WRTI is proud to take part in this year’s Jazz Summit, presented by Jazz Philadelphia and the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, in partnership with PECO, on October 9th and 10th. This year’s Summit is virtual, and will directly address the challenges facing the jazz world right now, with the theme "Resilience."
As the new home of its Living Legacy Jazz Award, Philadelphia has a long and rich jazz history that Mid Atlantic is excited to be a part of now and in the years to come.
The keynote speaker is drummer Terri Lynne Carrington, who will talk about jazz and justice. Panel discussions and TedX-Style inspirational talks are a pertinent part of the two-day gathering, pooling experts in the field to tackle the issues of today: jazz as protest, holistic care of ourselves during hard times, and the need to adapt in our challenging circumstances.
Don't miss bass player Anthony Tidd, a WRTI and Jazz Philadelphia Hometown Hero, on new business models that center musicians, and The Big Pivot—Jazz Clubs: Realities and Opportunities, which will be hosted by WRTI’s Associate General Manager for Programming and Content Josh Jackson. You can also catch WRTI General Manager Bill Johnson during an "Ask Me Anything" coffee hangout. Come with your questions!
Performances are also a Summit mainstay, though they’ll look a bit different this time around. You can expect video performances from Carol Riddick and Aaron Graves, a beautiful animated piece from George Burton, and a special sneak peek of Orrin Evans’ Club Patio, presented by Imani Records and WRTI (to name a few).
This installment of Evans’ solution to the social distancing dilemma was filmed for a future episode of Jazz Night In America, and features Evans on piano, with Luques Curtis on bass and Nasheet Waits on the drums. You'll also get acess to a screening of the Milford Graves documentary Full Mantis, and a special NPR Live Sessions playlist, curated by J. Michael Harrison and Jazz Philadelphia.
Everyone is welcome at the Summit, from audiences and advocates to aspiring musical talent and the people who support them. Free tickets are available for those in need until October 6th, and if you're someone who can purchase a "Hometown Hero" ticket, even if you can't attend, you will help to keep it free for musicians who are struggling. Click here for a full schedule and to register.