Idyllwild Arts holding Black History jazz concert
In honor of Black History Month, Idyllwild Arts Academy (IAA) is holding its annual Black History jazz concert that is free and open to the public. It is from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, in the Lowman Concert Hall on campus.
PHOTO COURTESY OF IAA
The event is the brainchild of IAA’s iconic Jazz Program founder Dr. Marshall Hawkins and IAA Director of Orchestra Dr. Daniel Bassin. The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Board is hosting the concert. The theme of the event will be the “Replacement of the Drum,” reflecting both the hardships and triumphs black Americans have experienced in the United States when drums, a principal form of communication in Africa, were taken away during slavery. Africans in America had to fashion different types of drums and percussion instruments from whatever materials they could gather, profoundly reinventing and reshaping music for generations to come.
The concert will feature Dr. Marshall Hawkins’ Seahawk Modern Jazz Orchestra (MOJO), which he formed in 2002, joining the school’s own Jazz and Classical music students, faculty and alumni along with a plethora of professional performers for this event, including jazz artist Sherry Williams, jazz musician Bob Boss, vocalist Yve Evans, Nigerian artist Najite and Latin percussionist Ray Gonzales.
Listeners will be taken on a journey from Africa where music began with the drum through the New World and into modern music, showcasing the unifying power of music.
Hawkins credits numerous talented black women as nurturing his talent over the years, including legendary artists Shirley Horn and Jeannie Cheatham, who will be honored at this year’s concert.
Hawkins, who was self-taught, won first place honors at a talent show playing upright piano at age 12. In 1964, Hawkins began studies on the string bass. In the late ’60s and ’70s Hawkins traveled throughout the United States, playing bass with legends such as The Miles Davis Quintet (with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock and Tony Williams), Shirley Horn and Roberta Flack before forming his own quintet.
In 1978, he moved to Idyllwild, later founding the IAA jazz program, which has since become world renowned, mentoring hundreds of talented young people and enticing famous musicians over the years to impart their wisdom in the form of master classes. He has served as the school’s musical director for over 30 years and in 1994, he co-founded the popular yearly fundraiser Jazz in the Pines. Hawkins has been deeply committed to teaching the uniquely American art form of jazz through a holistic approach that combines theory, improvisation and practical, incorporating all musical styles.
Now age 84, Hawkins continues to teach while working on his autobiography. He also is the subject of a documentary, currently in the works that will showcase his musical legacy.
