威尼斯人娱乐场

Jazz at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Program Series Launches April 24
Press Release 路 Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Washington, DC

Free public programs from April through August 2014

From April through August 2014 the 威尼斯人娱乐场, with its nonprofit partner the Foundation for the 威尼斯人娱乐场, presents free jazz-related panel discussions, concerts, film screenings, special events, and family activities exploring one of America鈥檚 greatest cultural exports.

Jazz at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 is made possible in part by the Foundation for the 威尼斯人娱乐场 through the generous support of Natixis Global Asset Management.

The series, which coincides with the 60th anniversary of the famed Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management, kicks off at 7 p.m. on April 24 at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 with "Jazz Diplomacy: Sending America鈥檚 Music to the World," a panel discussion on how the U.S. Government used jazz as a diplomatic tool during the Cold War.

The programs will be held in the William G. McGowan Theater of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Building in Washington, DC. Attendees should use the Special Events entrance on Constitution Avenue at 7th Street, NW.

Some programs (noted in the listings below) will be webcast live on the .

The , is Metro accessible on the Yellow and Green lines, Archives/Navy Memorial station. To verify the date and times of the program, call the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Public Programs Line at 202-357-5000, or view the Calendar of Events online.

APRIL

Discussion: "Jazz Diplomacy: Sending America鈥檚 Music to the World"
Thursday, April 24, 7 p.m. (available live on the 威尼斯人娱乐场 )
John Edward Hasse鈥攁uthor, curator, biographer of Duke Ellington, and founder of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra鈥攍eads a discussion on efforts by the United States Information Agency, the Voice of America, and the U.S. Department of State to use jazz as a diplomatic tool during the Cold War. The program will incorporate photographs, motion picture excerpts, and sound recordings from the 威尼斯人娱乐场. Panelists include Ambassador David Killion, former U.S. Permanent Representative to UNESCO; David Ensor, Director of Voice of America; and Dr. Penny M. Von Eschen, author of Satchmo Blows Up the World: Jazz Ambassadors Play the Cold War.

Film: A Great Day in Harlem
Friday, April 25, noon
This 1994 documentary (60 minutes) highlights a remarkable moment in the history of American music when dozens of America鈥檚 jazz legends unexpectedly gathered for a photograph that would become emblematic of the Golden Age of Jazz.

MAY

Film: Ken Burns鈥檚 Jazz Episode One 鈥� "Gumbo"
Friday, May 9, noon
Jazz is born in New Orleans during the 1890s, at the height of the Jim Crow era. It is the creation of the African American community but incorporates every kind of music heard in the streets of the country鈥檚 most cosmopolitan city. (90 minutes.)

Film: Ken Burns鈥檚 Jazz Episode Two 鈥� "The Gift"
Friday, May 16, noon
During the uproarious 鈥淛azz Age鈥� of the 1920s, the story of jazz becomes the story of two great cities, Chicago and New York, and of two extraordinary artists, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. (120 minutes.)

Film: Ken Burns鈥檚 Jazz Episode Three 鈥� "Our Language"
Friday, May 23, noon
As the stock market soars to record heights, jazz is played in dance halls and speakeasies everywhere. For the first time, improvising soloists and singers take center stage. (120 minutes.)

Film: From the Vaults: Jazz Diplomacy
Friday, May 30, noon
Today we present a selection of short films from the holdings of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 related to the U.S. Government鈥檚 use of jazz as a diplomatic tool during the Cold War era. (60 minutes.)

JUNE

Family Day: Jazz Family Day and Performance by the Jazz Academy of Music
Saturday, June 7, noon鈥�2 p.m.
Get ready to get in the groove with the Jazz Academy of Music! Bring your family to enjoy an afternoon of jazz including a performance by an ensemble from the academy. Learn what jazz has to do with the 威尼斯人娱乐场, meet the youth musicians, visit an instrument petting zoo, and try other hands-on activities. The noon performance in the McGowan Theater is followed by activities in the Learning Center.

