DG banner2.png

Presentation: Dizzy Gillespie: Pioneering the Bossa Nova

Saturday, 11/25/2023
3:00 - 5:00
Golden Gate Valley Meeting Room
Golden Gate Valley
Address

1801 Green Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
United States

Contact Telephone

Jazz writer and performer Loren Means will lecture on the music and influence of jazz trumpeter and composer Dizzy Gillespie (1917-1993), regarded as one of the founders of the bebop movement in jazz in the 1940s. His compositions, particularly those recorded with alto saxophonist Charlie Parker, pioneered harmonic innovations. Gillespie also innovated in the blending of jazz with Latin rhythms. His big band of 1946-47 featured esoteric harmonies and rhythms, and included such future jazz stars as pianist John Lewis, vibraphonist Milt Jackson, and the young John Coltrane. Gillespie's solo style featured dynamic use of high notes and breathtaking long lines in his improvisations. Gillespie was one of the first American jazz musicians to play the Brazilian compositions that came to be known as “bossa nova,” although his approach was overshadowed by that of Stan Getz.

Loren Means is a jazz critic and historian who has published articles and reviews in Down Beat, Contemporary Keyboard, and The Berkeley Barb. His programs for SFPL have included an introduction to the film Thelonious Monk: Staight, No Chaser (1988), a performance with his jazz quintet (singing and analyzing the music of Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker, et al.), and a presentation on Miles Davis.

 

 


Engage with your favorite writers and discover your next read.

Enjoy performances, talks and workshops that celebrate movement and the musical arts.


This program is sponsored by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.


Attending Programs

For questions about the program or help registering, contact sfplcpp@sfpl.orgAll programs are drop-in (no registration necessary) unless otherwise noted. All SFPL locations are wheelchair accessible. For accommodations (such as ASL or language interpretation), call (415) 557-4557 or contact accessibility@sfpl.org. Requesting at least 3 business days in advance will help ensure availability.

Notice: This event may be filmed or photographed. By participating in this event, you consent to have your likeness used for the Library’s archival purposes and promotional materials. If you do not want to be photographed, please inform a staff person or the photographer. A sticker will be provided to help identify you so that we can avoid capturing your image.


Public Notice and Disclaimer

This program uses a third-party website link. By clicking on the third-party website link, you will leave SFPL's website and enter a website not operated by SFPL. This service may collect personally identifying information about you, such as name, username, email address, and password. This service will treat the information it collects about you pursuant to its own privacy policy. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of each third-party website or service that you visit or use, including those third parties with whom you interact through our Library services. For more information about these third-party links, please see the section of SFPL’s Privacy Policy describing Links to Other Sites.

The views and opinions expressed in programs presented by groups unaffiliated with SFPL do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SFPL or the City.