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Plans unfold for the 100th anniversary celebration honoring Charlie Christian

Mark Temple, chairman of the Charlie Christian Festival committee
Mark Temple, chairman of the Charlie Christian Festival committee

In a recent new release, Mark Temple, chairman of the Charlie Christian Festival committee, revealed that plans are going well for the 100th Anniversary celebration of the late Charlie Christian and his legacy. Temple said the Deep Deuce Business Association is collaborating with Black Liberated Arts Center, Inc., festival sponsor. to create a memorable experience for Oklahoma and that will attract music lovers from around the world.

The event, to be held June 2 to 5, 2016, near the Deep Deuce area will have a number of special surprises including an appearance of the only remaining guitar that Charlie Christian owned. There will be special moments such as a brief memorial at or near Calvary Baptist Church in Oklahoma City where Christian’s funeral was held and a New Orleans style festival parade. As always, there will be plenty of family type engagement activities right along with good food, good fun and great music.

Musical artist, visual artists as well as food and non-food vendors who wish to participate should call (405) 524-3800 or visit the website at www.charliechristianmusicfestival.com Selection of musicians will begin near the end of April.

“The 100th celebration only comes once in a lifetime, so our intent is to make this festival stand out as no other festival has,” Temple concluded. The event is funded in part by BancFirst, the Oklahoma Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Sponsorships are still available by calling (405) 524-3800.

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Cloud Nothings to headline 2016 Norman Music Festival 9

Cloud Nothings
Cloud Nothings

Norman Music Festival 9 announced today that Cloud Nothings – making their first Oklahoma appearance – will be the headliner for the April 21-23, 2016, free event in Norman, Okla. On the bill with the rock band from Ohio will be Small Black, Open Mike Eagle, Nobunny, Skating Polly, Woozy and Traindodge, celebrating their 20th year together.
The festival will be undergoing a few other changes this year. Dallas based-metal band Power Trip will be the headliners for the very first heavy stage at the festival Friday, April 22, located at the Bacardi Stage in the Gray Street parking lot. The hip-hop stage will be moved to The Depot as well. More bands will be announced in the coming months.

Local and regional bands can now apply through the open-call to play alongside the headliners. The open call is running through Dec. 20. Last year, more than 600 bands applied in the 50-day window to perform at the festival.

The mission of the Norman Music Alliance is to help develop the arts community in Oklahoma through support of local original artists, support of music fans, support of art education and support of local businesses. What started as a one-day festival has now grown and expanded to a three-day festival with more than 300 artists in downtown Norman and more than 80,000 people in attendance at Norman Music Festival 8.

For festival, VIP and sponsorship information, visit http://normanmusicfestival.com.

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arts jazz music performances United States

Oklahoma City’s Charlie Christian Music Festival activities to be re-scheduled

Mark Temple
Mark Temple

Mark Temple, chairman of the 2013 Charlie Christian International Music Festival, announced via a recent news release the updated schedule of events that will take place during the weekend of the festival in Oklahoma City.  The “Feel Deep Deuce Brunch” scheduled at Urban Roots, 322 NE 2nd St. in Oklahoma City, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. is on schedule for Saturday, June 8.  There will not be an admission charge.  The music will be provided by “Miss Muffy and Friends” and Deep Deuce stories with author Anita Arnold.

Other events at the Bricktown Ballpark are being re-scheduled for a later date because of complications arising from the recent tornadoes and flooding.

“While Saturday and Sunday may look like perfect days, the recent and continued rains have inhibited our ability to properly stage and produce the concerts.  The public will be notified of the re-schedule of these programs,” Temple said.  “Expectations are that the concerts will likely be scheduled later this year or early fall, most likely,” he concluded.  Ticket buyers can get refunds by going to outlets where they purchased or they may hold on to their tickets which will be honored at the re-scheduled events.

For more information, check the Charlie Christian website at www.charliechristianmusicfestival.com or call (405) 524-3800. 

 

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jazz music performances United States

2013 U.S. Bank Portland Jazz Festival to celebrate enduring jazz legacy

The 2013 U.S. Bank Portland Jazz Festival, presented by Alaska Airlines, will be Friday, Feb. 15 through Sunday, Feb. 24 at venues throughout Portland, Ore. The 10th anniversary celebration will include a heady mix of world and West Coast premieres and For Portland Only performances with a series of concerts featuring an imposing array of internationally recognized and local musicians playing a wide-range of jazz styles. Education and outreach, as always, amplify the festival’s recognition of Black History Month through a series of community-wide initiatives.

This year’s headliners are NEA Jazz Master Jack DeJohnette in a For Portland Only special quartet configuration featuring Ravi Coltrane, Matt Garrison and George Colligan; The Jazz Message Celebrating Art Blakey in a world premiere featuring Javon Jackson, Bobby Watson, Eddie Henderson, Curtis Fuller, George Cables, Buster Williams and Lewis Nash; The west coast premiere of ACS featuring Geri Allen, Terri Lyne Carrington and Esperanza Spalding; Afro Cuban All-Stars and Alfredo Rodríguez; Steve Kuhn Trio featuring special guest Devin Phillips;Kurt Rosenwinkel Quartet; Kenny Garrett Quartet; Patricia Barber Quartet; Sexmob Plays Fellini; Portland Jazz Master Nancy King with Steve Christofferson and Glen Moore; Barry Harris Trio; Matt Wilson’s Arts & Crafts; Gerald Wilson leading two Portland ensembles; Scott Hamilton Quartet; Art Abrams Swing Machine Big Band In Tribute to Stan Kenton featuring Rebecca Kilgore; The Blue Cranes; and more.

“This year’s vast programming of 17 ticketed shows reflects the eclecticism that is uniquely Portland,” said Don Lucoff, States Managing Director, in a news release. “In our 10th anniversary, we welcome back festival favorites Portland Jazz Master Nancy King, Esperanza Spalding, Patricia Barber, Afro Cuban All Stars, Scott Hamilton, and Rebecca Kilgore. A rare PDX appearance by NEA Jazz Master Jack DeJohnette and The Jazz Message celebration of Steel City icon Art Blakey enhance a robust roster, a drum feast for the ages, as we host the top drummers in jazz throughout the festival: Lewis Nash, Joey Baron, Terri Lyne Carrington, Justin Faulkner and Matt Wilson in the City of Roses.”

Other festival highlights include: Berlin-based Kurt Rosenwinkel playing Portland for the first time,Gerald Wilson’s first PDX appearance since 1949 when he last played lead trumpet in the Count Basie band at McElroy’s Ballroom, the PDX debut by Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodríguez, Art Abrams premiering his 20 strong aggregation in tribute to Stan Kenton, featuring Rebecca Kilgoreand a long overdue PDX appearance by 83-year-old NEA Jazz Master Barry Harris.

Community outreach programming including the Student Stage is set to take place at Portland State University on February 16 and 17, “The Incredible Journey of Jazz” school program, Jazz Conversations and more to be announced soon. For more information, go to www.pdxjazz.com, like PDX Jazz on Facebook or follow on Twitter.