How It Feels to Be Free: Black Women Entertainers and the Civil Rights Movement
Thursday, June 12, noon (available live on the 威尼斯人娱乐场 )
Author Ruth Feldstein explores the little-known but central role played by black women entertainers鈥攍ike Lena Horne, Miriam Makeba, Nina Simone, Abbey Lincoln, Diahann Carroll, and Cicely Tyson鈥攊n helping communicate and shape the civil rights movement. A book signing follows the program.

Film: Ken Burns鈥檚 Jazz Episode Four 鈥� "The True Welcome"
Friday, June 13, noon
With America mired in the Great Depression and the economy in tatters, jazz is called upon to lift the spirits of a frightened country. (120 minutes.)

Film: Jazz on a Summer鈥檚 Day
Thursday, June 19, noon
In 1958, photographer Bert Stern produced and directed this chronicle of the Newport Jazz Festival. Featuring performances by Louis Armstrong, Anita O鈥橠ay, Mahalia Jackson, and Thelonious Monk, the film is filled with illuminating images of late 1950s America. (84 minutes.) George Wein, founder of the Newport Jazz Festival, will introduce the screening.

Discussion: Jazz in the USA: On the 60th Anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival
Thursday, June 19, 7 p.m. (available live on the 威尼斯人娱乐场
Celebrate jazz as an American art form in the context of the 60th anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival. Journalist Soledad O鈥橞rien, a member of the Foundation for the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Board of Directors, moderates a panel discussion with George Wein, founder of the Newport Jazz Festival, Dan Morgenstern, author, archivist, Grammy Award-winner, and NEA Jazz Master; and celebrated jazz musicians Jonathan Batiste and Christian McBride. Film clips of the 1960 festival from the holdings of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 will accompany the discussion.

Film: Ken Burns鈥檚 Jazz Episode Five 鈥� "Swing: Pure Pleasure"
Friday, June 20, noon
In the mid-1930s, jazz has a new name鈥攕wing鈥攁nd for the first time musicians become matinee idols. (90 minutes.)

Concert: Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra in Concert
Thursday, June 26, 7 p.m. (available live on the 威尼斯人娱乐场
Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra Ensemble will feature songs performed by composers and musician ambassadors who presented American jazz to international audiences.

Film: Ken Burns鈥� Jazz Episode Six 鈥� "Swing: The Velocity of Celebration"
Friday, June 27, noon
In the late 1930s, commerce sometimes leads to compromise, and the heart of jazz is often kept under wraps. But in the middle of the country a new kind of music is incubating. (105 minutes.)

JULY

Film: Ken Burns鈥檚 Jazz Episode Seven 鈥� "Dedicated to Chaos"
Friday, July 11, noon
During WWII, Swing becomes a symbol of democracy at home and bandleaders enlist and take their music to the armed forces overseas. The new style called 鈥渂ebop鈥� begins to spread, altering the course of jazz forever. (120 minutes.)

Film: Ken Burns鈥檚 Jazz Episode Eight 鈥� 鈥�"Risk"
Friday, July 18, noon
In the postwar years, the nation鈥檚 musical tastes are changing, as young people turn to sentimental singers and rhythm and blues. A devastating narcotics plague sweeps through the jazz community. (120 minutes.)

Film: Ken Burns鈥檚 Jazz Episode Nine 鈥� "The Adventure"
Friday, July 25, noon
Post-war prosperity continues but beneath its placid surface there is a growing demand for civil rights. Duke Ellington experiences a rebirth after a triumphant appearance at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival. (120 minutes.)

AUGUST

Film: Ken Burns鈥檚 Jazz Episode Ten 鈥� "A Masterpiece by Midnight"
Friday, August 1, noon
In the 1960s, Miles Davis joins forces with rock musicians and creates Jazz Fusion. As it enters its second century, jazz is still alive, still changing, and still swinging. (120 minutes.)

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For press information contact the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Public Affairs staff at 202-357-5300.

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