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Posted by: David Plylar
We are delighted that our Salute to Strayhorn, a festival of events dedicated to the life and work of Billy Strayhorn, will take place in multiple venues at the Library of Congress from June 8-10. These events have been delayed for years due to forces beyond our control, but at last we will be returning …
Posted in: African American History, Composers, Concerts and Events, Film Music, Jazz, LGBTQ+, Musicians
Posted by: Larry Appelbaum
Jazz specialist Larry Appelbaum retired from the Library of Congress on March 31, 2020. Larry reflects on his career at the Library of Congress and provides links to interviews, panels, and blog posts he created and facilitated at the Library of Congress.
Posted in: Curators, Exhibitions, Interviews, Jazz, Special Collections, Staff, Webcasts
Posted by: Larry Appelbaum
Every generation has its saxophone heroes in jazz: Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Charlie Parker and John Coltrane all continue to inspire players in every style on just about every instrument. One of the great saxophonists and multi-instrumentalists of this generation is the Chicago-born, Columbia, South Carolina-raised Chris Potter. For the past three decades he’s been drawing …
Posted by: Larry Appelbaum
Watch the world premiere of Maria Schneider's Library-commissioned work "Data Lords," and view interviews as well as a panel discussion with the Grammy Award-winning composer, arranger and bandleader.
Posted in: Birthdays, Composers, Concerts and Events, Interviews, Jazz, Musicians, Women in Music
Posted by: Larry Appelbaum
One of the most iconic photographs in jazz was shot on August 4, 1958 outside a brownstone at 17 East 126th Street between Fifth and Madison Avenue in Harlem. The photo was shot by Art Kane and appeared in Esquire Magazine in January of 1959. Somehow Kane managed to gather 57 important jazz musicians to …
Posted in: African American History, Jazz
Posted by: David Plylar
You can’t beat the next two weeks of Concerts from the Library of Congress programming, during which we will offer eight musical experiences that showcase a breadth of artistry and perspectives. Here’s a quick run-down so you can make your plans: Wednesday, October 23, 2019, 7pm Montpelier Room, Madison Building “Diversity and the Birth of …
Posted in: Birthdays, Commissions, Composers, Concerts and Events, Interviews, Jazz, Musical Theater, Musicians, New Music, Theater, Women in Music, Women in Theater
Posted by: Larry Appelbaum
In 2007, the Library presented back-to-back concerts with two quintessential New Orleans pianists Henry Butler and Allen Toussaint. Mr. Toussaint was in the news recently because his legacy studio recordings, long thought lost in the flood from Hurricane Katrina, turned up at a swap meet in Torrance, California. Toussaint wrote, arranged and produced many hits …
Posted in: African American History, Composers, Concerts and Events, Interviews, Jazz, Webcasts
Posted by: Larry Appelbaum
In June of 1996, the Library of Congress presented a “Big Band Bash” at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington DC. Over the course of a weekend, it offered a rare opportunity to present concerts by three important L.A.-based jazz composers and their orchestras: Buddy Collette, Gerald Wilson and Benny Carter. Each composer was offered a …
Posted in: Commissions, Composers, Jazz
Posted by: David Plylar
The following is a guest post by Library of Congress Jazz Scholar Aaron Diehl My visit to the Library of Congress in March was not my first introduction to its collections. In late 2016, jazz curator Larry Appelbaum kindly welcomed me to the Library in advance of a program I was creating featuring the music …
Posted in: Composers, Concerts and Events, Jazz, Musicians, Special Collections