Media Releases
Press Release Legendary “Jazz Ambassadors” Randy Weston & Buster Cooper & Renowned Photo-Journalist Herb Snitzer Headline October 13, 2010 “Jam Session” Opening Event at 6 pm in St. Petersburg The International Council of the Tampa Bay Region Presents “Jam Session: America’s Jazz Ambassadors Embrace the World!” This 6-Week historical photo exhibition live music “jam sessions”, & concerts by college and high school jazz musicians plays at the St. Petersburg (FL) Museum of History. St. Petersburg, FL, October 5, 2010: The International Council of the Tampa Bay Region announces that three legendary jazz artists will appear at the October 13 Opening Reception for the six-week historical exhibition at the St. Petersburg Museum of History.
· Randy Weston: At the October 13 Opening Reception, one of the original “Jazz Ambassadors – Randy Weston, a globally-renowned jazz pianist, composer and leader of a 1960s tour in Africa – will be honored, speak about his State Department tours, and perform a program of his music. · Another original “Jazz Ambassador” – Buster Cooper, trombonist in the Duke Ellington Orchestra during the 1963 State Department tour – a St. Petersburg native, will be honored at the event. · Herb Snitzer, world-renowned photo-journalist, photographed nearly all of the Jazz Ambassadors and created indelible images of them in rehearsal, on stage, and in their private lives. Snitzer will also be honored at the opening event, and display some of his work as part of the exhibit. For a complete 6-week schedule, media kit, and for ticket information, please visit http://www.ic-tbr.org/JAM-SESSION-AMERICA'S-JAZZ-AMBASSADORS-EMBRACE-THE-WORLD!.html.
”Jam Session” is a major photographic retrospective of the historic 1950s – 1970s era that chronicles the US State Department globe-trotting concert tours of America’s “Jazz Ambassadors” – Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Dave Brubeck, Randy Weston, and Dizzy Gillespie, among others. For more than 20 years, individual bands, orchestras and even the Newport Jazz Festival brought the artistry of jazz to millions behind the Iron Curtain, to Asia, Africa and to Latin America. The Meridian International Center exhibit has traveled the world and the US. This is the only tour stop in Florida.
The exhibit plays at the St. Petersburg Museum of History six days a week (Tues-Sun) from October 12-November 21, 2010, with related live music and jazz history events happening three days a week. Partners in the event include three charitable organizations: The International Council, the St. Petersburg Museum of History, and the Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association. ###
PRESS RELEASE October 1, 2010 “Jazz Ambassadors” Land in St. Petersburg October 12!
Satchmo in Egypt? Duke Ellington in Iraq? Count Basie in Burma? Dizzy Gillespie in Iran? Randy Weston in Senegal?
From October 12 – November 21, 2010, The International Council of the Tampa Bay Region presents “Jam Session: America’s Jazz Ambassadors Embrace the World!”, a Meridian International Center traveling photographic exhibition that chronicles of the days when the US Department of State sent America's "Jazz Ambassadors" - among them, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie - on a series of overseas "cultural exchange tours" from the 1950s - 1970s. The show plays at the St. Petersburg Museum of History six days a week, with related music and jazz history events around the area.
“Cultural Diplomacy” – employing the arts to further international and inter-cultural understanding – has often helped the United States share its message abroad, sometimes at critical moments in American foreign policy. During the Cold War 1950s – 1970s, America’s cultural ambassadors were the great jazz musicians of all time. They took “America’s classical music” to millions of listeners in Eastern Europe, East Asia, Africa and Latin America.
A number of jazz greats who were part of this era will appear at “Jam Session” events:
Many of these “Jazz Ambassadors” played around the Tampa Bay area, and especially here in St. Petersburg at the historic Manhattan Casino and the Royal Theater. As part of the “Jam Session” global experience, two very special exhibits will also be on display at the Museum. One will celebrate the “History of Jazz in St. Petersburg”, which will explore the rich and diverse heritage of jazz in our city. Another special exhibit will feature the historic jazz photography of photojournalist and author Herb Snitzer, an internationally known photographer who lives in St. Petersburg. This is one blockbuster show that you’ll not want to miss!
But there’s more!
Each week of the exhibit will feature live “jam sessions”, jazz history lectures, “swing” dancing, and featured jazz performances by professional and area high school and college jazz combos. The International Council and the Museum are working with the Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association – a regional non-profit that provides training and scholarships for aspiring young musicians – to create a great jazz music program to accompany the “Jam Session” show.
Regular updates and up-to-the-minute information can be found at www.ic-tbr.org. Further information can be obtained by calling Gary L. Springer, President of the International Council, at 727-709-3354.
The International Council of the Tampa Bay Region is the originating sponsor of this exhibit at the Museum. The International Council – the State Department’s exclusive “public diplomacy” partner organization for our region, annually provides professional, educational and cultural programs for over 300 current and emerging global leaders invited to the US by our Embassies abroad.
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Click Below for Details! Jazz Photography of Herb Snitzer "Jam Session" Community Partners
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