International Day Of Jazz 2017
The Jazz Epistles were South Africa’s first important albeit short lived bebop band. Inspired by Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, its members included Dollar Brand (later known as Abdullah Ibrahim) on piano, Kippie Moeketsi on alto saxophone, Jonas Gwangwa on trombone, Hugh Masekela on trumpet, Johnny Gertze on bass, and Early Mabuza or Makaya Ntshoko on drums. The group became famous after performing in the jam sessions called Jazz at the Odin in the Odin Theater in Sophiatown.
In 1959 just before breaking up, the Jazz Epistles recorded the first album by a black South African band, Jazz Epistle, Verse 1. That same year, composer Todd Matshikiza’s musical King Kong became a hit in Johannesburg. It used a jazz score to tell the tragic story of South African heavyweight boxer Ezekial “King Kong” Dhlamini. Miriam Makeba, members of the Manhattan Brothers, and the Jazz Epistles musicians were involved in the production.
The 1960 Sharpeville Massacre marked the beginning of an era of vicious apartheid and greater repression of African culture. After Sharpeville, the government imposed a State of Emergency, made mass arrests, issued thousands of bannings, and put activists who challenged apartheid laws on trial. The repression extended to African arts. Jazz was an expressive force seeking musical and social equality. The apartheid system could not tolerate it. Performances were not allowed, jazz was prohibited from radio broadcasts, and prominent musicians were threatened.
When the producers of King Kong received invitations to perform in Europe, the South African government, believing the musical would be helpful propaganda, issued passports to African performers who otherwise would not have had opportunities to leave the country. Members of Jazz Epistles welcomed the opportunity. Most of them found the freedom and the contacts with other musicians in Europe irresistible and chose exile over returning. Thus many of the most adventurous strains in South African music were pursued outside its borders for several decades.
Following a 56-year hiatus, in June 2016 several members played two reunion concerts in Johannesburg. This year, on April 30th at Chastain Park, in honor of the International Day of Jazz and the 40th anniversary celebration of the Atlanta Jazz Festival, the Jazz Epistles will play one of seven reunion concerts schedule for North America and Europe, in remembrance of the 40th anniversary of the Soweto uprising is being celebrated in music. Original Jazz Epistle members Hugh Masekela and Abdullah Ibrahim will be performing along with a host of other performers. Tickets are only $40.00 for this historic reunion. #AJF40
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Atlanta Jazz Festival… 2009
It was 2009, the second year of the Piedmont Park Conservancy’s lawn restoration endeavor and it worked. However, the festival was still unable to return for the memorial Day Weekend festivities. The grasses had gone too long and the audiences had taken advantage of the pleasure it had given them over the years. But new rules were in the making for all future festival goers to have a great time. A new dog run was built to accommodate all owners, no charcoal grilling except in the designated park grills or on gas grills. Tents were designated to the hillsides or at the back of the field so everyone could see. Piedmont Park was looking forward to being spectacular and bringing back the festival again.
So on May 23rd and 24th jazz fans and enthusiasts turned their vehicles to Grant Park to enjoy the music. Unfortunately it was music as only Freddy Cole was the national jazz artist representing along with J. C. Young Middle School Jazz Ensemble and Rialto Jazz for Kids All Stars. Booked for the two-day event were other genres of jazz including former Lenny Kravitz drummer Cindy Blackman and her Quartet, Dionne Farris, Hiroshima, Madoca, Mausiki Scales and the Common Ground Collective, Russell Gunn & Elektrik Butterfly and VINX. #AJF40
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Atlanta Jazz Festival…2008
It is 2008 and Piedmont Park Conservancy embarked upon a restoration plan to bring the lawns to their former pristine condition, thus requiring the festival to move to another location. This year audiences were able to appreciate their free jazz from their blankets and chairs in Woodruff Park over the Memorial Day weekend from May 24th through May 26th.
The performers were Bernard Linnette featuring Charito, Gordon Vernick and the GSU Jazztet, Jaspects, Joe Jennings and Howard Nicholson’s Lifeforce, Mike Phillips, Ojeda Penn Experience, Ron James and the Truth, Rua and the Serenata Band.
The 2008 Future of Jazz Winners that performed were Bradford in the Nu Jazz category, Genetic Drift for Fusion, Heather Johnson for Contemporary Vocals, Kemba Cofield featuring Melvin Jones in the Straight-Ahead Vocals category, Mace Hibbard snagged the Straight-Ahead Instrumental and Zon 3 picked up the Contemporary Instrumental brand.
