Brownie Speaks, a symposium celebrating and documenting the life, music, and legacy of Clifford Brown October 29, 2008

The University of the Arts to Host a Symposium Celebrating Clifford Brown.
Brownie Speaks Will Examine the Life, Music and Legacy of the Influential Trumpeter

Jazz aficionados, musicians and educators will gather at The University of the Arts (UArts) in Philadelphia on October 30-November 1 for Brownie Speaks, a symposium celebrating and documenting the life, music, and legacy of Clifford Brown, the influential jazz trumpeter who died in 1956 when he was just 25.

The Philadelphia Music Project, a program of the Philadelphia Center for Arts and Heritage, funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and administered by The University of the Arts, is sponsoring the symposium. The three-day event will feature performances by Terence Blanchard, Benny Golson, Lou Donaldson, Marcus Belgrave, the UArts Jazz Ensembles and many others. A new John Fedchock composition dedicated to Clifford Brown will be performed by the Lars Halle Jazz Orchestra.

Brownie Speaks: A Video Documentary, produced by UArts School of Music faculty member, composer, pianist, and recording artist Don Glanden, will premiere at the symposium.

Brown’s son, Clifford Brown Jr. will serve as master of ceremonies for the duration of the symposium.

A Call For Papers
The focus of the symposium is the presentation, celebration, and documentation of the life, music, and legacy of Clifford Brown. His creative contribution will be explored in terms of its historical-sociological context, and its lasting impact on the jazz aesthetic. Papers should address some aspect of the symposium’s focus. This may range from musical analysis to the presentation of new historical or sociological perspectives. Proposals for panel discussions will also be considered.

Guidelines and deadline for abstract submission: send a one-page abstract to Marianne Mele at mmele@uarts.edu or fax 215/717.6127. Abstracts must be received by Monday, July 28, 2008. Decision notification will be made no later than Friday, August 1, 2008. The final version of selected papers must be submitted by October 1, 2008. Presentations should be approximately 30 minutes long with an additional 20 minutes planned for discussion and Q&A.

Archive Request
The University of the Arts is creating a comprehensive Clifford Brown archive. Memorabilia, archival recordings, photographs, and related documents can be donated by contacting Don Glanden at 215/717.6353 or dglanden@uarts.edu.