 As much as I love life here in the Midwest and find numerous outlets to indulge my passion for live jazz, I can’t help but drool when I receive notices from New York of such programs as Harlem Speaks and the Jazz at Lincoln Center series for children and adults. Here in the Twin Cities, jazz education options are few and far between, usually limited to college courses and an occasional offering through senior education classes. But starting this week and running through May, Twin Citians of all ages will have that rare opportunity to listen and learn about that often mysterious genre known as jazz through “Looking at Jazz, America’s Art Form,” a project for non-profit organizations and libraries from National Video Resources and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Produced in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center and the American Library Association, this program is presented in Minneapolis through a grant to the MacPhail Center for Music and Minneapolis Public Library. Offered free at 50 venues nation-wide, “Looking at Jazz” is a six-part series that will “explore the musical, cultural and social history of jazz – from its roots in New Orleans-style rags and marches to bebop, from swing and cool to Latin jazz.” Renowned local jazz artists will present information and lead discussions, followed by performances to illustrate the evolution of jazz; some additional performances at area venues will complement the program. In addition, the national website offers multimedia presentations and other resources (http://nvr.org/lookingatjazz/)
 “Music is such a vibrant part of our cultural history and we are delighted to share this rich program on jazz, not to mention performances by outstanding local musicians, with the Twin Cities,” said Kit Hadley, Director of the Minneapolis Public Library. “We’re also genuinely excited to partner with the esteemed MacPhail Center for Music in this springtime endeavor.” Trumpeter Kelly Rossum, jazz coordinator at MacPhail and lecturer for the series, added, “We will lift the curtain of mystery from the American music known as Jazz. Where did this music come from? Who were the originators and innovators? Why do we still play jazz today? Hopefully, we can begin to answer some of these questions and better understand our own artistic contribution to the world.” This project marks the first collaboration between MacPhail and the Minneapolis Public Library, “the first of many,” notes Rossum.
 Kelly Rossum © Andrea Canter In addition to the National Endowment for Humanities and American Library Association, sponsors for this innovative program include Re:New Media, Jazz at Lincoln Center, McKnight Foundation, The Artists’ Quarter, Barnes & Noble, The Dakota Jazz Club and the Friends of the Minneapolis Public Library, with promotional support from The Rake magazine, KFAI FM radio and Jazz 88 KBEM FM radio. The national grant specifically supports the film list and screening rights. While the program is free and open to the public, a $10 donation is suggested. Program Schedule “Looking at Jazz, America’s Art Form” starts with a live performance on March 9th at Barnes and Noble in downtown Minneapolis, and concludes on May 17th with a presentation and performance on Latin Jazz at the Central (downtown) library. In between, the history of jazz and its key styles will be addressed. Related performances at the Artists Quarter in St. Paul and the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis are also scheduled. Performance by Greg Theisen (piano) and Kelly Rossum (trumpet) 1 pm program, 2 pm concert with Greg Theisen (piano) and Kelly Rossum (trumpet) 1 pm program, 2 pm concert with MacPhail Faculty Jazz Ensemble 7 pm program, 8 pm concert with vocalist, Connie Evingson 1 pm program, 2 pm concert with Dean Brewington Quartet. 7 pm program, 8 pm concert with the Kelly Rossum Quartet 7 pm program, 8 pm concert with Nachito Herrera (piano) Joan Griffith Extra Events Discovery Saturday Program for children ages 5-12: Using percussion, bass and voice, Joan Griffith and Ruth MacKenzie trace the history of jazz from field songs and spirituals to rap and jam. No charge. Kelly Rossum Quartet, May 11 and 12, 9 pm (Artists’ Quarter, 408 St. Peter St., St. Paul)
Weekend club performance featuring trumpeter Rossum with Bryan Nichols (piano), Chris Bates (bass) and JT Bates (drums). Cover $10. Nachito Herrera, May 18-19, 8 pm (Dakota Jazz Club, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis)
Nearly monthly club date featuring Minnesota’s own Cuban keyboard dynamo and his always incendiary band. Reservations strongly recommended. Cover $15.  Greg Thiesen © Andrea Canter Performers and Presenters Kelly Rossum. One of the most distinctive voices in modern jazz on the local scene, trumpeter/educator Kelly Rossum heads the jazz program at MacPhail, leads his own quartet and plays in many area ensembles from classical to mainstream jazz to avant garde. Rossum’s three CDs include the 2006 acclaimed release, Line. He currently directs the Dakota Combo, an elite high school jazz ensemble sponsored by the Dakota Foundation for Jazz Education and MacPhail. Greg Theisen is a pianist, composer, arranger and member of the piano faculty at MacPhail Center for Music. His compositions and arrangements have included a Grammy-nominated album and PBS documentary; he was a member of Zeitgeist and has performed in touring Broadway productions. He has contributed his talents to the Chidlren’s Theater, Minnesota Dance Theater and Great North American History Theater. Connie Evingson is one of the most beloved vocalists in the Twin Cities, a member of the Moore by Four Quartet and frequent radio host. Her recordings include tributes to Peggy Lee, the Beatles, and most recently, to the hot club music of Django Reinhardt and Stephan Grapelli. In addition to singing at venues throughout the Twin Cities, Connie has toured Japan and Sweden, performed last summer at Jazz Alley in Seattle, and will make her debut at Blues Alley in Washington, DC this spring.  Dean Brewington © Andrea Canter Nachito Herrera has spearheaded interest in Cuban music since his arrival in the Twin Cities five years ago. A pianist of astounding technical skill and passion, Nachito performs nearly monthly at the Dakota Jazz Club and has performed throughout the Midwest and in New York. The former musical director of Cubanissmo!, he has released four recordings since his arrival in Minneosta and teaches at MacPhail. Joan Griffith is a dedicated teacher, performer and composer. She has toured and recorded extensively as a classical and jazz guitarist, bassist and mandolinist. With vocalist Lucia Newell, she released Enter You, Enter Love, which was chosen as one of the top ten recordings for 1996 by KBEM Radio. She heads jazz studies at St. Thomas University and also teaches at the College of St. Catherine. Ruth MacKenzie has been dubbed the “Janis Joplin of Folk” in Finland and Sweden. She’s performed on Prairie Home Companion, on stage with Peter Ostrushko, and led an acclaimed production of the Finnish tale, Kalevala: Dream of the Salmon Maiden.
For more information about Looking at Jazz: America’s Art Form, visit the national website at http://nvr.org/lookingatjazz/ or see the press release at http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/features.asp?item=lookingatjazz
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Twin Cities, MN 
Friday, 09 January 2009
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