Dizzy Gillespie

WORDTheatre Partners with LA Phil, Celebrates 20th Year with JAZZ Re-EVOLUTION

Kimberly Shelby, Contributing WriterJuly 13, 2023

In partnership with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association (LA Phil), and in celebration of its 20th anniversary, WORDTheatre® proudly presents JAZZ Re-EVOLUTION, a literary and musical tribute honoring jazz legends, at The Ford, on Saturday, July 22, at 8:00pm. Featured performers include Keith David, Antonique Smith, Tracie Thoms, Glynn Turman, Terrace Martin, Nedra Wheeler and Clayton Cameron, among many others.

Local News

Barbara Morrison: Still a Performer at the Center of Hearts

Kimberly Shelby, Contributing WriterMarch 2, 2023

One year after revered songstress, vocal teacher and community activist Barbara Morrison’s passing at age 72, her legacy is humming along in full swing. The City of Los Angeles has renamed the corner of 43rd Street and Degnan (where the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center has stood for the past 14 years) “Barbara Morrison Square.” It was dedicated on the singer’s birthday last year, September 10, which also marked the date of the First Annual Barbara Morrison Jazz and Blues Festival.

Entertainment Legends Music

Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool — A Complicated Man Chased by Demons —A Brilliant Look at His Life

Lapacazo Sandoval, Contributing WriterMay 3, 2019

What Davis had, that others made comments upon, even from his earliest days was his “star” quality. That’s high praise since he was coming up with other jazz musicians who in turn also became legends yet they didn’t possess a mystic around their persona. Not like Davis who simply didn’t give an “F” and because of that his mystique only grew more. He burned through the ’50s and sauntered through the ’60s using and abusing, drugs and alcohol and building up his mystique which grew darker, and darker.

Entertainment Music

Jazz ‘n Paz Presents Barbara Morrison and Her Trio

Sentinel News ServiceMarch 15, 2019

Curated by Performances à la Carte, the Pasadena based collaborative arts and social conscience entity, presents its Spring 2019 Jazz ‘n Paz intimate seasonal monthly early Sunday evening jazz series featuring a lineup of award-winning and internationally renowned jazz musicians. A staple on the jazz scene, Barbara Morrison and her Trio headline the second concert of the spring series on Sunday, March 24 at 5:00 p.m. at Neighborhood UU Church in Pasadena. Morrison’s trio features Charles Small, guitar; Michael Saucier, Bass; and Peter Buck, Drums.