The Philadelphia Jazz Heritage Project

The Philadelphia Jazz Fair 2009 is set for July 12th!

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Jazz fair will be held July 12, 2009 at The University of the Arts

Philadelphia, PA – On Sunday, July 12, jazz aficionados from the Philadelphia area and beyond will gather on the campus of The University of the Arts to celebrate the city’s rich musical legacy and to honor two of the area’s most distinguished jazz musicians.

Philadelphia Jazz Fair 2009 will be presented by the Philadelphia Jazz Heritage Project and The University of the Arts. It will feature performances by professional and University jazz ensembles, two documentary screenings, on-stage interviews, and the presentation of Philadelphia Jazz Heritage awards to bassist Jymie Merritt and pianist Trudy Pitts.

The Philadelphia Jazz Heritage Project was founded in 2007. Its goal is to provide an organizational coordinating hub to document, facilitate, and promote the evolving legacy of jazz music and musicians in the Philadelphia/Delaware Valley region, from its earliest roots to the present. The University of the Arts, which includes one of the world’s largest and most distinguished jazz programs, has partnered with PJHP to advance common goals.

Philadelphia Jazz Fair 2009 is free and open to the public. Among the events:

Brownie Speaks, A documentary about legendary jazz trumpeter Clifford Brown
Icons Among Us: Jazz in the Present Tense, a documentary exploring the music and divergent influences that are shaping the world of jazz at the beginning of the 21st century
Performances by University and professional jazz ensembles
PJHP award presentation to Jymie Merritt by bassist Charles Fambrough
Performance by the Jymie Merritt Quintet
PJHP award presentation to Trudy Pitts by saxophonist Tim Warfield
Performance by Trudy Pitts
On-stage interview with Trudy and Jymie

WRTI jazz host J. Michael Harrison will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Events run from 1:00pm to 5:30pm at The University of the Arts, Terra Hall, Caplan Center for the Performing Arts, 211 Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19102.

Philadelphia Jazz Fair 2009 is produced by Don Glanden and sponsored by AllAboutJazz.com and The University of the Arts. For additional information visit phillyjazzheritage.com.

July Event: Philadelphia Jazz Fair

2009-06-24T11:17:00.001-07:00

Philadelphia Jazz Fair
Sunday, July 12, 2009

1:00pm
Small Group Performance
Opening Remarks

1:30pm Movie Screenings:
Brownie Speaks: Caplan
Icons Among Us: jazz in the present tense: Connelly
Small group performances: Lobby
PJHP Tables in Lobby of Caplan: UArts/AllAboutJazz/Dreambox Media/Lifeline Music/Slife Productions/PJHP

3:00pm
Selected Short (10 minute maximum) Performances

3:30pm
Philadelphia Jazz Heritage Award Presentation: Jymie Merritt
Video Tribute
Introduction by Charles Fambrough and Gerald Veasley
Performance by Jymie Merritt Quartet

Philadelphia Jazz Heritage Award Presentation: Trudy Pitts
Video Tribute
Introduction by Tim Warfield
Performance: Trudy Pitts (Solo)

4:30pm
J. Michael Harrison: Conversation with Jymie and Trudy

5:15pm
Closing Remarks

About the Movie Screenings:

Brownie Speaks

A native of Wilmington, Delaware, jazz trumpeter Clifford Brown made an outstanding and influential contribution to music. In an era when many musicians were emulating Charlie Parker's drug abuse, Brown inspired others to achieve greatness while living a clean lifestyle. Ironically, he was killed in a car accident at the age of 25.

Brownie Speaks is the culmination of years of research by Wilmington-born jazz pianist Don Glanden, research that has included interviews with Brown's friends, family, contemporaries, and admirers. Glanden's son Brad edited BROWNIE SPEAKS using these interviews, along with archival materials and newly shot video footage.

The resulting feature-length documentary presents a richly detailed account of Brown's life, and examines his historical importance in the context of three criteria--innovation, influence, and individuality

Icons Among Us: jazz in the present tense

Icons Among Us: jazz in the present tense, a documentary film series, looks at the jazz music scene today. Through interviews, performance footage, and the voices of the musicians themselves, we explore this music and the divergent influences that are shaping the world of jazz at the beginning of the 21st century. Not a historical look at what has been called America;s music but a timely, vibrant trip through the clubs, festivals, and lives of this new generation of jazz musicians. Never before has jazz music been so many different things to so many different people, from Hip Hop to Bebop from Jam Band to Free Form, the music continues to grow and shape itself in ways as varied as the musicians who play it. "Icons..." is a look at all of this and more.

About Us

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About the Philadelphia Jazz Heritage Project

Philadelphia and its surrounding region have played a critically important role in the evolution of jazz, and jazz has played a memorable role in the city's life. In 2007, The Philadelphia Jazz Heritage Project was established to honor, promote, and document Philadelphia jazz. There is a pressing need to increase recognition of jazz in Philadelphia and for a central locus of knowledge, information, and documentation of this profound and ongoing legacy. More than a collection of facts, the Project consists of a multimedia multidimensional hub for diverse recordings, books, journalism, scholarship, photographs, archives, collectibles, and memorabilia about jazz in Philadelphia and vicinity from its earliest beginnings to the present time and beyond. The Project also sponsors concerts, lectures, and other events pertinent to Philadelphia jazz history and the current scene.

The Importance of Jazz in the Life of Philadelphia

From the ringing of the Liberty Bell and the pennywhistle songs of the colonial army, music has been an integral part of Philadelphia life. When jazz and the blues came north from New Orleans, talented musicians like Joe Venuti and Charlie Ventura latched onto it, and, combined with show and dance music, there began a strong and rich jazz activity in the Philadelphia area. Some all-time great jazz musicians, like Clifford Brown, John Coltrane, Benny Golson, the Heath Brothers, Pat Martino, Christian McBride, Mickey Roker, and McCoy Tyner were born and/or came up here; and many other greats from Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday to Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker came through the city. In addition, great teachers of jazz like Dennis Sandole and Bernard Peiffer lived and worked here and influenced several generations of jazz musicians. In addition, The University of the Arts and The Esther Boyer School of Music at Temple University provide the finest in jazz education. Philadelphia remains a lively city for jazz, and the music keeps evolving in creative new directions.

History as a Living Dialogue between Past, Present and Future

While the initial impulse might be to collect "the facts and nothing but the facts," such information is only the beginning. Jazz is the most living, dynamic, interactive art form of all time. It is made up of a multitude of instants which immediately become history and influence each musical moment thereafter. So too, the Jazz Heritage Project is creatively alive and interactive. Concerts, lectures, exhibits, and a web presence bring an air of excitement and dialogue between the past, present, and future of the Philadelphia jazz