January 9, 2007

VMFA CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Russell Wilson

dl Hopkins
d.l. Hopkins

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will celebrate Black History Month in February with tributes to the Modern Jazz Quartet and playwright August Wilson.

The Russell Wilson Jazz Ensemble will present a concert, "Modes for Milt: Exploring the Music of Milt Jackson and the MJQ," Saturday, Feb. 24, at 7 pm in the VMFA Marble Hall.

Known as one of the most successful ensembles in the history of jazz, the Modern Jazz Quartet created a musical style—and even a fashion statement—that demonstrated that jazz was an idiom deserving status and respect equal to that of classical music. The group recorded and performed from 1952 until 1974.

The MJQ was founded by acclaimed vibraphonist Milt Jackson, known as "Bags," along with pianist John Lewis, drummer Kenny Clarke, and bassist Percy Heath. The group employed a conservative bop style that went beyond the traditional jazz repertoire to include classical works by Johannes Bach, Gunther Schuller and André Hodeir.

For "Modes for Milt," the Russell Wilson Ensemble will revisit the dynamic and rhythmically complex sound of the Modern Jazz Quartet. Wilson is pianist for the Richmond Symphony and the Masterworks Jazz Orchestra.

Tickets to the concert are $10 (VMFA members and Richmond Jazz Society members $8) and are available at the museum or by telephoning 804.340.1405.

Richmond actor-poet d.l. Hopkins will present a literary reading, "An Afternoon Celebrating the Art of Playwright August Wilson," Sunday, Feb. 25, at 3 pm in VMFA's Pauley Center.

Hopkins will present excerpts of monologues from Wilson's unprecedented series of plays spanning 10 decades of black history, along with dramatic readings and poetry. Hopkins is a poet, teacher and award-winning actor. He is one of only three African-Americans to have been presented with a key to the City of Richmond. He is a founder of the Richmond spoken-word movement and creator of the Just Poetry Slam. He is also a founding member of the Ernie McClintock Jazz Actors Theatre and is a director of James River Writers.

Seating is limited in the Pauley Center, so those who want to attend are encouraged to purchase tickets well in advance. Tickets are $10 (members $8) and are available at the museum or by telephoning 804.340.1405.