The festival sponsors were Anheuser Busch Companies, BET J, Coca Cola Company, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Publix Super Markets, Inc., Central Atlanta Progress, MARTA, Brand Atlanta, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, Bank of America, JazzTimes, Spelman College, 91.9 WCLK, Gibson Guitars, Ephiphone, SmartMusic, JW Pepper, Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, CONNECT Magazine, Smooth Atlanta, TD Entertainment, Upscale, Rolling Out and City Living Home Furnishings. #AJF40
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Atlanta Jazz Festival…2007
The preview party for the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the 2007 Atlanta Jazz Festival took place at the Atlanta Civic Center on April 9th. Nnena Nchege had dubbed the legion of volunteers as Jazzteers two years earlier as noted by Mayor Shirley Franklin in her remarks when thanking them for their hard work. Visual imagery with a 30th Anniversary exhibition curated by Freddie Styles that showcased the rich history of the festival through the eyes of photographers Jim Alexander, Sue Ross, Michael Reece, Sheila Pree Bright, Julie Yarbrough and Eric Waters. The Bureau of Cultural Affairs produced a coffee table book utilizing the photographs of the above photographers with historical timeline by John Holman.
Thirty years was a milestone for the city of Atlanta taking the dream of newly elected first-time Black mayor Maynard Jackson and continuing the legacy that was set by directors before her. Camille Russell-Love had expanded the vision of the festival and incorporated new aspects that highlighted the city’s sustaining musicians and those yet to become professionals. 2007 was a banner year and May 26th – 28th was evidence of that tradition in Piedmont Park.
The Future of Jazz stage hosted Ron James, the 2007 Future of Jazz Winner, who took an honored spot in the programming along Future of Jazz artists Lillie Huddleston Quartet, Ken Ford, the Yonrico Scott Band, Antoine Knight, Toni Redd, Hudson on Bass, Jaspects, Joe Gransden, Joey Summerville, Julie Dexter, Reggie Hines, Squat, Tammy Allen, Bernard Linnette Quartet, William Green and DAYSAHEAD.
On the mainstage jazz fans got to see and hear the national acts of the Bad Plus, Bobby Hutcherson Quartet, Charles Tolliver Big Band, Chieli Minucci and Special EFX, Flora Purim & Airto Moreira, Herbie Hancock Quintet, Laws Family, Lou Donaldson Quartet, Mike Phillips, Monty Alexander, Nefertari Bey, Pete Escovedo Orchestra with Sheila E, Steve Turre, Ray Vega, & Juan Escovedo, Ronny Jordan Trio, Terri Lyne Carrington and Friends, Vijay Iyer Quartet, and.
Over the weekend Eric Essix performed at the Park Tavern, and Gordon Vernick and Robert Irving III ran their respective night of the Late Night Jazz Jam.
The sponsors Delta Airlines, Budweiser Select, Coca-Cola, Winsonic Technologies, Nextwave Entertainment, MARTA, BET J, Steinway Piano Galleries, Epiphone guitars, Mapex Drums, LBD Advertising, Four Spots Digital Media, The Atlanta Livery Company, Bermuda Department of Tourism, Publix Supermarkets, WCLK 91.9FM, WJZZ, Rolling Out, The Atlanta Tribune, Upscale Magazine, JazzTimes Magazine, Atlanta Party Starters, Mundo Hispanico, Transit TV, American Technologies, Georgia State University Rialto Center for The Arts, JW Pepper, Smart Music and the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. #AJF40
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Atlanta Jazz Festival…2006
It had been twenty-nine years of festival history that brought amazing talent to Atlanta for the 2006 jazz festival. On May 27 – 29, Piedmont Park was filled with those minions of jazz greedily clamoring for the perfect spot to lay a blank, pitch a tent or set up a lawn chair. Excitement filled the air as they anticipated the next generation opening up each day who were the winners of the Youth Jazz Band Competition.
The programming brought such luminaries as Al Green featuring Francine Reed. Barry Harris Trio with special guest Charles McPherson, Benny Golson Quartet, Carmen Lundy & the New Songbook Artists, Clarke/Duke Project featuring Marcus Miller, Donald Byrd, Geri Allen Trio featuring Jimmy Cobb & Kenny Harris, Grady Tate Quintet, Kendrick Oliver & the New Life Jazz Orchestra, McCoy Tyner, Moncef Genoud, Pyeng Threadgill, René Marie, Robert Glasper Trio, United Trombone Summit: Delfeayo Marsalis, Robin Eubanks, Steve Turre & Curtis Fuller and the YellowJackets.
Vocalist Tammy Allen had put together a Future of Jazz competition that was held at Churchill Grounds to discover who amongst Atlanta’s finest, up and comers and those emerging artists that were selected by a panel of jurors to perform during the festival.
The Future of Jazz competition winner was Jaspects, the festival felt it prudent to give some of the other artists and was accompanied by Ede Wright, International Groove Conspiracy, Jeff Simpson, Organized Time, Ramon Pooser, Solid State, Squat, Will Scruggs Jazz Fellowship and the organizer herself Tammy Allen.
Sponsors for the weekend were Delta Airlines Budweiser Select, The Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, Steinway Piano Galleries, MARTA, Atlanta lIvery Company, BET Jazz The 24 Hour Jazz Channel, Peter Conlon, Publix Supermarkets, Atlanta Tribune The Magazine, Creative Loafing, JazzTimes, Rolling Out, Smooth Jazz 105.7 WJZZ, Jazz 91.9FM WCLK, 790 The Zone, WSB-TV, Jazz Media, Premier Events and the Bermuda Department of Tourism. #AJF40
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