AN EVENING OF AMERICAN JAZZ

American Cultural Grant from the U.S. Embassy Macedonia AN EVENING OF AMERICAN JAZZ: EXPLORING THE HISTORY OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY IN AMERICA AS SEEN THROUGH THE MUSIC OF JAZZ FROM SLAVERY TO CIVIL RIGHTS TO TODAY Background Information: In the South of the hilly Balkans, where the sun spills its rays to sweeten the soul between the green sea of vineyards and its waves of ambrosial grapes, where people are not afraid to break into song and sing together with a glass in hand, you will find Kavadarci. It’s no wonder that Kavadarci was named “2010 City of Culture” for the Republic of Macedonia. The City of Kavadarci, through Cultural Services, aims to develop, enliven, enhance and promote arts, culture and cultural diversity in the City in ways that benefit its citizens, creative community, cultural entrepreneurs, business sector and visitors. With significant input from the local community and leadership from the Cultural Sector of the municipality, the Culture Plan 2010 was created and adopted by the City Council. The Plan outlines a renewed vision for how the City will enhance and expand the City’s role and relationship with the creative sector. The Municipality of Kavadarci’s optimal location in the southern part of the Republic of Macedonia allows for effortless cultivation of culture. The municipality borders with Greece in the south, the Municipality of Negotino in the east, the Municipality of Prilep to the west, and the Municipality of Veles to the north. It is the biggest part of the Tikves Valley, comprising the largest share of the central part of the Povaderie region. The city itself, Kavadarci, has an elevation of 230-270 meters above sea-level. Geographically, the area of the municipality is characterized with diverse facades of nature. The Municipality of Kavadarci is distinctive for its specific kind of Mediterranean microclimate. Coming from the south, through the Demir Kapija Canyon, Mediterranean influences transform this area into a kind of Mediterranean climate bay. Indeed, the history of inhabitants in the area dates back thousands of years. There are many famous cultural-historical monuments from the antic period up to the near past that connect the Municipality of Kavadarci with its cultural heritage. The natural beauty and attractions are inevitably provocative for each visitor. Traveler who only once passed through, or happened to stay in, Kavadarci will come again. The rich cultural heritage in the Tikvesh region is a result of the traditional growing of grapes and the production of wine. All true friends are correct when they say that the main and greater values of this town are the hospitality and true friendships formed with its warm citizens. Many national traditional songs and books describe the warmth and hospitalities of the town of Kavadarci. The spirit of our cultural, revolutionary heritage and our traditional past are deeply intact in every single inhabitant of Kavadarci. According to the 2002 Census, the Municipality of Kavadarci has 38,391 inhabitants and 11,848 households. Today, the Municipality of Kavadarci is the second largest territory in the Republic of Macedonia, and by the natural resources, one of the richest in the state. These qualities are the basis of our openness to anybody who only mentioned to visit this area and who has gone away with memories of our homeland. Program Description: The first 10 minutes of the presentation will be an important highlight of the 5 most significant points in American History brought to our audience by our special guests from the American Corner in Stip. This will be an opportunity for our citizens to see first-hand how the American Embassy is changing the people’s lives in a community close to home. These 5 children will discuss 5 American historical events or people who reshaped American History (George Washington, signing of the Constitution, Statue of Liberty, Abraham Lincoln, Landing on the moon) while they are dressed in a costume which depicts the event or person. The addition to the show will ignite a spark in our community that will increase the possibility of access to an American Corner in our hometown of Kavadarci. The spotlight on the stage in the theater of the House of Culture shines on a narrator. He explains to the audience that they will be taken on a journey through time and place. The time is Twentieth Century. The place is America . . . . On the stage, there will be a large screen to display images and video from a projector. Also, the stage will be decorated with large red, white and blue banners, balloon arches and fabric will be the backdrop for the performances on the stage. In the lobby, an artists rendering of a large map of the United States will be on display for people to see and discuss while waiting for the show, or after the show. There will large arches of red, white and blue balloons marking the entrance and exit of the theater. Before the concert, the guests from the American Corner Stip will be on-hand in the lobby to make American-themed crafts with children. Five periods of American History in the Twentieth Century will be presented historically using music, narration