SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2024, 3:00 PM
First Congregational Church, 10 W. Lockwood Ave, Webster Groves
Admission at the door: $20/adults, $15/seniors, $5/students
Performed by the Paul DeMarinis – Mike Parkinson Sextet
featuring vocalist Debby Lennon
DUKE ELLINGTON (1899-1974) & BILLY STRAYHORN (1915-1967)
are musical titans who created some of the most significant songs and
major works in jazz canon, from 1938 until Strayhorn’s death in 1967.
This concert will include African Flower, Day Dream, A Flower Is A
Lovesome Thing, In A Mellow Tone, Isfahan, Lush Life, Rockin’ In
Rhythm, Satin Doll, Solitude, Sophisticated Lady, Take The A Train,
and other pieces. Ellington and Strayhorn also collaborated on major
works including Anatomy of Murder, The Far East Suite, The
Nutcracker, Paris Blues, The Queen’s Suite, and many more, often
overlapping or completing each other’s musical thoughts.
The INTERNATIONAL SUMMER JAZZ ACADEMY (ISJA) celebrates its 30th
anniversary July 21-28 in Krakow, Poland with 100 students from across
Europe. Since 1994, the ISJA has included instructors from the United States,
Poland, and other nations, teaching over 2,400 students in the art of jazz,
culminating in gala public concerts. ISJA alumni include Dominik Wania, ECM
pianist/composer, Pawel Kaczmarczyk, ACT pianist; Tomasz Kudyk, trumpet;
Dawid Rudnicki, pianist/composer; Przemek Jarosz, drums/studio engineer;
Agata Pisko, Graz vocalist, Andrzej Danek, New York vocalist, Mark Tokar;
Ukrainian bassist, and DAGADANA, Poland-Ukraine vocal group.
The ISJA was founded by Dr. Isi Rudnick, Cincinnati Schools Fine Arts
Coordinator. Mike Parkinson was an original ISJA instructor and Artistic
Director from 1995-2005, assisted by Willem von Hombracht, Artistic Director
from 2008-2015. Willem and Mike have been invited to return by Grzegorz
Motyka, director of the Krakow School of Jazz & Contemporary Music, the
ISJA presenter.
