Jazz Festival Ending With Premiere Of Chris Parker's "No Tears Suite" at Central High School - National Historic Site's Magnolia Service Station

In conjunction with activities related to the 60th anniversary of desegregation at Little Rock's Central High School, an outdoor jazz festival (free, family-friendly, open to the public) will be held on Saturday, 23 September 2017 (12-7:20pm) near the historic Magnolia/Mobil Service Station (across the street from the Central High School National Historic Site's visitor center). The festival (coordinated by the UCA College of Fine Arts and Communication) features the University of Central Arkansas Dixieland Band directed by Jackie Lamar (12pm), Mann Middle School directed by Cody Jernigan (1pm), Dunbar Middle School directed by Jose Holloway (2pm), North Little Rock High School directed by Brandon Wilson (3pm), Parkview High School directed by Carlton McGee (4pm), and Central High School directed by Brice Evans (5pm)...

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In conjunction with activities related to the 60th anniversary of desegregation at Little Rock's Central High School, an outdoor jazz festival (free, family-friendly, open to the public) will be held on Saturday, 23 September 2017 (12-7:20pm) near the historic Magnolia/Mobil Service Station (across the street from the Central High School National Historic Site's visitor center). The festival (coordinated by the UCA College of Fine Arts and Communication) features the University of Central Arkansas Dixieland Band directed by Jackie Lamar (12pm), Mann Middle School directed by Cody Jernigan (1pm), Dunbar Middle School directed by Jose Holloway (2pm), North Little Rock High School directed by Brandon Wilson (3pm), Parkview High School directed by Carlton McGee (4pm), and Central High School directed by Brice Evans (5pm). The closing concert (6-7:20pm) includes the premiere of jazz pianist Chris Parker's "No Tears Suite," inspired by "Warriors Don't Cry" (the 1994 memoir written by Melba Pattillo Beals, one of the Little Rock Nine) and presented as a special addition to the 2017-2018 jazz series curated by the critically acclaimed Oxford American literary magazine (oxfordamerican.org). In addition to the new 30-minute jazz composition, Arkansas- and civil rights-inspired works by several jazz icons (Charles Mingus, Sam Rivers, Pharoah Sanders, John Stubblefield) will be performed by an ensemble of regional and national talent: Brian Blade (drums), Chad Fowler (alto sax), Marc Franklin (trumpet), Bill Huntington (upright bass), Kelley Hurt (vocals), Bobby LaVell (tenor sax), Chris Parker (keys), I. J. Routen (vocals). Brief profiles of some performers are provided within the Facebook invitation titled "No Tears Suite [Jazz Series]" and the entry under "Event Calendar" at littlerock.com. A map for parking and Rock Region Metro's free park-and-ride shuttle bus (available 10am-9:30pm) can be found at nps.gov/chsc/60th-anniversary.htm. (The Central High School National Historic Site Visitor Center's lot at 2120 Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive is reserved for accessible parking only.) Questions about the festival should be directed to the University of Central Arkansas (501.450.3293). Info and a local map for the venue are provided via a link at the top of this Jazz Near You entry, which can be shared via e-mail as well as other social media.

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