Smithsonian Kicks-Off Jazz Appreciation Month with Donations from Jazz Greats Weston and Hernandez

Smithsonian Kicks-Off Jazz Appreciation Month with Donations from Jazz Greats Weston and Hernandez

First Public Performance Featuring Lionel Hampton Vibes by SJMO

WHAT: TheSmithsonian Jazz Masterworks OrchestraQuintet will present a special performance featuring Hampton's vibraphone to open the 12th annual JAM and NEA Jazz Master Randy Weston and Latin Jazz drummer Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez will donate artifacts from their careers to the National Museum of American History.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 9
10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Warner Bros. Theater
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Constitution Avenue entrance, between 12th and 14th streets N.W.

WHO: John Gray, director, National Museum of American History
Randy Weston, NEA Jazz Master
Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, drummer
Richard and Fran Rosman, Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation
Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra Quintet

Lionel Hampton's vibraphone will take a place of honor as the SJMO opens the 12th annual Jazz Appreciation Month celebration with the instrument Hampton donated to the museum in 2001. Hampton is the featured artist on this year's educational JAM poster.

NEA Jazz Master Randy Weston will donate the African attire he wore in Morocco where he was honored for bringing the country's Gnaoua music traditions to the West. Cuban-born Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez will give the museum a drum kit that represents his virtuosity and unique "Latin Fusion" style.

The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation will present an initial contribution to establish the first endowment to support the museum's JAM initiative. JAM details are available at smithsonianjazz.org.

Kate Wiley (202) 633-3129; wileyk@si.edu
Melinda Machado (202) 633-3129; machadom@si.edu

Media website:http://newsdesk.si.edu

/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- April 4, 2013/

SOURCE Smithsonian's National Museum of American History

Smithsonian's National Museum of American History


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