Jews and Jazz II
A Lecture-Demonstration (with Music)
By Gordon Vernick with Gary Motley on piano
November 19 | 7 PM – 8:30
Meet Gary Motley and Dr. Gordon Vernick as they discuss the significant roles that Jews have played in the Jazz scene as composers, performers, writers, and entrepreneurs. Learn about the contributions of composers like George Gershwin, Yip Harburg, Oscar Hammerstein and more. This program explores through stories and music some of the most important compositions by these great composers while we tell the back stories of “Jews and Jazz.”
In addition to the standard Zoom the presentation will also be available in High Definition on Vimeo. You can watch the stream when it begins below.
Gary Motley has been at the forefront of jazz in the southeastern United States, establishing himself as a recording artist, producer, composer, arranger and piano virtuoso. His captivating high energy performances transport audiences back in time as he blends musicianship, creativity and tradition. He is recognized by Downbeat Magazine, The American Composers Forum, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Great American Jazz Piano Competition, he was recently cited by his home state for his artistic and educational achievements with his induction into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. In addition to his work as an artist, Gary is committed to jazz education and awareness. As Professor of Performance and founding Director of Jazz Studies at Emory, he developed the Robert Strickland Jazz Studio—an innovative, interactive teaching facility that integrates the rich heritage of American jazz with today’s technology practices. Gary is a member of the Jazz Education Network and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
Dr. Gordon Vernick is a Professor of Music and Coordinator of Jazz Studies at Georgia State University. As a professional trumpet player, he has performed in all musical mediums from symphony orchestra to jazz quartet and has free-lanced all over the world. He is currently active as a clinician, an adjudicator, and as a freelance trumpet player.
He is a dedicated jazz educator and has served as past president of the Georgia Association of Jazz Educators and chair of the International Association of Jazz Educators Curriculum Committee. He is currently the Director of the Rialto Youth Jazz Orchestra and the musical director of the Rialto Jazz for Kids middle school jazz outreach program.
His podcasts, Jazz Insights, have been featured on numerous websites including the New York Times and have been downloaded over 20 million times since May 2009. All 240 podcasts are available at his website jazz-insights.site. His CD, The Strangest Thing, was released on Jbird Records in May 2008 and his most recent CD, Destination, was released in May 2012. He plays Schagerl and Van Laar trumpets and an Adams flugelhorn.