Page 2 - Makers Foundation News Today

“Who’s the Real Ambassador?” So sang Louis Armstrong, in a performance of Dave Brubeck’s composition, The Real Ambassador (1961). Is it the political diplomat, sent overseas to ease political tensions? Or is it the cultural ambassador, sent overseas to perform and win the hearts of dignitaries and the public? This four week class focuses on jazz ambassadors, beginning with Cold War ambassadors Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck, and Benny Goodman. Part of a series of virtual...

Women have been integral to jazz since its beginning. This four week online class celebrates the full breadth of women active in jazz history, including well-known past performers such as Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Mary Lou Williams, Marian McPartland, Melba Liston, Lil Hardin, Toshiko Akiyoshi, and Geri Allen, present day performers like Esperanza Spalding, Jazzmeia Horn, Melissa Aldana, and Ingrid Jensen, and women who managed their partner’s careers and legacies, like pia...

An evening of favorite holiday and jazz standards performed by JazzArts Charlotte’s newest groups of middle and high school student jazz musicians plus their instructors. JazzArts Youth Ensembles is a season of weekly comprehensive training for students motivated to delve into America’s original art form: jazz. Led by several of the region’s leading professional jazz educators, students have together experienced playing the techniques of rhythm, chords, and improvisation that make up jaz...

JazzArts Charlotte is thrilled to offer a FREE jazz master workshop and concert featuring the world- famous PRESERVATION HALL All-Stars Band from New Orleans to local student musicians. This is a rare opportunity for Charlotte students to meet and learn from legendary traditional musicians from the Preservation Hall. New Orleans style jazz comes to life in this two-hour workshop. Aimed at Middle and high school students, student musicians of ALL ages are welcome - all instruments and all leve...