Roy Haynes, Eric Reed, Andy Bey and IGWE to perform on Sept 29, in Washington, DC

ASCAP MEMBERS ERIC REED, ANDY BEY (pictured above) AND IGWE TO PERFORM AT
REP. JOHN CONYERS’ ANNUAL CBCF JAZZ FORUM AND CONCERT
BASSIST CORCORAN HOLT TO PERFORM WITH HIS QUINTET

LEGENDARY DRUMMER ROY HAYNES TO PERFORM AND RECEIVE CBC HONOR

This event is part of The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's
37th Annual Legislative Conference

Congressman John Conyers, Jr., Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Dean of the Congressional Black Caucus, will host his 23rd Jazz Forum and Concert during the upcoming Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference, September 26-29, at the Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place, NW, Washington, DC 20001.

The Jazz Issue Forum and Concert will take place on Thursday, September 27th, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in Ballroom C of the Washington Convention Center. The Jazz Forum and Concert are both open to the public.

The American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) will serve
as the title sponsor of this year’s Jazz Forum and Concert. The
Bridgestone–Firestone Trust Fund, DTE Energy and Microsoft are also sponsors.

The reigning dean of jazz drummers, Roy Haynes will be this year’s honoree and a featured performing artist. Haynes is a veteran who has performed with the likes of Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Bud Powell, Sonny Rollins, Thelonius Monk and Eric Dolphy. His work as a leader includes collaborations with Paul Chambers, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and Kenny Garrett.
Haynes has been named a “Jazz Master” by the National Endowment for the Arts. He he is also a recipient of many Downbeat Awards in both the Critics and Readers Polls. Haynes latest band, called Fountain of Youth, features some great young players with whom he has produced Grammy nominated recordings. Scheduled for October release is a four disc boxed set entitled A Life in Time – The Roy Haynes Story. It includes a number of history-making recordings that highlight his prolific career.

This year’s jazz concert will also feature performances by three ASCAP
members: Andy Bey, Eric Reed and Igwe.

Vocalist Andy Bey is making a return visit to Conyers’ CBCF event. Bey is a virtuoso singer and an elegant pianist who appeared at the famed Apollo Theater at the age of 12. He has worked with many acclaimed artists including Horace Silver, Max Roach and Gary Bartz. The Jazz Journalists Association has named Andy Bey its “Best Male Jazz Vocalist” for three consecutive years. His most recent album, American Song, was nominated for a Grammy in 2004.

Another artist making a return visit is vocalist IGWE. A native of Detroit, MI, like Conyers, IGWE (which means “In Honor of God) began his career as a background singer in that music rich city. He came to this area to enrich his skills by studying musical theory, instrumentation and drama at Morgan State University. IGWE launched his singing career in this area at the now departed Van Ness Station, and has performed since then at the Islander, Twins Lounge, Buddy’s Jazz Pub and the East Coast Jazz Festival.

Eric Reed, a talented pianist, whose trio will accompany both Andy Bey and IGWE, is well known within the jazz genre for his hard-driving swing, daring expression, formidable technique and thunderous sound. At age 18, Reed began touring the world with his own ensembles and recording both as a leader and sideman. During the early 1990s he worked with Wynton Marsalis’
Septet and later spent two years as a member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. He has also worked with bands led by the legendary Freddie Hubbard and Joe Henderson. In 2005, Reed formed a quartet and vigorously hit the performing circuit. His latest recording entitled Here was released last year on the MaxJazz label.

The final artist taking the stage will be bassist Corcoran Holt, performing with his dynamic quintet. Holt is a locally developed talent who is a product of both the DC Youth Orchestra and the Duke Ellington School for
the Arts. He went on to receive degrees in jazz studies from the
Shenandoah Conservatory in 2004 and Queens College in 2006. Already during his young career, Holt has had the pleasure of working with such jazz greats at Curtis Fuller, Benny Golson, Slide Hampton, Jimmy Heath, Delfeyo Marsalis, Billy Hart and many others. He has toured and performed at music festivals around the world.

The concert will be preceded at 7:00 p.m. by the Jazz Forum entitled “House Concurrent Resolution 57: The Next Twenty Years, Unleashing Our Power.”
The Forum will be moderated by Dr. Larry Ridley, President of the African American Jazz Caucus of the International Association for Jazz Education.
Serving as panelists are Jackie Harris, director of the Louis Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp in New Orleans; Bobby Hill, Program Director of WPFW-FM Radio; Antonio Puesan, Founder and Director of the HR 57 Center for the Preservation of Jazz and Blues; and Dr. Will Smith, Assistant Professor and Director of the American University Jazz Ensemble. The discussion will focus on the continuing impact of H. Con. Res. 57 and how, over the next 20 years, the concepts of the legislation can be applied within the African American community. The Forum will be broadcast live on WPFW (89.3 FM).

About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization representing the world's largest repertory totaling over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 300,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members. ASCAP has representation arrangements with over 90 music rights organizations such that the ASCAP repertory is represented in nearly every country around the world. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances. ASCAP is the only American Performing Rights Organization owned and governed by its writer and publisher members.