Jazz & Blues Restoration Project:

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The premise of Polyrhythms’ spring, 2010, “Jazz & Blues Restoration Project” (JBRP), is to explore the nature of the relationship between jazz and blues, and how that synergy informs our nation’s cultural roots. Polyrhythms is taking the time and making the effort to create the opportunity to explore and demonstrate the true nature and the history of this relationship.

In exploring such issues, the Jazz and Blues Restoration Project 2010 will combine public performance, spoken word, poetry, scholastic curriculum and student interaction. Live jazz and blues performance as well as a shared oral history from renowned artists will provide a rich and valuable accounting of the relationships between jazz, blues and American culture.

JBRP ’09 proposes to assemble a jazz band and a blues band featuring musicians selected for their unique ability to provide historically legitimate first person accounts of the development of the music.

Narration, spoken word and poetry by nationally known historians, authors and celebrities will provide historical context and additional insights. After individual performances by both bands, they will merge and jointly perform to clearly demonstrate that musically they indeed share the same parents and fluently speak the family’s language. In addition to the performances, workshops and forums will be presented to further explore the nuances of style between and within each genre.

Polyrhythms intend to document (audio & video) these historic collaborations and teaching opportunities and make these presentations available for educational purposes, as well as potential distribution
via theatrical, Internet, DVD, PBS, or cable outlets.

JBRP ’09 is an eighteen day spring tour to assist in restoring the heritage of Jazz and Blues by visiting five targeted cities: South Bend, IN, the Quad Cities, Des Moines, IA, Kansas City, MO, and Ft. Collins, CO. Larger urban centers have been intentionally avoided because our purpose is to bring a world-class experience into, often culturally underserved, mid to
small market communities.