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SUNDAY FEBRUARY 13 · SHORTS PROGRAM
The THIRD ANNUAL RENO JAZZ AND FILM FESTIVAL kicks off with a selection of rare short films
featuring a wide array of legendary jazz musicians. The two centerpieces for this afternoon are Newport
Jazz Festival '62 (featuring the Oscar Peterson Trio, Duke Ellington, and Roland Kirk) and an excellent
1961 television pilot called After Hours which includes such greats as Coleman Hawkins, Roy Eldridge
and Milt Hinton.
Music for the afternoon will be provided by THE COLLECTIVE.
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SUNDAY FEBRUARY 20 · STORMY WEATHER (1943, 77 min., B&W)
Built around the premise of a Big Stage Show, Stormy Weather affords rare "mainstream" leading
roles to some of the era's greatest African-American entertainers Lena Horne, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson,
Dooley Wilson, Cab Calloway, Katherine Dunham, Fats Waller, and the Nicholas Brothers. With the plot
revolving around Robinson’s on-again-off-again romance with Horne, the film features fourteen lively,
well-choreographed performances that include Horne's memorable rendition of the title song, artfully staged
by director Andrew Stone. Keep an eye out for uncredited contributions by jazz greats Zutty Singleton,
Coleman Hawkins and Taps Miller.
Music for the afternoon will be provided by CE CE GABLE.
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SUNDAY FEBRUARY 27 · THE LAST OF THE BLUE DEVILS (1979, 90 min., Color)
The Last of the Blue Devils is a rare document of the 1974 reunion that brought together Kansas
City swing and blues giants Count Basie, Big Joe Turner and Jay McShann, as well as countless performers
and instrumentalists in the Kansas City jazz scene from the 30s onwards. Along with being an endearing
and loving portrayal of each of these great musicians, it is also a celebration of one of the most important
cities that formed modern jazz. A chronicle of Kansas City, the birthplace of "Bird" (Charlie Parker), The
Last of the Blue Devils is a movie about time standing still.
Music for the afternoon will be provided by the DICKIE MILLS QUINTET.
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