We’re headed back to school, and we hope to see you in class! We are excited to announce the return of Jazz90.1 University – a program presenting a series of community learning events. Courses are taught by Jazz90.1 staff and volunteers.
Classes are open to the public and will take place beginning in February. Each session will last up to 90 minutes, and will be held at Greece Olympia School – 1139 Maiden Lane in the school library attached to our studios. Classes will not be offered virtually.
Tickets
Each class is only $10.00 for current Jazz90.1 members*, secondary school students (grades 9-12,) and college students, and just $15.00 for non-members. Current Greece Central School District students in grades 9-12 may attend for free. Purchase The Whole Series In Advance & Save!
*Current Jazz90.1 members are those who have donated to the station within the last 12 months.
Classes Offered This Year:
Harry Warren In Hollywood – Thursday February 8 – 6:30 p.m.
Taught By Sunday Music Festa Host Otto Bruno
Otto Bruno continues his lifelong salute to songwriters of the Great American Songbook. Join us in February 2024, as we delve into the life and songs of Salvatore Guaragna, better known to singers and musicians the world over as Harry Warren. With lyricists such as Johnny Mercer, Al Dubin, and Mack Gordon, Warren wrote 11 Oscar-nominated songs, winning the award three times for such classics as Lullaby of Broadway, You’ll Never Know, and On the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe. Join the fun as we celebrate this great music through classic recordings and videos.
The Great American Songbook on TV Variety Shows – Thursday March 7, 2024 – 6:30 p.m.
Taught By Sunday Music Festa Host Otto Bruno
Where did you learn about the Great American Songbook? On the radio, in school, maybe from your parents or grandparents? In most cases our family or friends help to shape our musical tastes but the TV Variety Shows of the 1960s and 1970s played a big part in introducing millions of viewers to America’s classic pop songs. The Carol Burnett Show, The Hollywood Palace, Ed Sullivan, and numerous star-driven TV Specials through the decades helped promote the music of The Great American Songbook. In this class, we’ll uncover some of those classic gems and put a smile on your face as we take a trip down TV’s Memory Lane!
RIJF 2024 Preview – Thursday April 11, 2024 – 6:30 p.m.
Taught By Jazz90.1 Music Director Derrick Lucas
**This class is now sold out.**
We are often asked whom we would recommend at each year’s Rochester International Jazz Festival. Join Derrick Lucas following the announcement of the 2024 festival lineup. Derrick will break down each show, tell you about all of the musicians coming to ROC’s amazing jazz festival, and give you his top picks for who to see when the festival kicks off in June.
The History of Ska Jazz Pt. 2 – Thursday May 23, 2024 – 6:30 p.m.
Taught by Heather Augustyn
Alpha Boys’ School: The school that started a musical revolution
Behind Jamaica’s global musical influence is the unlikely story of a boarding school founded by The Sisters of Mercy, a brass band run with military discipline, streetwise orphans, “wayward boys,” and a diminutive, jazz-loving nun who taught music appreciation, creative expression, and boxing. It’s no exaggeration to say that without Alpha, the music of Jamaica – ska, rocksteady, reggae and dancehall – would not be the same. Join ska historian and author Heather Augustyn for a discussion on The Alpha Boys’ School and the students who changed music forever.
Heather Augustyn is a Continuing Lecturer at Purdue Northwest, SPIN magazine contributor and author of numerous books on ska including Alpha Boys’ School: Cradle of Jamaican Music (with Adam Reeves), Don Drummond: The Genius and Tragedy of the World’s Greatest Trombonist, and Rude Girls: Women in 2 Tone and One Step Beyond. She’s also a weekly guest on This Is Ska Jazz, Friday at 8pm on Jazz90.1.
