Since 1988 coordinators of the annual spring jazz festival at NCCU have added – to the public’s delight – more jazz performances and entertaining events. This year’s festival will be April 13 – 18 at the BN Duke Auditorium on NCCU’s campus. Click here for the complete schedule.
Archive for March, 2016NCCU’s 25th Annual Jazz FestivalMonday, March 28th, 2016WFMT Jazz Network Adds New Host Clifford Brown, Jr. and Premieres New Schedule with Co-hosts Greg Bridges and Lee ThomasSunday, March 27th, 2016CHICAGO-March 1, 2016: The WFMT Radio Network is proud to announce the addition of Clifford Brown, Jr. to the Jazz Network beginning on March 15, 2016. A syndicated hourly program, the Jazz Network is the preeminent hosted Jazz music service heard on over 270 outlets nationwide. Clifford Brown, Jr. joins current hosts Greg Bridges and Lee Thomas, and replaces longtime host Bob Parlocha, who passed away last year. “We’re delighted to add Clifford to the Jazz Network,” said Steve Robinson, General Manager of the WFMT Radio Network. “His knowledge, passion and love of the music have been the hallmarks of his long and distinguished career in radio and we’re thrilled to welcome him to the Jazz Network team.” In July of 2015, following Bob Parlocha’s death, the WFMT Radio Network partnered with KCSM Jazz 91 in San Mateo, CA, to select new hosts and produce new hours for the Jazz Network. Since KCSM was Bob Parlocha’s home station, with his signature show “Dinner Jazz,” the partnership was a natural fit in terms of style and format. “We are delighted to have Clifford Brown Jr., the son of trumpet titan Clifford Brown, bring his nearly forty years of Jazz broadcasting expertise to hundreds of thousands of Jazz radio listeners throughout the United States each week through The Jazz Network” said Alisa Clancy, Program Director of KCSM Jazz91. “He’s been thrilling our ears with his warm voice for many years here in the San Francisco Bay Area and we know that listeners from coast to coast will be captivated by his Jazz acumen and enticing on-air style.” More information, including full details on the updated hourly release schedule and a how-to guide for changing your PRX subscription information for current Jazz Network Affiliates will be sent in an email directly to current subscribers, and staff will be available to help facilitate the transition and to help answer any questions. Art FarmerThursday, March 3rd, 2016
Biography written by Scott Yanow & published on www.allmusic.com Photo credits:
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Largely overlooked during his formative years, Art Farmer’s consistently inventive playing was more greatly appreciated as he continued to develop. Along with Clark Terry, Farmer helped to popularize the flügelhorn among brass players. His lyricism gave his bop-oriented style its own personality. Farmer studied piano, violin, and tuba before settling on trumpet. He worked in Los Angeles from 1945 on, performing regularly on Central Avenue and spending time in the bands of Johnny Otis, Jay McShann, Roy Porter, Benny Carter, and Gerald Wilson among others; some of the groups also included his twin brother, bassist Addison Farmer (1928-1963). After playing with Wardell Gray (1951-1952) and touring Europe with Lionel Hampton’s big band (1953), Farmer moved to New York and worked with Gigi Gryce (1954-1956), Horace Silver’s Quintet (1956-1958), and the Gerry Mulligan Quartet (1958-1959). Farmer, who made many recordings in the latter half of the ’50s (including with Quincy Jones and George Russell and on some jam-session dates for Prestige) co-led the Jazztet with Benny Golson (1959-1962) and then had a group with Jim Hall (1962-1964). He moved to Vienna in 1968 where he joined the Austrian Radio Orchestra, worked with the Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band and toured with his own units. Starting in the ’80s, Farmer visited the U.S. more often and remained greatly in demand up until his death on October 4, 1999. Farmer recorded many sessions as a leader throughout the years for Prestige, Contemporary, United Artists, Argo, Mercury, Atlantic, Columbia, CTI, Soul Note, Optimism, Concord, Enja, and Sweet Basil.