The Jazz Loft @ Southampton Concert Series will feature a performance of “Afro/American Sketches” on April 23 at The Avram at Stony Brook Southampton, organizers announced on Apr. 13.
The concert will present the landmark jazz composition by Oliver Nelson, performed by his son, flutist and educator Oliver Nelson, Jr., along with Stony Brook University Professor Thomas Manuel and The Jazz Loft Studio Orchestra. This event aims to highlight a significant piece in jazz history that explores the African American experience through music.
“Afro/American Sketches,” composed in 1961 by Oliver Nelson, is recognized as one of jazz’s most ambitious large-ensemble works. It draws inspiration from the musical traditions of nearly 200 African tribes and unfolds over seven movements that depict a journey from Africa through enslavement and social oppression toward hope for equality and justice. In addition to this suite, the program will also include “Jazzhattan Suite,” another work composed and arranged by Oliver Nelson.
The concert is scheduled for 7 p.m., with tickets priced at $36 for general admission, $33 for seniors, alumni, and faculty/staff, and $18 for students. Tickets are available online.
This performance is held in collaboration with The Jazz Loft in Stony Brook and curated by Manuel—founder of The Jazz Loft and Stony Brook University Endowed Artist in Residence—as part of an ongoing series designed to celebrate creativity and artistry while revitalizing Stony Brook Southampton as a center for arts education.
