Grassroots Activism Hits Seven Cities to Educate Communities about the Relationship Between Jazz & Hip Hop Cultures and Genres

Hampton, VA, March 14, 2007 --(PR.com)-- The worlds of Jazz and Hip Hop seem to be on opposite spectrums in terms of music and culture however there is an omnipresent relationship that not only exists, but also thrives off one another. The World Famous Lessons in Jazz Series (WFLJS) hits the road to carry out their mission of preserving the rich legacy of jazz, by bringing awareness to its evolving relationship with hip hop through dialog between generations. The Lessons In Jazz (LIJ) Tour will be hosted by Montez “The Whiz” Martin, Kevin “The Moose” Anderson, and Marcel “Big Cel” Canady, whom are also hosts of the Lessons in Jazz (LIJ) radio show on WHOV-FM 88.1 Tuesday’s and Thursday’s from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

“As a hip-hop studies scholar for almost twenty years, I can state unequivocally that the producers of Lessons in Jazz are contributing to a greater awareness of the ways in which jazz aligns with hip-hop, tracking the esthetical and creative links across generations and across often-disparate social environments.” --Dr. Murray Forman, author of The Hood Comes First Race, Space and Place in Rap and Hip-Hop. 

Each stop on the LIJ Tour will feature a multimedia presentation, discussion on the evolving relationship between the two genres and how one of Hampton roads very own sons, the late great Weldon Irvine, Jr. has contributed so much to them. The tour will kick-off at the Portsmouth Main Public Library on March 24, 2007 from 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. WFLJS will continue the tour at the following locations:

April 15, 2007 at Norfolk Kirn Memorial Public Library from 3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
May 05, 2007 at VA Beach Great Neck Area Library from 2:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m.
May 26, 2007 at Newport News Public Library (Main Street) 2:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m. 

This tour will provide the local audience with a foundation to the relationship between jazz and hip hop, and prepare them to participate in their upcoming Jazz in the Hip Hop Generation symposium on June 23, 2007. LIJ hosts encourage musicians, producers and the entire community to attend this exciting and educational free event. You don’t want to miss this fine textured experience into the movement known as The World Famous Lessons in Jazz Series. For more information on the Lessons in Jazz Seven Cities Tour and the World Famous Lessons In Jazz Series (WFLJS) check out www.myspace.com/Lessonsinjazz or call (757) 727-5408, (305) 761-1734.

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