Visiting Artists in Jazz, Spring, 2006
2005-06 Jazz Residency: Jon Hendricks, known as one of the world’s favorite singers and lauded as “the poet laureate of jazz” by jazz critic and historian Leonard Feather, visited Harvard University in April for “In the Spirit of Duke,” an Ellington celebration. Also participating in the artist residency were tap dance virtuoso Jimmy Slyde, conductor/arranger David Berger, Hendricks’ daughter vocalist Aria Hendricks, New York based pianist Peter Mihelich, and vocalist Genethia Hogges ’01. The guest artists worked with students from the Monday Jazz Band (Tom Everett, director) and Kuumba Singers of Harvard College (Sheldon Reid, director) in preparation for the Harvard premiere of selections from Ellington’s first and second Sacred Concerts on April 22. The Ellington half of the concert was conducted by David Berger, using his arrangements. It was a first collaboration between Kuumba and the Jazz Bands. Through the Office for the Arts’ Learning From Performers Program, Hendricks participated in a public conversation about his music, moderated by Tom Everett where he described his life and 
interactions with Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, and Ellington, among others. In addition, Hendricks appeared on WGBH-89.7 “Jazz from Studio Four” with host Steve Schwartz, providing up to 30,000 radio listeners with first-hand nuances on his music and career. about his music, moderated by Tom Everett where he described his life and interactions with Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, and Ellington, among others. In addition, Hendricks appeared on WGBH-89.7 “Jazz from Studio Four” with host Steve Schwartz, providing up to 30,000 radio listeners with first-hand nuances on his music and career.
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Jazz Programs at Harvard University were initiated in 1971 by Director
of Bands Tom Everett and have developed with the Office for the Arts
at Harvard since 1976. Artists such as Benny Carter, Illinois Jacquet,
John Lewis, Max Roach, J.J. Johnson, Gerry Mulligan, Bill Evans, Randy
Weston, Lester Bowie, Andrew Hill, Carla Bley, and Steve Lacy have participated.
The purpose is to honor artists who have made a significant contribution
to jazz and encourage their creativity in a new environment, share their
mastery with students, and bring their music to the public.
