Jazz documentary series at library
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on January 17, 2008 1:45 PM
The Wayne County Public Library is preparing to play host to a new documentary film viewing and discussion series, "Looking At: Jazz, America's Art Form," which will begin Feb. 2.
The program will continue each Saturday afternoon through March 8 and will consist of six sessions held from 2 until 4 p.m. in the Gertrude Weil Auditorium at the Main Branch of the Wayne County Public Library on Ash Street.
Each week participants will view selected documentaries on the history and cultural significance of jazz followed by a brief lecture and group discussion. Topics include: the origins of jazz in New Orleans; its development during the Harlem Renaissance; individual jazz vocalists, such as Billie Holiday; the Swing Era and the music of Benny Goodman; later jazz innovators including Charlie Parker and Miles Davis; and ultimately, the evolution of jazz as an international musical art form in Latin America and elsewhere. Each session will be led by speaker Bill DiNome from University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Program Director Matt Bolen says the Wayne library is the first public library in the state to host the series, as part of the "Let's Talk About It" series of programs from the NC Center for the Book.
The North Carolina Center for the Book, affiliated with the Library of Congress, is a collaborative project to focus public interest on books, reading, libraries, literacy, print culture and the literary heritage of the state.
"The Wayne County Public Library is thrilled to bring this fascinating and culturally significant film series to the Wayne County community," Bolen said. "Our previous film series have been quite successful, and we expect Looking at: Jazz to continue this excellence."
The library has previously hosted three viewing and discussion series; the most recent focused on the history and impact of the 1960s.
The program is free and open to the public, although prior registration is required. To register, contact the reference desk at735-1824 or by email at matt.bolen@waynegov.com.
And for more program details and to view sample clips of the films and musical performances, go to: http://www.lookingatjazz.com.
Partial funding for the series will be provided by the North Carolina Humanities Council and all films are on loan from the state Center for the Book.