NC A&T Jazz, Angus MacLachlan on Film, Immigrant Stories, and Cantus

 

For some people jazz music is something to listen to occasionally, collect, and share with friends. For others it's a way of life, a constant search for that perfect melody. Trumpeter Mondre Moffett continues his search which began as a young boy. Mondre's father was the legendary avant guard or free jazz drummer Charles Moffet. Mondre grew up performing trumpet and composing for the Moffett Family Jazz Band, touring the U.S. and South East Asia, and later internationally with the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

 

Today, Mondre brings his wealth of knowledge to bear at North Carolina A&T State University where he teaches composition, arranging, Jazz History, Gospel History, and Black Music in America. He also directs the A&T Jazz Ensemble All Stars. They'll perform a concert on Thursday night, November 21st at 7:00 PM in Harrison Auditorium on the A&T campus in Greensboro. It's titled Jazz Music: A Global Expression. Mondre and his outstanding young All Stars were here with a sneak preview Live in Studio A: pianist Marcus Tougue, Byron Carter on bass, drummer Isaac Cousar, Johnny Jackson on alto sax, and guitarist Laurence Thompson. They kick things off with a Rogers & Hart classic that's become a jazz ballad standard: My Funny Valentine.

Behind the Scenes with writer, actor, filmmaker, and director of the new film Goodbye to All That, Angus MacLachlan. The movie was filmed in Winston-Salem.

Out of the Shadows: Stories of Hope and Courage from Our Newest Immigrant Neighbors is FaithAction International House's theatrical performance of gripping tales of assimilation as told by local immigrants. They'll be accompanied by songs about the immigrant experience, and surrounded by beautiful photographic portraits by Todd Drake. Out of the Shadows: Stories of Hope and Courage from Our Newest Immigrant Neighbors, Faith Action's theatrical performance of gripping tales of assimilation as told by local immigrants will take place November 15th and 16th at 8:00 PM and Sunday the 17th at 2:00 PM in the Upstage Cabaret at Triad Stage 232 S. Elm Street in Greensboro. FaithAction's David Fraccaro and Endy Mendez stopped by to talk about it.

Music played a formative role in establishing the famous truce of 1914. Cantus tenor Aaron Humble and bass Chris Foss spoke with me by phone from their studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota.