Every April is Jazz Appreciation Month, and this year the Sousa Archives continues to celebrate International Jazz Day with music programming that highlights America’s rich jazz heritage. This year we are especially fortunate to kick off our international jazz programming with a very special MillerComm program, “Playing the Changes: Jazz and Education in South Africa” on April 23rd that highlights the extraordinary jazz education work of Darius and Catherine Brubeck in South Africa. The following afternoon Darius will be joined by university musicians for a special performance at KCPA’s Krannert Uncorked on Stage 5 at 5pm.
The influence of Brazilian bossa nova on American jazz will be celebrated on April 27th with our “C-U at the Crossroads: International Jazz on Our Doorstep” program, which will include a performance with conversation at the University of Illinois’ Spurlock Museum (2:00-3:30pm) and a Latin jazz party at Urbana’s Rose Bowl Tavern (4:30-6:00pm). Both programs will feature our community’s accomplished international and local artists José Gobbo and Beto Rodrigues on guitar, Xintian Yu on vocals, Paul Johnston on piano, Max Osawa on drums, and Evani Pluta on bass. They will be joined by Jason Finkelman and Jenelle Orcherton in casual conversations about their experiences with Latin jazz and bossa nova. All of these programs are free and open to the public.
For further information about these programs contact Scott Schwartz at 217-333-4577 or schwrtzs@illinois.edu.