The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad Launched in 2005 in partnership with Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad has already sent 118 musicians from 31 jazz, urban or American roots music ensembles to 97 countries. In the tradition of the original Jazz Ambassadors program that sent Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong and Dave Brubeck on world tours during the Cold War era, Rhythm Road brings American culture to audiences around the globe through person-to-person exchanges, focusing particularly on those in more remote areas. Rhythm Road artists are the new generation of musical ambassadors, reaching beyond concert halls to interact with other musicians and the general public. Their direct engagement with foreign audiences via workshops, master classes and jam sessions presents a positive image of the U.S. and provides a greater understanding of our society. The U.S. artists themselves deepen their knowledge of other cultures, enhance their creativity, and feel the pride of representing their country. Jazz at Lincoln Center and the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced the 10 ensembles who will tour with The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad program in 2010. More than 130 American music groups from across the United States specializing in jazz, urban/hip hop and other American roots music - blues, bluegrass, Cajun, country, gospel and zydeco - applied for the opportunity to share their music with the world to promote cross-cultural understanding, with special emphasis on countries not often visited by American musicians. Three judges selected 10 ensembles from among 35 who were invited to audition in New York City. Selected for their artistic integrity, musical ability and educational skills, these talented groups will travel to more than 40 countries between March and November 2010: · Charlie Porter Quartet - Jazz - New York, NY · Chen Lo and the Liberation Family - Hip Hop - Brooklyn, NY · Johnny Rodgers Band - American/Pop - New York, NY · Little Joe McLerran Quartet - Blues - Tulsa, OK · Mark Sherman-Tim Horner Quartet - Jazz - New York, NY · Nasar Abadey and SUPERNOVA - Jazz - Washington, DC · Oscar Williams and Perfected Praise - Gospel - St. Louis, MO · Paul Beaudry & Pathways - Jazz - New York, NY · The Student Loan - Bluegrass - Portland, OR · Turning Pointe - Gospel - Atlanta, GA International tour activities will include public concerts, master classes, lecture-demonstrations, workshops, jam sessions, collaborations with local musicians and media outreach. Over the past four seasons, 118 musicians from 31 ensembles have toured with the program, visiting 97 countries on five continents. Ensembles travel around the globe for approximately one month from March through December 2010. The program also incorporates free performances by each ensemble hosted in New York by Jazz at Lincoln Center at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola at Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, and in Washington, D.C. presented by National Geographic Live! at the Grosvenor Auditorium. For more information visit The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad. In addition, you can visit the US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs website. |
Little Joe McLerran Quartet Selected to Tour the World for Jazz at Lincoln Center |
The Little Joe McLerran Quartet performs at Cultural Hall, Manama, Bahrain, April 1, 2010. |