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Posted by: Larry Appelbaum
Pianist, composer Dr. Billy Taylor did so many things so well for so long, it’s hard to believe he’s now gone. Taylor grew up in Washington D.C. and told me a story about being 11 years old and seeing his hero Fats Waller at the Lincoln Theater. He waited around backstage to say how much …
Posted in: In Memoriam, Jazz, Musicians, Special Collections
Posted by: Pat Padua
The Sybarite5 will bring their eclectic repertoire, which features works by Dvořák, Mozart, Astor Piazolla and Radiohead, to the Coolidge Auditorium Saturday night, December 18th. The group will be performing on Stradivarius instruments from the Music Division’s priceless collection. Advanced tickets are no longer available, but patrons are encouraged to try for stand-by tickets starting at …
Posted in: Concerts and Events, Interviews, Musicians
Posted by: Pat Padua
Saturday night the Music Division hosted a hand-clapping, foot-stomping evening with the Country Music Association‘s Songwriters Series. The assembled songwriters lined up on the Coolidge stage with just their voices and acoustic guitars, and although the Coolidge is not exactly a small venue, the spare instrumentation helped bring out a musical intimacy seldom found in …
Posted in: Concerts and Events, Musicians
Posted by: Pat Padua
The Dave Brubeck Quartet’s recording of saxophonist Paul Desmond’s signature tune “Take Five” is one of the best known jazz compositions – even if you don’t know the name of it, you’ve heard it, anywhere from your local coffee shop to The Sopranos. Brubeck was the recipient of a Living Legend Award in 2003. Wish a …
Posted in: Birthdays, Jazz, Musicians, Special Collections
Posted by: Pat Padua
Free tickets will be available on Saturday evening, December 4, for the Country Music Association Songwriters Series featuring Little Big Town. The plantinum-selling vocal quartet is fresh off a wonderful performance at the CMA Christmas show, and will be joined at the Coolidge by songwriters Brett James (“Jesus, Take the Wheel,” recorded by Carrie Underwood; “When …
Posted in: Concerts and Events, Musicians, Special Collections
Posted by: Pat Padua
The Library of Congress just hosted the first of a new lecture series organized in conjunction with the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the contemporary art arm of the Smithsonian Institution. Artist Maira Kalman spoke about, And the Pursuit of Happiness, an illustrated book that documents the author’s visit to Washington DC for the inauguration of …
Posted in: Musicians, Sheet Music, Special Collections
Posted by: Pat Padua
Today we release another one hundred images from the William P. Gottlieb Collection to Flickr Commons. This week’s selection offers iconic photos of the trumpet legend Louis Armstrong, clarinet player Sidney Bechet, composer Leonard Bernstein, and vocalist June Christy. And, as is often the case, there is something unexpected in the mix. This week’s surprise is a series of …
Posted in: Film Music, Jazz, Musicians, Special Collections
Posted by: Pat Padua
Every other Friday the Music Division releases a batch of photos from the William P. Gottlieb Collection to Flickr Commons. This week’s release includes portraits of musical legends like Frank Sinatra, Billy Strayhorn, Sarah Vaughan, and Billy Taylor, whose collection resides in the Music Division. You can also view a gathering of Smiths, including violinist Stuff, alto …
Posted in: Composers, Jazz, Musicians, Special Collections
Posted by: Pat Padua
The Music Division’s renowned concert program has something for the seasoned concert goer and the young music aficionado alike – often on the same evening. Nowhere is this broad spectrum more apparent than with Sybarite5, who as one critic notes is “not your grandfather’s string quartet.” This eclectic group of string players juxtapose Classical, Romantic, and …
Posted in: Concerts and Events, Musicians