Jazz Club sponsors festival honoring African and African American arts

By Alyse Horn

Collegian Staff Writer

The HUB-Robeson Center will be filled with the sounds of music this week in a tribute to African- and African American-influenced arts.

Sponsored by the Penn State Jazz Club and funded by University Park Allocations Committee, the Tribute to the Influence of African and African American Music, Art, Literature and Dance festival will begin at 6 tonight in 112 Walker Building with a lecture featuring author Quincy Troupe. It will continue through Thursday, Feb. 23 in Heritage Hall.

Professor Ronnie Burrage, who teaches AAA S 297B (Hip-Hop Music and Culture), said the name of the festival is dedicated toward celebrating Black History Month, but he doesn’t quite agree with that.

“We need to celebrate black history every day as well as Native American, European, et cetera,” Burrage said. “We need to move beyond borders and color lines to move forward as raceless human beings.”

Burrage added that he feels music is natural healing force, and through art people can achieve unity.

The week will feature concerts every night starting at 7, as well as one beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24, but this is sponsored by the New York African Studies Association.

Speakers, clinics and special events will also occur through the week at different times throughout the week. World Saxophone Quartet member Hamiet Bluiett will host a clinic and workshop at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22 in 122 Music Building II. At 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23 in 260 Willard Building, there will be a hip-hop panel discussion with professional and local hip-hop artists.

Jazz Club Treasurer Zach Stephens said a handful of other student groups are co-sponsoring and helping to plan the event.

Burrage said a number of students have compiled PowerPoints and DVDs as presentations during this week’s event. The architectural engineering department contributed to the show by building a backdrop for the set, which Burrage said “looks incredible.”

Stephens said students can experience a lot of music they don’t typically see on campus, ranging from urban jazz to classical African dancing.

Burrage, who is friends with Jazz Club advisor and musician Eli Byrne, has also helped oversee the performances and events to take place.

Equille Williams said he took the AAA S 297B with Burrage and ever since working with him, Williams (senior-broadcast journalism) said his life has changed. Williams said he started rapping his senior year of high school, but taking Burrage’s class helped him to break into performing.

Williams raps under the moniker Quilwill, and he said he will perform every night during the festival except for Friday. Williams encouraged students and faculty to come to the performances and to be open to hearing a plethora of music.

“Everybody’s palette will be pleased,” Williams said.
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2012/02/21/psu_jazz_club_sponsors_art_festival_.aspx