The Spirit of Jazz & Democracy fall residency at St. Mary’s College of Maryland continues on Nov. 29 with a master class on jazz improvisation. The class is free and open to the public. It will be held from 6 – 7:30 p.m. in Montgomery Hall Room 25.
Master drummer Paul F. Murphy and drummer and jazz historian Dominic Fragman, ’07, explore distinctive techniques and concepts of improvisation. The session is open to both musicians and non-‐musicians. All participants will benefit from an exploration of how improvisation in music, through storytelling, in dialogue, and other modes of expression, facilitates individual freedom and enhances the life of communities.
The Spirit of Jazz & Democracy is a program of interactive lectures, performances, workshops, and master classes that derive key lessons from jazz music about promoting freedom and inclusive democracy. Jazz is the true American art form and the music of freedom in performance as well as concept. The Spirit of Jazz & Democracy engages audiences in intentional listening and expression in the context of performances and discussions of jazz and democracy. At the center of the program are fully improvised concerts by Paul Murphy, Larry Willis, Jere Carroll, and Dominic Fragman. The Spirit of Jazz & Democracy is in residence at St. Mary’s College through Dec. 8. Find more information on these events at www.SpiritJazzDemocracy.com.
This project was made possible by a grant from Maryland Humanities, through support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or Maryland Humanities.
St. Mary’s College of Maryland is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education through 2024-2025. St. Mary’s College, designated the Maryland state honors college in 1992, is ranked one of the best public liberal arts schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Approximately 1,600 students attend the college, nestled on the St. Mary’s River in Southern Maryland.