Jazz and Poetry in Sound
Purchase College-SUNY will present Kevin Young: Poetry in Sound on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at 4:30 p.m. The program, which is free and open to the public, will take place at Purchase College in the Neuberger Museum of Art (735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, NY). A combo comprised of Jazz students from the Conservatory of Music will perform original settings of poems by Kevin Young. Mr. Young, this year’s Roy and Shirley Durst Distinguished Chair in Literature, will accompany the performance with a live reading.
Pete Malinverni, Purchase College’s head of Jazz Studies, said, “My six-piece combo, featuring Samara McLendon, voice; John Hasselback III, trumpet; Kendric McCallister, saxophone; Kareem Matcham, piano; Clayton Thompson, bass; and Joshua Simpson, drums, have been inspired by the poetry of Kevin Young to write and arrange original compositions that will incorporate Mr. Young’s readings into the performance of those pieces. This calls to mind an earlier era, when poetry and Jazz were parts of the same movement of free American expression. We are pleased to be part of its resurgence!”
Kevin Young serves as director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture at the New York Public Library and as poetry editor of The New Yorker. As the author of 12 books of poetry and non-fiction, he has been a finalist for the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award.
According to Anthony Domestico, associate professor of literature at Purchase College, “Purchase is a special place in no small part because of the conversations it enables between the School of the Arts and the School of Humanities. This event, in which one of America’s most celebrated poets will be working with our incredibly talented Jazz Studies program, is exactly the kind of interdisciplinary collaboration we should be encouraging.”
The Durst Distinguished Lecture Series and the Roy and Shirley Durst Distinguished Chair in Literature are funded by the Roy and Shirley Durst Distinguished Chair in Literature Endowment. The mission of the Durst programs is to infuse the experience and intellect of leading writers into the Purchase community, while providing diverse opportunities for these writers to interact with students and influence campus life.
As a small public college, Purchase is proud to introduce students to the level of expertise provided by the Durst Distinguished Lectures—outstanding opportunities for students and local community members alike to interact with accomplished authors. For more information, please visit: https://www.purchase.edu/academics/school-of-humanities/lectures/durst-distinguished-lectures/ or call 914.251.6550.
About The Purchase PAC
Experience. Something. Real. The Performing Arts Center, Purchase College The Performing Arts Center, Purchase College (The Purchase PAC) is a four-theatre complex on the campus of Purchase College, SUNY, located 30 miles north of New York City in Westchester County, NY. The Purchase PAC is the hub of a creative community that brings together internationally acclaimed artists and rising stars, academic leaders and students of all ages, and community groups and individuals who recognize the power of the performing arts to spark creativity and connection. Professional Presenting Season The Purchase PAC presents a broad range of world-class performances by professional artists, offering music, dance, theatre, family programming, comedy, and film. Music events range from classical to jazz to pop and feature the leading artists of our time as well as emerging stars. As the major regional presenter of dance, programs have included only area appearances of several important traditional, contemporary, and folkloric companies. Theatre presentations reflect a deep commitment to presenting innovative ensembles, with a special focus on theatre for young audiences. The Purchase PAC’s ongoing initiatives also encompass artist partnerships, residency activities, and commissions. We support revitalizing efforts in the community to make the arts more accessible to broad and diverse audiences. Education & Engagement Through our Education and Engagement programs, The Purchase PAC creates opportunities for local K -12 students and multi-generational learners to participate in the artistic process. Purchase College The Purchase PAC is an integral part of the Purchase College community, hosting performances for the Conservatories of Music, Dance, and Theatre Arts. Purchase College students can take advantage of master classes, on-site training, internships, job opportunities, and ticket discounts. Facility Rentals An active facility rental business focuses on providing space and support to high-quality musical recordings, technical rehearsals, and community events.