Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead: A Concert Performance

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Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead A Concert Performance

Tune in to hear the next generation of jazz greats—this year’s graduating class of the international jazz residency program Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead.

These young men and women were selected through a competitive audition process for their exceptional jazz performance and composition skills. Catch these rising “jazz stars of the future” in concert at the Kennedy Center.

Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by

About the Program Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead: What You Should Know This concert marks the final day of this year’s Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead, a two-week residency for emerging jazz musicians. The program was originally developed by legendary jazz vocalist Betty Carter in 1993 in Brooklyn, New York. She founded Jazz Ahead as a vehicle to bring new life into jazz music by identifying and coaching promising young artists.

In 1997, the program found its new home at the Kennedy Center thanks to an invitation by the late Dr. Billy Taylor, the Kennedy Center’s Artistic Advisor for Jazz

(1994–2010). After Ms. Carter’s death the following year, Dr. Taylor and the Kennedy Center decided to continue her legacy by making Jazz Ahead an annual event.

About Betty Carter (1929–1998) Known for her signature vocal style—a combination of improvisational technique, intense scatting, and imaginative interpretations of classic melodies—Carter was more than just an impressive voice. As an artist fiercely devoted to jazz education, Carter is regarded as “the Godmother of Jazz” due to her extensive work in mentoring young musical talent.

Jazz Ahead identifies students who are fearless and driven to breaking new musical ground while staying connected to history. The program seeks to mentor these passionate young people to grow as they work together.

Jazz: An Evolving Art Form Jazz is truly an American musical form— and many people consider it one of America’s best contributions to the world of music. Jazz first emerged about 100 years ago in the American South, most distinctly in New Orleans, Louisiana. This seaport city served as home to people of African, French, English, Caribbean, and other backgrounds. It became a melting pot for music from these many traditions.

African American musicians fused elements of ragtime, blues, classical, and big brass band sounds to create this distinct new type of music.

After the first jazz recordings were made in 1917, jazz spread across the nation. It evolved over decades, helped along by many influential musicians. In the 1920s, trumpeter Louis Armstrong introduced improvised solos and Duke Ellington popularized big band jazz; the 1930s is when people began dancing to jazz music, thanks to the upbeat sounds of Benny Goodman’s and Count Basie’s swing music. Charlie Parker’s groundbreaking bebop of the 1940s led to Miles Davis’ complex “cool” style in the 1950s. Jazz moved into the 1960s with pioneers like John Coltrane and his modal jazz; the next decades brought more change—from fusion, which brought together multiple styles, to the neoclassical leanings of Wynton Marsalis and other “young lions.” Jazz continues to evolve today—building on its vast legacy of innovation and experimentation.

Musical Language Here are some terms you should know… arrangement an adaptation of a piece of music for performance in a different way, especially on different instruments than for which it was originally composed

improvisation creating music or song spontaneously, a technique that requires great musical skill and creativity

jazz standard a popular musical composition that is widely known and performed, most of these songs were created between the 1920s and 60s for Broadway musicals and films

melody the tune you hum or sing along with when listening to a favorite song scatting a singing style where wordless syllables are used instead of actual words, and the voice is used much like a musical instrument

—Carmen McRae, jazz singer, pianist, and composer

Meet Jason Moran, Residency Director Described by Rolling Stone as “the most provocative thinker in current jazz,” this jazz pianist and composer is an alumnus of Jazz Ahead. Today, Moran is both a successful solo artist and bandleader for his jazz trio The Bandwagon. He is also on the piano faculty at the New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts and serves as the Kennedy Center’s Artistic Advisor for Jazz.

David M. Rubenstein Chairman

Photo by Carol Pratt

“Betty Carter represents more than just a turning point in musical history.

She stands as a testament to the strength of musical dedication, holding on to fight for your dreams and never giving up on the things you love.”

Michael M. Kaiser President Jason Moran Artistic Advisor for Jazz Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead, part of the Rubenstein Arts Access Program, is generously funded by David and Alice Rubenstein.

Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead is made possible through the generous support of the King-White Family Foundation and Dr. J. Douglas White.

Additional support is provided by Carolyn and Bill Powers and the U.S. Department of Education.

Additional support for Performances for Young Audiences is provided in part by Adobe Foundation; The Clark Charitable Foundation; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Macy*s Foundation; The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Park Foundation, Inc.; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; an endowment from the Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation; U.S. Department of Education; Washington Gas; and by generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund, and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas.

Photo by Scott Suchman

www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge

The Inside Scoop Go online and get more on the history and techniques of Jazz, as well as some personal recollections of Betty Carter, at: http://goo.gl/jFQZH

Cuesheets are produced by ArtsEdge, an education program of the Kennedy Center.

Learn more about Education at The Kennedy Center at www.kennedy-center.org/education The contents of this Cuesheet do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. © 2013 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Listen Up! Check out more on the history of jazz at Jazz in Time http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/ multimedia/series/AEMicrosites/jazz-in-time