White House Music Series Begins with Jazz Hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama
First Lady Michelle Obama will introduce the White House Music Series which will feature artists of all ages who will perform, educate and interact with young people. The series will begin with the Jazz Studio on Monday followed by country and classical music events this summer and fall.
On Monday, June 15th, 150 students will participate in classes led by jazz experts including Wynton, Branford and Ellis Marsalis. They will then attend a concert featuring jazz greats, Paquito D’Rivera and child protégés Tony Madruga with his ensemble…
Jazz at Lincoln Center is honored to participate with Mrs. Michelle Obama in the launch of the White House Music Series: The Jazz Studio. The series presents educational events that demonstrate the importance of arts education to reinvigorate the creativity and innovation that has made this country great.
Through the Jazz Studio educational workshops, young students will come to the White House to celebrate this uniquely American art form and learn from and interact with some of the world’s most renowned jazz musicians.
Musicians and educators leading the Jazz at Lincoln Center produced workshops include: Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, Ellis Marsalis, Jason Marsalis, Sean Jones, Stephen C. Massey, Todd Williams, Eli Yamin and others.
The White House has brought together a number of organizations to participate and Jazz at Lincoln Center is proud to collaborate with the following: Duke Ellington School for the Performing Arts; Duke Ellington Jazz Festival; Levine School of Music; New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts; SITAR Arts Center; Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz; WPAS Capitol Jazz Project.
The Jazz Studio workshop themes include exploration of the core elements of jazz: American History and Jazz; The Syntax of Jazz; Improvisation; The Blues Experience and Jazz; Duke Ellington and Swing. The audience will include 150 instrumental middle school and high school students from the collaborating organizations.
The Jazz Studio culminates with a concert featuring Paquito D’Rivera, Artistic Director of the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival, with Tony Madruga, Zach Brown, Kush Abadey and Elijah Easton.
eugene cantera said
on June 11, 2009 @ 7:43 pm
I met Archie Shepp as a high school student in MA. When I approached him with my horn his eyes lit up like he was seeing a long lost relative. I was a rank beginner but he didn’t mind - he simply encouraged my to ‘keep playing!’ with a big smile and that was enough for me. I received my degree from Hartt and have been teaching for just about 30 years. I hope this program continues to encourage students of all levels to enjoy their music and to make it part of their lives for years to come.
Neil King said
on June 12, 2009 @ 1:00 pm
Sounds great!!! Anything we can do to get kids to play instruments and learning quality music is a major step in the right direction!!!
Mike Reinhart said
on June 12, 2009 @ 3:50 pm
Barack the house!
James said
on June 12, 2009 @ 4:32 pm
I am so pleased to have jazz in the white house. Man, this will be a great dayin our history. I wish I could have attended as a young trumpet player. What a blessing.
Tammay said
on June 12, 2009 @ 4:43 pm
I wish I could be there. The First Lady is awesome, what wonderful event that will be. Jazz in the white House. Music, especially Jazz soothes the mind,body,and soul.
sandy said
on June 13, 2009 @ 1:54 am
When music makes history and history can’t make it without music .
Karen said
on June 14, 2009 @ 8:04 pm
Enjoy this! And you play, Wynton, you play.
Frederique said
on June 14, 2009 @ 11:23 pm
WonderfulllllllllllllLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Perhaps if this is going to have big TV media coverage, perhaps it could be one of the start of more respect and coverage by the mainstream media who barr Jazz from TV like if it was PORN,
barely hush hush in the last 10′ of the Tonight Show, like if it was something to be embarassed of, like if it was the “black sheep of american culture”, the “Prodigal Son”, with no interview, when the rest of the time is dedicated to actors, movies and so called celebrities….
It helps when you had your father(Michelle’s father) playing Jazz LP of the Masters at the end of the day, on the weekend, and having friends over for a good relaxing time.
The other thing that need to be done, is for us, Jazz lovers, to DEMAND starting with PBS, to have Jazz shows, like they alreaday have Pop, Folk, Rock and Classical shows, on the air, if only to start late in the evening.
WE, the people, demanded a new attitude and got a BIG change.
WE, need to do the same, for fair cultural coverage of the various intelligent arts that flourish in this country, that are ALWAYS passed for Hollywood and celebrities cult monopoly!
SWING the House of the People!!!
steve said
on June 15, 2009 @ 1:49 pm
Hooray!
We need this this kind of boost for music education in Los Angeles. Stop to consider the loss of not only music education in our schools, but the loss of American music heritage that is happening.
Here in LA, we have millions of youth who are new to the country from all over the world, who know nothing
of jazz and blues, our truly American art forms.
I can only hope the White House understand the implications if this music is lost because of lack of
education and short-sighted lack of interest in passing it on.
Pass it on, Wynton.
Anita Bushell said
on June 15, 2009 @ 9:13 pm
What a momentous occasion for those of us who care deeply about the future of jazz that Ellis, Wynton and Branford Marsalis will be playing at the Whilte House on Monday. President and Michelle Obama understand how vital the arts are to the American experience: “The arts are not just a nice thing to have…the arts define who we are as a people.” (Michelle Obama, The New York Times, 5/19/09). I teach a jazz curriculum to preschool children in Brooklyn but I I want every child in America to know who Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald are. Jazz is our national musical heritage and needs to be taught, not cut, from the schools. It is as important as math and science and is our history.
Elijah Easton said
on June 15, 2009 @ 9:39 pm
Thanks for the opportunity to let me hit with you agean. I will do every thing you said and learn the changes. until the next time
Careba said
on June 16, 2009 @ 8:55 am
My most sinceres CONGRATS!
And special congratulations to Mrs. Marsalis Matriarch.
Can´t help admiring Wynton.
Elijah Easton, pay a look to the slishow in below link, a day to remember:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/15/AR2009061503197.html
Best.
C.
ZM said
on June 16, 2009 @ 1:11 pm
Hi,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/15/AR2009061503197.html
ZM
Reason 1,438 to like the Obamas | Andrea Mann said
on June 17, 2009 @ 7:43 am
[…] here - including a comment from a young guy who played […]
Monogram - agencja reklamowa said
on June 17, 2009 @ 2:24 pm
Monogram - agencja reklamowa…
Look here…
nameisjazz. just jazz. said
on June 18, 2009 @ 1:21 am
I came across these photos of the performance at the KC. Looked like a great time!
http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/8570210_QCfu4
Jacob said
on June 19, 2009 @ 8:56 pm
Hey
just want to say that I had a great time at the
white house! i didnt get to see you but i was
in the masterclass with sean jones.
i met you at this asian resturaunt across from
lincoln center and hope to meet up again.
Thanks for making this possible
linda winters said
on June 20, 2009 @ 11:54 pm
All the Best to Ellis and the talented Sons of this generation,
With Much Respect,
Linda, Reedy, Jaz Sawyer
linda winters said
on June 21, 2009 @ 12:12 am
WYNTON,
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, WE COULDN’T BE MORE PROUD OF YOU . IT IS AN HONOR TO KNOW YOU. YOU DO WAY MORE THEN PLAY BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, YOU TOUCH PEOPLE’S SOUL.
LOVE,
LINDA, REEDY
Milton Cannon said
on October 6, 2009 @ 10:01 am
I have been very much aware of Wynton since his coming out with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers in the early 80’s. I appreciate the FACT that he is the most important and effective ambassador for jazz music in the modern history of jazz. As a player, I include him in the top echelon of jazz trumpeters such as Dizzy, Miles, Lee, Clifford, Booker, Woody, Freddie and other well documented musicians, except Charlie Parker who I beleive to be the DADDY of the modern jazz era.