and images. These periods will have the same format: a narration from an emcee, concurrently showing images of the history displayed on a screen, a Jazz band will play a live version of a popular standard from the time, while simultaneously a projection of the Jazz performance will be shown. The emcee will introduce the period of American History with a summary of the era, then showcase an artist who was integral in shaping Jazz music by presenting his life and work. After, the Jazz band will play one of the songs from this artist. Another artist important to the era will be presented and the Jazz band will play the song from him or her. The first period of American History is the Progressive Era which lasted from 1895 until World War I. Background Music: “My Country ‘Tis of Thee”. Images: Suffragettes, child labor, Slave labor, Presidents, a map of which states were in the Union at the time, styles of dress, and Model-T Ford. First Artist: “The Entertainer” by Scott Joplin. Joplin was an African-American pianist and performer who tried to move the “Rag” Music from the saloon to the concert hall. When he was still a young child, his family left the farm on which his father (formerly a slave) worked as a laborer who gained access to a piano and taught himself the rudiments of music. Second Artist: “When the Saints Go Marching In” by Louis Armstrong. Armstrong, nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana. Coming to prominence in the 1920s as an "inventive" cornet and trumpet player, Armstrong was a foundational influence on jazz, shifting the music's focus from collective improvisation to solo performers. The second period is Swing Era 1932-1944. During the Depression in 1929, most Big Bands stopped or moved, but after the war, people shook off their depression by dancing the "Swing" in large ballrooms. Background Music: ”I Got Rhythm” by Gershwin. Images: unemployment lines, Dust Bowl families, Rosie the Riveter, Presidents, a map of which states were in the Union at the time, styles of dress. First Artist: “Take the ‘A’ Train” by Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington. Ellington called his music "American Music" rather than jazz. Second Artist: “In the Mood“ by Glenn Miller, a preeminent white bandleader and clarinetist, was the first to hire an African-American musician to be part of his ensemble. The third period is the height of Jazz as a social movement: the BOP Era--Civil Rights. Background Music: “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”. “Jazz predicted the civil rights movement more than any other art in America.” Images: Military, families, Brown v. Board of Education, Martin Luther King Jr., Presidents, styles of dress, and Capital Hill. First Artist: “Abbey Lincoln“ by Max Roach. A pioneer of Bebop, Roach went on to work in many other styles of music, and is generally considered alongside the most important drummers in history. Second Artist: “Boplicity” Miles Davis. Davis moved to New York City to study at the Juilliard School of Music. His objective was to achieve a sound similar to the human voice, through carefully arranged compositions and by emphasizing a relaxed, melodic approach to the improvisations. The fourth period is Cool and Beyond. In Jazz, Cool Jazz was a response to the complexities of Bebop Jazz. Background Music: “Summer in the City” Joe Cocker. Images: Space exploration, pop-culture, computers, rockers, Presidents, fashion styles, and cars. First Artist: “Take 5“ by Dave Brubeck. Brubeck's style ranged from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills. Second Artist: “Round About Midnight“ by Thelonius Monk. His manner was idiosyncratic, while visually, he was renowned for his distinctive style in suits, hats and sunglasses. The last period is New Things. The 1990s was truly the electronic age. Background Music: “Thriller” by Michael Jackson.. Images: Bill Gates, Presidents, fashion styles, art, Rocky, Mars, NAFTA, Cell phones and Madonna. First Artist: “Cantaloupe Island” by Herbie Hancock. Like many jazz pianists, Hancock started with a classical music education; Hancock studied from age seven. Second Artist: “Rochester Raining” James Taylor. Taylor is important to the modern Jazz era by combining smooth listening styles with innovations in Jazz as a popular form of music once again. The show will end with red white and blue balloons being dropped from the ceiling, the band playing John Phillip Souza’s “Military March” a typical American 4th of July song, and cheers and applause from the audience. Project Justification: American Jazz music is unique to the history of the American people as a true art-form all its own. It started as a mixture of societies--European and African music. The European influenced structure and harmony heard in church hymns, dances and classical composition. From the African Music came poly-rhythmic drummers who wove together complex rhythms. Sociologically, African society emphasized mass participation in musical performance. Together they made a new melody unique to American Culture. Today, the world itself is inundated with videos and images of African-Americans showcased on MTV and BET in videos as money-focused, scantily-dressed, and