A wide-ranging, revealing, pre-concert interview with clarinetist Eddie Daniels and pianist Roger Kellaway at the Library of Congress, Feb. 25, 2011. Lots of great information, knowledge and fascinating stories I’d never heard before.
I’ve had the great pleasure and privilege of curating the new Jazz Singers exhibit at the Library of Congress. I’m grateful to all my colleagues in the Music Division and the Interpretive Programs Office for help and support during the months leading up to our Feb. 11 opening. Special thanks goes to Exhibition Director Betsy Nahum–Miller for keeping us focused and on schedule. Betsy and I are now working on a version of the exhibit we’ll send out to Disney Hall in Los Angeles in the Fall.
I’m pleased to report that we got a nice early boost from the New York Times when they posted a preview, then Milenio, the national newspaper in Mexico, weighed in. I was especially pleased when Will Friedwald, who has written several important books on jazz singers, came to Washington to view the exhibit and and for context spent time delving into more of the jazz treasures in our special collections. Will then returned to New York and wrote this insightful, perceptive review for the Wall Street Journal. Continue reading
My exhibit on Jazz Singers opened this week at the Library of Congress:
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/jazz-singers/
Here’s a short piece about it from the New York Times. The exhibit stays up until the 3rd week in July, then it moves out to Disney Hall in Los Angeles. If you’re in or around DC any time during the next 5 months, please stop by and let me know what you think.
Near the end of 2012, the Library of Congress acquired the papers of drummer, composer, bandleader, activist and educator Max Roach. The collection is massive, comprising more than 100,000 items including scores, manuscripts, correspondence, photographs, and business papers, in addition to audio and video recordings. To announce the acquisition, the Library invited the five children of Max Roach; Daryl, Maxine, Raoul, Dara and Ayo, along with Janus Adams Roach and poet Sonia Sanchez to help discuss and celebrate the legacy of Max Roach. Finding Aid for the collection is here.
This webcast was shot for archival purposes.
Guitarist Jim Hall gave a concert with Steve LaSpina and Joey Baron at the Library of Congress on March 20, 2009. It was his first public performance since recovering from back surgery the year before. Hall graciously agreed to sit and talk a while just before sound check. The studio lighting was a bit harsh that day but the insights flowed as his story unfolded.
David Amram plays his variations on “Amazing Grace” in the Mary Pickford Theater at the Library of Congress, April 25, 2011.
David Amram talks about the 1950s jazz scene in Washington D.C., including the story of Charlie Parker visiting his apartment, hanging out in his kitchen and “scarfing” down a crazy omelet. The telling of this story took place following the screening of Larry Kraman’s new documentary film “David Amram: The First 80 Years” at the Library of Congress, April 25, 2011.
