"What is Jazz?" is a combination concert/demonstation/talk/audience participation event featuring a live jazz quartet led by John Payne.  The program explains jazz basics to the complete neophyte, young and not so young, in an easily accessible and enjoyable way, while still being of interest and educational value for those who already have some jazz experience, playing or listening.

 

Towards the end, audience members,even those with no previous musical experience, are invited up to improvise jazz on piano along with  the band in order to experience jazz first hand.  (The musical context used is set up to guarantee their success.)  The event's performances up to now, to both children and adults, have been very well received.

 

Jazz is arguably the most important American contribution to world culture of the last 100 years---some call it the "Classical music of the 20th Century."  Yet interest in it among the public, especially among the young, is on the wane.  Explaining and demystifying what jazz is all about can open up new worlds to music listeners and performers and help keep this musical tradition alive and well in the country of its origin.  We wish to expand the impact of this program by greatly increasing its number of performances, especially in the public schools.

 

NEXT PERFORMANCE OF "WHAT IS JAZZ?" IS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY MAY 2ND FROM 3 TO 5 PM AT

 

The New Art Center 61 Washington Park in Newtonville.  Call 617-964-3424 for more information.

 

If you know little about jazz, come and find out what it's about and how it works "under the hood".

If you know a lot about jazz, bring your friends who don't and clue them in to what they are missing.