These events, supported by Reed’s Greenberg Distinguished Scholar Program, are part of a series of lectures and performances to commemorate the 100th birthday of Billy Strayhorn and celebrate the unique creative relationship between jazz greats Strayhorn and Duke Ellington.
La Scala: A Harlem Rennaisance Blues in Foggy Milan
Monday, November 2, 2015
2:10–3 p.m.
Performing Arts Building 320
New World A-Coming
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
2:10–3 p.m.
Performing Arts Building 320
Three Black Kings and a Duke in Symphonic Celebration
Friday, November 6, 2015
2:10–3 p.m.
Performing Arts Building 320
Harlem: Sounds from the Big Court
Saturday, November 7, 2015
10–11:45 a.m.
Performing Arts Building 320
Luca Bragalini, who is visiting Reed as part of the Greenberg Distinguished Scholar program, teaches jazz history and jazz analysis at L'Aquila Conservatory of Music and collaborates with the Trento, Brescia, and LaSpezia conservatories. He has taught in 13 conservatories, held masterclasses in 10, and taught 25 times in 9 major Italian workshops, 3 times as a didactic director.
Bragalini has published essays on Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong and was editor of Il Sax (Zecchini Editore), in addition to authoring many essays for specialized magazines. His latest book, Standards Stories (2013), was highly acclaimed by critics and was reworked for both radio and theater. Bragalini's forthcoming book is From La Scala to Harlem: Duke Ellington's Symphonic Dreams. Bragalini discovered unpublished works by Duke Ellington, Chet Baker, and Luciano Chailly, some of which he turned into world performances and recordings. He is one of the most active and appreciated popularizers of the African American musical tradition.