Monk Institute of Jazz is coming to the Mississipi Coast

[Lois Gilbert]

Monk Institute of Jazz is coming to the Coast


SUN HERALD

The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz will spend two days on the Mississippi Coast, visiting Moss Point on Monday, and Pascagoula and Biloxi on Tuesday.

The institute's mission is to expose thousands of public school students to "Jazz in America: The National Jazz Curriculum." The Web site is jazzinamerica.org.

This Internet-based curriculum is available to all 5th-, 8th- and 11th-grade public school students in the United States. Designed to be a regular part of each school's social studies or American history classes, it is the first jazz curriculum to use Internet technology and is offered free of charge on a national basis.

The Monk Institute is touring this curriculum with support from the Northrop Grumman Corporation and National Endowment for the Arts as part of Black History Month. Included will be a series of jazz assembly programs, band clinics, vocal master classes and community concerts here and in New Orleans. The tour marks the institute's second visit to the region in a year's time.

Each assembly program will feature a five-piece jazz combo led by saxophonist Bobby Watson, a presentation by J.B. Dyas, curriculum project director, and a Q&A session with students. In addition, jazz drummer Thelonious Monk Jr., chairman of the institute's board of trustees, will discuss jazz and its role as America's greatest musical contribution to the world.

In addition, the institute will present a public concert free of charge at 7 p.m. Monday in the Moss Point High School auditorium.

School presentations:

• Moss Point High School, 9-10 a.m. Monday, assembly for 1,200 students in the gym; 10:30-11:30 a.m., jazz band clinic in band room; 10:30-11:30 a.m., vocal master class in the auditorium.

• Pascagoula High School, 8:15-9:15 a.m. Tuesday, jazz band clinic in the band room; 10:30-11:30 a.m., assembly program for 1,250 students in the gym.

• Biloxi High School, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Tuesday, jazz band clinic in the band hall; 1:30-2:30 p.m., vocal master class in the choir hall.

• Sessions on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will be in New Orleans at O. Perry Walker High School, Xavier University, V.C. Haynes Middle School and Lusher Extension School.