Opening: Jam Session: America’s Jazz Ambassadors Embrace the World December 10, 2010

Las Cruces, NM – Friday, December 10, 2010 is the kick off for Jam Session in Las Cruces – a series of jazz related events, concerts and exhibits in Las Cruces through Thursday, February 3, 2011. Jam Session in Las Cruces is sponsored by Branigan Cultural Center, NMSU Foundation, Las Cruces Convention and Visitors Bureau, Dona Ana Arts Council, KRWG, Allen Theaters and the City of Las Cruces. For a full list of events, dates, and times visit www.lcjazz.org.

Branigan Cultural Center will host the exhibit Jam Session: America’s Jazz Ambassadors Embrace the World. This exhibit was the inspiration for Jam Session in Las Cruces. It tells the story of American cultural diplomacy through jazz with concerts, films, multi-media exhibits and public gallery talks as well as educational outreach programs for students of all ages. On loan from the Meridian International Center in Washington, D.C., Jam Session highlights jazz musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie and Dave Brubeck who, on behalf of the United States Department of State, traveled the world as goodwill ambassadors in the mid-1950s. This exhibit consists of historical documents and nearly 100 images that portray the era. Jam Session was curated by Dr. Curtis Sandberg, Meridian’s Vice President for the Arts with Professor Penny M. Von Eschen, author of Satchmo Blows Up the World: Jazz Ambassadors Play the Cold World. The exhibit at the Branigan Cultural Center will be open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 9AM to 4:30PM.

A series of concerts begins with a tribute to Louis Armstrong featuring trumpet player and vocalist Byron Stripling with the NMSU Jazz Ensemble on Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 7:30PM at the Rio Grande Theatre. Best known for its acclaimed public radio show “Riverwalk: Live from the Landing,” The Jim Cullum Jazz Band performs at NMSU’s Atkinson Recital Hall on Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 7PM. Jazz pianist Willis Delony will perform in the exhibition space at the Branigan Cultural Center at 7:30PM on January 26, 2011. The final concert features jazz piano legend Junior Mance and his quintet at the Rio Grande Theatre on Thursday, February 3, 2011 at 8PM.

Sponsored by the NMSU Black Programs and the Branigan Cultural Center, there is also a special Black History Month event on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at 7pm at BCC. This jazz celebration features pianist Billy Townes with special guests Ricky Malachi on drums, Mike Hamilton on the saxophone and Erik Unsworth on bass.

Throughout Jam Session in Las Cruces, The Rio Grande Theatre will host a concert and film series with a live concert every Tuesday at 5:30PM followed by a jazz-oriented film at 7PM. Local musicians performing include: The New Horizons Band, the MST Jazz Trio, Roman Chip, Allan Kaplan, The Creole Jazz Band and Ken Neidig and the Jazz Unlimited Big Band. The films shown are: “High Society”, “’Round Midnight”, The Benny Goodman Story”, “Mo’ Better Blues”, “Satchmo: The Genius of Armstrong” and a special holiday double feature of “Holiday Inn” and “White Christmas.” The concerts and films are free and open to the public.

The Rio Grande Theatre’s two galleries feature local and Southwestern jazz memorabilia. One display focuses on jazz in the Las Cruces/El Paso areas; the other features the jazz photography of noted Albuquerque artist Jim Gale.

Exhibit related gallery talks by MNSU Professor of Music Dr. James Shearer, Bob Burns and Ken Neidig will take place Saturdays at 11AM at the Branigan Cultural Center with the exception of Christmas and New Year’s Day. The talks are free and open to the public.

Group tours of the exhibit are available. For additional information or to schedule guided tours, please contact the Branigan Cultural Center at 575-541-2154 or [email protected] or visit the Jam Session in Las Cruces website at: www.lcjazz.org.

The Branigan Cultural Center is located at the north end of the Downtown Mall in Las Cruces at 501 North Main Street. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9a.m. to 4:30p.m. For more information, contact the Branigan Cultural Center at (575) 541-2154 or visit the Center’s website at http://las-cruces.org/museums.