AMERICAN CLASSICAL MUSIC. . . JAZZ

JAZZ REPRESENTS A TRULY UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE. DEVELOPED FROM ROOTS IN AFRICAN RHYTHMS, FROM FIELD HOLLERS AND WORK SONGS OF SLAVES, FROM SPIRITUALS AND GOSPEL, AND FROM THE MANY NIGHTSPOTS IN THE DEEP SOUTH (NEW ORLEANS IN PARTICULAR) ......... MIGRATING TO THE BIG CITIES AND AROUND THE WORLD ...... JAZZ IS THE "AMERICAN CLASSICAL MUSIC."

IT HAS BEEN PROCLAIMED "AN AMERICAN ART TREASURE" BY ACT OF CONGRESS THROUGH A BlLL (HR-57) AUTHORED BY REP. JOHN CONYERS IN 1987 APPRECIATION OF THIS ART FORM DOES NOT STOP AT AMERICA'S SHORES. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE LOVE AND SUPPORT ITS EVOLUTION, LARGELY DUE TO THE WORK OF SUCH AMBASSADORS AS DUKE ELLINGTON (A WASHINGTONIAN), COUNT BASIE, LOUIS ARMSTRONG, DIZZY GILLESPIE, AND COUNTLESS OTHERS. IN FACT, ODDLY ENOUGH, JAZZ MUSICIANS HAVE HISTORICALLY ENJOYED A GREATER FOLLOWING IN EUROPE AND ASIA (ESPECIALLY IN JAPAN) THAN THEY RECEIVE HERE AT HOME.

EARLY EXPOSURE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IS THE KEY TO A LIFETIME APPRECIATION OF THIS HIGHLY CREATIVE AND INTELLECTUAL ART FORM, AS WITH ANY OTHER. AT THE URGING OF A PARENT, THE ALEXANDER SHEPHERD SCHOOL P.T.A. AND ADMINISTRATION IN 1989 FOUND IT PARTICULARLY APPROPRIATE TO INCLUDE THIS CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING EVENT IN ORDER TO PROVIDE SUCH EXPOSURE IN A HEALTHY SETTING FOR FAMILIES. THE JAZZ MINI-FESTIVAL, NOW THE JAZZ NIGHT HAS RECORDED SOME MEMORABLE AND HISTORIC EXPERIENCES. THIS IS BUT ONE OF THEM. SO, RELAX, SETTLE BACK, AND ENJOY OUR MUSIC.

• Dr. Michael Wallace, Founder (1989)