simple-minded. The projection of these images only furthers these stereotypes of African-Americans throughout the world. Our program will describe Scott Joplin as an educated composer, tell about Miles Davis’ schooling at Juliard, and illustrate Louis Armstrong’s stance in support of the Civil Rights movement. This will give the people of Kavadarci a view into a different notion of African-Americans and their capabilities to transform history not only through music but politics, education, science, and culture. Not only African-American Jazz musicians will be portrayed. The music of Glen Miller, Dave Brubeck and James Taylor are as important to Jazz Culture and history as Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie. Telling about the Caucasian-Americans’ influence on Jazz music and society is important to demonstrate the support given to the discriminated minority. What’s more, outlining Stan Getz’s upbringing by Ukrainian Jews gives the people of Kavadarci a glimpse into the product of America as a “Melting Pot” of cultures. The vision of the U.S. Embassy is to support artistic and cultural performances to promote understanding and appreciation of American culture in Macedonia. This project will convey the richness and diversity of American culture to the people of Kavadarci. The overall goal is to explore the history of the Twentieth Century in America as seen through the music of Jazz from slavery to Civil Rights to today. At times, Jazz musicians were influenced by the turmoil of America, as seen in The Depression, and in turn were integral in influencing the consciousness of America, as seen in The Civil Rights Movement. Using artists from the city of Kavadarci is important for two reasons. First, the aim is to show the citizens that its own people have the capacity to display a cultural style and history that is unfamiliar although the people used to tell the story are recognizable. As a result, the credibility of the story tellers and presenters are used as an advantage when understanding an unknown foreign culture. Second, employing from the large pool of talent from Kavadarci helps lower the unemployment rate by showcasing the talent of the city. The City of Kavadarci, through Cultural Services, aims to develop, enliven, enhance and promote arts, culture and cultural diversity in the City in ways that benefit its citizens, creative community, cultural entrepreneurs, business sector and visitors. Also, it aims to recognize Kavadarci locally, nationally and internationally as a city of creative innovation, a city of ideas, a city which leverages the unique and authentic voices of the diverse, young and growing cultural community, a city which realizes its full creative potential, a city on the leading edge of cultural activity and development Also, this project aims to take advantage of Kavadarci’s position as a creative city where connectivity is a hallmark of our cultural system, artists, creative industries, institutions, communities, and neighborhoods. It is a city engaged in a dynamic conversation, an ongoing dialogue and an exploration of cultural enterprise and opportunity on a regular and consistent basis, connecting people and communities, sharing innovative ideas and programs. This program will provide unique opportunities for artists from Kavadarci, other arts organizations and the public to listen to a subject that is not widely discussed in this region. The public will have access to this work on one night. However, because the artists are a Jazz band from Kavadarci, they will continue to play the songs they learn in this presentation in their sets for years to come. They will continue to spread the message and importance of American Jazz music. Also, the audience will continue to discuss these topics raised in the presentation after the show in coffee bars and on the city square. This is also to ensure that citizens and taxpayers of Kavadarci experience in real and concrete ways the value that arts and culture bring to the city and their lives, families and businesses; to promote our growing reputation as an international cultural tourism and entertainment destination known as a place where culture is vibrant and happening and where we value and celebrate the rich multicultural and intercultural expression that is unique to Kavadarci Next, we plan build on Kavadarci’s reputation as a city of learning, a city that embeds cultural exchange, cultural curiosity and cultural development as part of lifelong learning – from the very young to the elderly – to ensure that all our citizens have the opportunity to engage with and participate in cultural education throughout their lives and to ensure that every citizen has the opportunity to develop his or her expressive capacities. Last, it is important to highlight Kavadarci as a city of vibrant creative neighborhoods by showcasing the talent, enterprise and diversity of our artists, communities and neighborhoods for our citizens and visitors. To build on the unique identity of our neighborhoods – engaging local residents, artists and businesses – to ensure that the rich culture, creativity, diversity and innovation of Kavadarci lives and is accessible to all.