New Mexico Juneteenth festival in Las Cruces highlights jazz

LAS CRUCES – The second New Mexico Juneteenth Jazz Arts Competition options a number of occasions, held just about and in particular person, over every week in mid-June. 

Competition occasions, many sponsored by the Branigan Cultural Middle, are scheduled Tuesday, June 14 via Sunday, June 19. Until in any other case famous, admission to occasions is free to the general public. For a whole itemizing of occasions and extra particulars go to https://www.las-cruces.org/2564/Juneteenth-2022.

Competition organizer and New Mexico Music Commissioner Derrick Lee describes the competition as a approach, “to rejoice, educate, and create each neighborhood and consciousness round this now newly and formally acknowledged nationwide vacation — which is one in every of America’s oldest. We do that via the Black American music (America’s classical music) broadly referred to as jazz.

“This music is rooted within the traditions of improvisational expression, storytelling, and neighborhood, and has a wealthy historical past that has formed our nation,” Lee stated. “This music is alive, and because it evolves, it continues to evolve us. Jazz historical past is Black historical past. Jazz historical past is American historical past.”

Extra:Swing dance classes to taco truck Tuesdays: Almost 60 occasions at Plaza de Las Cruces this summer time

Occasions for the Juneteenth Jazz Arts Competition embody:

Tuesday, June 14

• A digital live performance, beginning at 5:15 p.m., will likely be carried out by Jacobo Vega-Albela Group. The live performance will likely be accessible at Zoom.us with webinar ID: 82056965925.
• A free movie screening of “Chook,” starring Forest Whitaker, begins at 7 p.m. on the Rio Grande Theatre, 211 N. Primary St. Doorways will open at 6 p.m. 

Wednesday, June 15

• At 5:30 p.m., Roy Collins III, NMSU basic counsel and chief authorized officer, will just about current “The Historical past of Juneteenth as an American Celebration of Freedom.”
• Following the presentation, Reggie Lewis and Merely This Quartet will carry out a digital live performance. Each occasions will likely be accessible at Zoom.us with webinar ID: 82056965925.

Thursday, June 16

• Starting at 5:30 p.m., James Ok. Zimmerman, Smithsonian Establishment, Nationwide Museum of American Historical past senior producer, will just about current “Jazz Historical past.”
• Following the presentation, Joe Dunn Chamber Fusion Ensemble will carry out a digital live performance. Each occasions will likely be accessible at Zoom.us with webinar ID: 82056965925.

Friday, June 17

• Lee will facilitate a Jazz Improvisation Workshop from 4 to five p.m. on the Doña Ana Arts Council, 250 W. Amador Ave. No registration or prior expertise is required. Attendees are inspired to convey their devices. Backline will likely be supplied.
• The New Mexico Juneteenth Jazz Arts Competition Opening Live performance, that includes the Billy Townes Group, will likely be at 7 p.m. on the Rio Grande Theatre, 211 N. Primary St. Doorways will open at 6 p.m.

Saturday, June 18

• A free movie screening of Disney Pixar’s “Soul” will likely be at midday on the Rio Grande Theatre, 211 N. Primary St. Doorways will open at 11 a.m. 
• New Mexico Juneteenth Jazz Arts Competition musical performances start at 1 p.m. at Plaza de Las Cruces, 100 N. Primary St. Performances will embody Las Cruces Group Jazz from 1 to 2 p.m.; Aspect Impact Quartet from 2:30 to three:30 p.m.; and Havana Quintet from 4 to five p.m.
• Musical performances will proceed on the NAACP Juneteenth Banquet on the Las Cruces Conference Middle, 650 E. College Ave. The banquet additionally will embody a keynote tackle from Patrick Turner, NMSU Affiliate Provost. Banquet ticket purchases are required upfront from the Doña Ana NAACP web site at https://naacpdac.org.

Sunday, June 19

• New Mexico Juneteenth Jazz Arts Competition continues at 1 p.m. at Plaza de Las Cruces, 100 N. Primary St. Performances will embody Sam Barlow’s Jazz Diversion from 1 to 2 p.m.; Encore Jazz from 2:30  to three:30 p.m.; and Alliance Challenge from 4 to five p.m.
• The New Mexico Juneteenth Jazz Arts Competition will shut with a last live performance at 7 p.m. on the Rio Grande Theatre, 211 N. Primary St. The live performance will characteristic the Ricky Malachai Trio and the Derrick Lee Group. Doorways will open at 6 p.m.