Yesterday I finally got around to watching a program I'd recorded on my DVR. It was a PBS feature, In Performance at the White House. It featured students and faculty (and some guests, I think) from the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at Loyola University in New Orleans. The President and First Lady got to listen to some very good jazz from some very distinguished figures along with some up and comers. Oddly enough, I can find no mention of the event on either the PBS or the Monk Institute websites. You would think that the latter, at least, would have good reason to publicize the event.
The show itself was a little odd, in so far as many of the players were not named at all, or not until after they had played a set. I watched one gentleman come on stage with a soprano sax and play some lovely lines. It took me a couple of minutes to recognize him as Wayne Shorter, my own personal jazz hero. Other greats included Herbie Hancock, Clark Terry, and Anita Baker. I gather that Hancock has a prominent role in the Monk Institute. Anyway, it was a fine exhibition of jazz horns, piano, and vocals. Since PBS and the Monk Institute did not get around to publicizing the show, I have done it for them. If you get a chance to catch it, catch it.
ps. Wayne Shorter was in fact shorter, by a head, than the other players.
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