thrilled that this wonderful partnership with PIFA provides an opportunity for AAMP to celebrate our jazz heritage”, commented AAMP President & CEO Romona Riscoe Benson. “Early Parisian jazz was reminiscent of New Orleans traditions, and will be captured with outdoor performances, headline acts, strolling musicians, and performances with select artist arrangements of famed jazz musician Sidney Bechet’s work.”
Sidney Bechet, born in New Orleans, is best known as the father of the jazz soprano saxophone, but was also a prolific composer. Although he traveled to Paris and spent time in its prison system as a young man, Bechet did not settle in Paris until his later years, when he became endeared to the Parisians. He will be a featured composer during select musician sets to commemorate his contributions to Jazz – America’s original art form. Additionally, Gerald Veasley, on the faculty of the University of the Arts, also serves as an honorary co-chair for the weekend and will provide a master workshop for interested students and jazz lovers on Friday afternoon. The following is a full schedule of the weekend’s activities:
Wells Fargo presents Paris ‘til Sunday Jazz Weekend
Friday, April 29
1p – Master Workshop with Gerald Veasley
3p – Jazz on Film, Round Midnight, 1986 - directed by Bertrand Tavernier
5:30 - Jazz on the Plaza, featuring Clef Club Youth Jazz Band – free
8p & 10p – Headline Act - Gerald Veasley, featuring John Blake –
Tickets: $35/$30 members
Saturday, April 30
1p – Jazz on Film, Harlem in Montmartre, 2009 - directed by Dante J. James
3p – Jazz on the Plaza, A New Perspective – free
Strolling Musicians
7:30p/9:30p – The Heath Brothers – Tickets: $40/$35members
10:30p to 5a – Jazz ‘til Sunrise – Tickets: $35/$30members
Stage 1 – AAMP Jack T. Franklin Auditorium
11p Bootsie Barnes
12:30 Monnette Sudler
2:00 a Manifest 3
3:30a Doc Gibbs and New World Review
Stage 2 – Gallery III- Free to Be
10:30p Joe Becton and Cobalt Blues
12:00a Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble
1:30a Farid Barron Trio
4:00a Renaissance Messengers
Sunday, May 1
1p – Jazz on Film, Paris Blues, 1961 – directed by Martin Ritt
3p – Jazz on the Plaza – Jordan Williams Band - free
Strolling Musicians
7p – Orrin Evans Quartet – Tickets: $20/$15members
A special VIP Pass will be available for $200.00
and includes All Weekend Access (all shows, films, workshop, VIP Gallery plus a
gift bag). Additionally, there will be an AAMP Member Value Pass for $55.00
that will include one of the Heath Brothers shows and Jazz ‘til
Sunrise. These passes are available only at the Museum.
For more details on programming and events call 215-574-0380 or visit http://www.aampmuseum.org/. Scheduling information and tickets for the Wells Fargo presents Paris ‘til Sunday Jazz Weekend are also available at www.PIFA.org.
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