Cambridge, MA, March 21, 2024
Longy School of Music of Bard College invites all to attend the Eric Concert and Symposium on the Future of Jazz Culture, an afternoon in remembrance of WGBH’s Eric Jackson, the “dean of Boston Jazz Radio.”
Jazz author and journalist Bob Blumenthal will moderate a panel exploring jazz culture—where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going—with Boston musicians and historians influenced by Jackson, including special guest and groundbreaking violinist Chelsey Green.
Eric Jackson photo by GBH Educational Foundation
Following the panel, guests will enjoy a performance by award-winning recording artist and Longy Senior Scholar-in-Residence Bill Banfield and Longy Ensemble-in-Residence Imagine Orchestra, featuring Chelsey Green.
“We hope this annual concert and symposium honoring our dear brother Eric Jackson is a testament to the deep devotion, wisdom, and care with which he curated Jazz artistry and history and championed its impact on American and world arts culture,” remarked Banfield, who also serves as the Eric Concert and Symposium director.
The event will be held in Longy’s Edward M. Pickman Concert Hall, located at 27 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA, on April 20, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. The event is entirely free, though registration is required at https://bit.ly/3IQNyhK.
About Eric Jackson
The event’s namesake, Eric Jackson, was a jazz DJ, radio icon, and lifelong music fan best known for hosting WGBH’s show, Eric in the Evening. His warmth and expansive knowledge of jazz music inspired and enlightened audiences for over fifty years.
About Chelsey Green
Chelsey Green photo by Derrel Todd Photography
Described as “passionate, electrifying, and innovative,” international recording artist Chelsey Green breaks down stereotypes of traditional violin and viola playing. A native of Houston, Texas, Chelsey Green is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, entrepreneur, and educator who combines classical and contemporary to make music uniquely her own.
About Bill Banfield
Longy Senior Scholar-in-Residence Bill Banfield is an award-winning composer and one of the most performed and recorded composers of his generation. His symphonies, operas, and chamber works have been performed and recorded by major symphonies across the country.