For Immediate Release
January 3, 2007
Chicago, IL - An academic, writer and jazz guitarist, George Bailey teaches courses such as Blues as Literature and Representing the African in the New World to his students at Columbia College Chicago. An activist engaged in human relations and educational issues in his hometown community of Oak Park, Bailey will provide his guidance and expertise for Looking At: Jazz, America's Art Form when the six-week cultural program comes to the Oak Park Public Library, 834 W. Lake Street, Oak Park, January 31 through March 8.
[Detailed schedule below.]
Looking At: Jazz is a national initiative organized by Re: New Media in partnership with the American Library Association and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Only 50 libraries nationwide are presenting the series; Oak Park is the only site in the Chicagoland area. All events in the series are free and open to the public. For more information call 708-383-8200 or visit www.oppl.org.
On six consecutive Wednesday nights, the audience will view films including segments from the Ken Burns' PBS series JAZZ and documentaries on jazz icons such as Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker and Benny Goodman. Bailey will guide the post-screening discussions.
In addition to the Wednesday night screening/discussions, the Oak Park series will feature additional programming - including live music - on selected Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons during the series. Kicking off will be a Ragtime piano concert by renowned composer, performer, Chicago native and 2004 MacArthur Foundation 'genius' Reginald R. Robinson. The Peter Budd Jazz Trio, jazz vocalist Marie Alexandre, a panel discussion led by Art Lange, music producer, critic, former editor of DownBeat magazine and Columbia College teacher and a concert by a quartet of emerging young jazz musicians from New Orleans will round out the offerings.
Looking At: Jazz, America's Art Formis supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. All programs are free and open to the public.
Visit www.lookingatjazz.com for more information on this national initiative.
NOTE: George Bailey, Art Lange and Reginald R. Robinson are available for interviews.
Digital images available.
Media Contacts: Columbia College, Micki Leventhal 312-344-7383
Oak Park Library, Deborah Preiser 708-697-6915
New Orleans and the Origins of Jazz
Wednesday, January 31, 7 p.m: Screening and Discussion -- Ken Burns' JAZZ
Episode 1:Gumbo, Beginnings to 1917.
Thursday, February 1, 7:30 p.m - UNITY TEMPLE.: Ragtime Piano concert with Reginald R. Robinson.
The Jazz Age and Harlem as a Center for Jazz
Wednesday, February 7, 7 p.m: Screening and Discussion -- Harlem Renaissance: The Music & Rhythms that Started a Cultural Revolution + Ken Burns' JAZZ Episode 2: The Gift, 1917-1924.
Thursday, February 8, 7:30 p.m.:Peter Budd Jazz Trio.
The Jazz Vocalists
Wednesday, February 14, 7 p.m.: Screening and Discussion - Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Holiday.
Thursday, February 15, 7:30 p.m.: Women in Jazz vocal concert with Marie Alexandre; Frank Portolese accompanies on guitar.
Family Music Matinee
Saturday, February 17, 3 p.m.: Young musicians who lived and worked in New Orleans perform in concert and discuss jazz and the New Orleans music scene pre- and post-Katrina. Quin Kirchner, drums; Matthew Golombinsky, bass; Robin Boudreaux, saxophone, Matthew McClimon, vibraphone.
The Swing Era
Wednesday, February 21, 7 p.m.:Screening and Discussion - Benny Goodman: Adventures in the Kingdom of Swing.
Thursday, February 22, 7:30 p.m.:Dicussion on Media & Criticism's relationship with Jazz - with Art Lange, former WBEZ radio Jazz historian and disk jockey Dick Buckley, and music photographer Jeff Lowenthal.
Jazz Innovators: From Bebop to Hard Bop to Cool and more
Wednesday, February 28, 7 p.m.: Screening and Discussion - Celebrating Bird: The Triumph of Charlie Parker.
Thursday, March 1, 7:30 p.m.Kimo Williams, composer and jazz guitarist will play and discuss the influence of jazz on African-American classical composers (program details in development).
Latin Jazz and Jazz as an International Music
Wednesday, March 7, 7 p.m.: Screening and Discussion - A Night in Havana: Dizzy Gillespie in Cuba