Jazzanooga wraps up JAM Fest

The Booker T. Scruggs Ensemble will offer a salute to Duke Ellington on Saturday evening as part of Jazz Appreciation Month at Jazzanooga.
The Booker T. Scruggs Ensemble will offer a salute to Duke Ellington on Saturday evening as part of Jazz Appreciation Month at Jazzanooga.

Jazzanooga wraps up its salute to National Jazz Appreciation Month with two days of JAM Fest events in the Jazzanooga Arts Center, 431 E. M.L. King Blvd.

The inaugural Arts and Jazz Day Party will be held Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. Admission is $5.

Art lovers and music collectors are invited to this special exhibition and discussion of African-American art facilitated by Najee Dorsey, founder of Black Art in America.

Dorsey's work, along with other works by African-American masters of the 20th century, will be available to view and purchase.

The party resumes at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Jazzanooga with a salute to Duke Ellington featuring the Booker Scruggs Ensemble. Tickets are $15.

Ellington was an American composer, pianist and big-band leader whose career spanned more than 50 years. His songs "Satin Doll," "Take the 'A' Train," "In a Sentimental Mood," "Mood Indigo" and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" are standards of the American songbook.

On Sunday, Jazzanooga welcomes Laurie Perry Vaughen, who will read from her work accompanied by music composed by Jeff Crompton of Atlanta in their collaboration, "Billie Holiday on the Radio: Tune in the Sociology of the South."

Doors open at 4:30 p.m. for the performance at 5. Light refreshments and a cash bar will be available.

For tickets or more information, call 423-402-0452.

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