Langston Hughes Project on April 6

The Dean of Students Office - Diversity Advocacy Unit will present "Ask Your Mama: Twelve Moods for Jazz," a multi-media concert based on a poetic masterwork by poet/playwright Langston Hughes, at the Bone Student Center Braden Auditorium on Tuesday, April 6, at 6 p.m.  The concert is free and open to the public.

The Ron McCurdy Quartet will perform Hughes' insightful, wise, poignant, funny and soulful poem accompanied by a live jazz quartet and video images of the Harlem Renaissance by African American artists and photographers, including Jacob Lawrence, Gordon Parks and Romare Bearden.

"Ask Your Mama" is an 800-line, twelve-part poetic suite written by noted African American poet/writer/playwright Langston Hughes in 1961. The work is described as a multi-media presentation that recreates Hughes' vision of the global struggle for freedom in the coming, turbulent decade.  The piece itself is an original work conceived by University of Southern California Professor and Chair of Jazz Studies Ron McCurdy and John S. Wright, Morse-Amoco Distinguished Teaching Professor of Afro-American Studies & African Studies and English at the University of Minnesota. 

A scholarly exploration of the original work by Wright revealed that Hughes had originally included musical cues to accompany his poem, intending to work with musical contemporaries on a full production; regrettably, Hughes died in 1967 before a production could be developed.  Wright felt that the unrealized work had enormous potential, not only to entertain, but more importantly to introduce modern audiences to the power of Hughes' words and the eloquence of his political discourse. 

A collaborative effort between Wright and McCurdy expanded on Hughes' original concept, adding images from the Harlem Renaissance gleaned from Wright's work at the Schomberg Research Center in Harlem and an accompanying jazz suite based on Hughes' original notes, composed and arranged by McCurdy and Eli Bruggeman.  As the McCurdy/Wright Consort, these two men have presented "The Langston Hughes Project" in both performances and master classes on the college circuit and for African American Heritage celebrations throughout the nation. 

Information about The Langston Hughes Project is available at: http://www.ronmccurdy.com/about_hudges_project.htm

McCurdy is chairman of the Jazz Studies department and professor of music in the Thornton School of Music at USC and is past president of the International Association of Jazz Educators. Prior to his appointment at USC, he served as director of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz at USC. He has served as professor of music and chair of the Afro-African American Studies department and served as director of Jazz Studies at the University of Minnesota. In 1997, McCurdy served as visiting professor at Maria-Sklodowska- Curie University in Lublin, Poland. In 2001, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Kansas.

McCurdy recently released the CD, "Once Again for the First Time" and is author of "Meet the Great Jazz Legends" and co-author of a vocal jazz improvisation series "Approaching the Standards."  He is currently touring "The Langston Hughes Project, Ask Your Mama: 12 Mood for Jazz." McCurdy is in demand as a guest clinician, soloist, speaker, director of honor jazz ensembles and choirs throughout the U.S. and Canada. He has directed all state jazz ensembles in many states. McCurdy received his undergraduate degree from Florida A & M University and his master's degree and Ph. D. from the University of Kansas.

McCurdy is a consultant to the Grammy Foundation educational programs including serving as director of the National Grammy Vocal Jazz Ensemble. He served as director of the Walt Disney All-American Summer College Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Singers in Orlando, Fla. for seven years and continues to serve as a consultant for the college program.