Drum roll for black history
To kick off the celebration of Black History Month, the Luther P. Jackson Cultural Center and the University Library are co-sponsoring the Afrikan Drum Festival this afternoon in the Newcomb Hall Ballroom at 3:30 p.m.
The free program will feature local musicians and dancers performing a set of authentic African music.
According to Brenda Lambert, a member of the Multi-Cultural Issues Committee, the performers will sing as well as discuss their instruments and background during the hour-long program. The group, which primarily plays percussion instruments, also performed last year for the celebration of Black History Month, and most recently at First Night, Charlottesville's New Year's celebration.
Lambert, who saw the group at First Night, called it "exciting."
She said she expects a mixed crowd for the program, and has invited some school children from nearby elementary schools and daycare centers to liven up the audience.
Charlottesville drumming instructor Darrell Rose leads the group.
"Our message is diversity," Rose said. "By sharing the roots of African music, we are sharing our blessing with the audience."
Jazzed off
Sometimes even high school networking pays off.
In an effort to promote works by Jewish composers and artists, third-year College Student Benjamin Levy invited Dzaesmin, led by Levy's high school comrade, Laura Friedman, to perform two sets of her original compositions.
"Rarely do you see instrumentation like this," said Levy, who is the music director of the Jewish Concert Series.
The free jazz concert will be held tonight at 8:15 p.m. in the Old Cabell Hall Auditorium, featuring the jazz combo that met at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
"While most music conservatories are classically oriented, Berklee is universally felt to be the premier jazz conservatory," Levy said.
Dzaesmin, with members hailing from Luxembourg, Germany and Austria, toured Europe for a month in September and is dropping in on the University during its tour of the eastern United States.
--Compiled by Josie Roberts
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