RSS 2.0 FeedNovember 4, 2009, Featured Articles, Film, Jazz
American Jazz Museum is new home to world's largest collection of rare jazz films
As part of its permanent collection, the American Jazz Museum is home to one of the world's largest and most comprehensive collections of early and rare jazz film. Originally amassed by John H. Baker, an Ohio attorney and collector, the collection is comprised of over 5,000 titles
As part of its permanent collection, the American Jazz Museum is home to one of the world's largest and most comprehensive collections of early and rare jazz film. Originally amassed by John H. Baker, an Ohio attorney and collector, the collection is comprised of over 5,000 titles, 1 million feet of 16-mm and 35-mm black & white and color films - roughly 700 hours - dating from 1927 through the early 1970s.
In addition to providing dynamic visuals of many of the performers with whom the sights and sounds of jazz are immediately associated, the collection also provides a wide breadth and depth of educational & research material, new insights into the evolution of jazz performance methods & practices, principles & techniques of filmmaking, the development of American culture and captivating documentations of significant eras of American history.
The John H. Baker Jazz Film Collection Exhibit focuses on the first three areas of a planned series of rotating thematic content: "Women in Jazz," "African-American Dance in Early Films," and "Big Bands." It also features new state-of-the-art SoundShower® audio technology, never-before-seen photos, and individual film viewing kiosks where users can browse through dozens of "soundies," short performance film clips that serve as the precursor to today's music video.
"Women In Jazz Films" is a collection of short films, soundies, and television excerpts from the 1920s to the 1970s featuring female jazz vocalists and musicians who were popular performers of the day. As singers, musicians, composers, and bandleaders, these women shaped and influenced jazz music in America and abroad with their extraordinary musical skills and talent.
"African American Dance In Early Films" a collection of soundies, short films, and excerpts from feature films that highlight African American singers and dancers from the 1930s-1940s performing on the theater and film stage, in chorus lines and nightclubs, and in front of big bands and small jazz combos. These multi-talented performers popularized a variety of dance styles, including: tap dancing, lindy hop, jitterbug, jive, ballet and modern dance.
"Big Bands" is a collection of dance and swing band performances from the 1930s-1950s. Typically consisting of 10-25 pieces, big bands became popular in the 1920s, and rose to prominence playing swing music throughout the 1930s. The big bands of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Cab Calloway played a major role in defining swing as a distinctive jazz style. "All-girl" bands, such as the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, also popularized swing music nationally and internationally.
For more information visit www.americanjazzmuseum.org
Reprinted permission of Greg Carroll, CEO of the American Jazz Museum
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KC Events this week and beyond
Looking for something to do this weekend? Click here for the KC Events calendar of theatre, classical music, dance and jazz events through 2011. Highlights of this week's classical music and dance offerings are in Don Dagenais' "City Classics." For current Theatre listings visit Victor Wishna's "City Stage." Enjoy!
KC Events this week and beyond
“Little House on the Prairie” begins at Coterie. Classical offerings include “Requiem and Remembrance” presented by Grace & Holy and Immaculate Conception Cathedrals, H.M.S. Pinafore at the Lyric Opera, St. Lawrence Quartet at The Friends, Nathanael May, piano at Bell Cultural Center. “American Currents” with newEar Contemporary Ensemble. Lied Center brings the dance presentation “Ferocious Beauty.” UMKC has a cornucopia of great recitals, as well as the Fall Dance Concert and Midwest Electronic Music. And much, much more. Check it out!
Songstress still a stronghold of KC music scene
The mid-1980's spawned a Kansas City Renaissance of sorts for Ida McBeth, who reached a new level of productivity as a performer. There was a mutual admiration between city and singer that hasn't subsided since that time. You only need to look at a list of the numerous accolades and awards that McBeth has received to get the full gist.
Met Opera's 2009/10 HD Broadcasts
The Metropolitan Opera will again broadcast many of this season's operas in high def directly into your local movie theaters. These broadcasts have been very successful over the past few years, not only for their artistic values, but attendance has been uniformly excellent. If these were actual Hollywood movies, many of the broadcasts would have outsold all but the biggest offerings. I expect similar results this season.
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