Posted on 06/15/2009 5:40:17 PM PDT by Steelfish
First lady tunes up White House with jazz fest
Mrs. Obama launches workshop to let students learn from musical legends
First lady Michelle Obama, right, and daughters Malia and Sasha attend a concert during a jazz music workshop at the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 15, 2009.
View related photos Alex Wong / Getty Images
The White House sounded more like the music wing of a high school than a seat of government Monday — and that's just the way first lady Michelle Obama likes it.
Mrs. Obama launched a White House music festival that brought 150 students together with musical legends like Wynton Marsalis and Paquito D'Rivera for a workshop on jazz, which the first lady called "America's greatest artistic gift to the world."
A jazz ensemble is like a democracy, Mrs. Obama said, and proves that "when we work together, there's nothing we can't do."
The students in the workshop were chosen from some of the nation's top music schools, including the Duke Ellington School for the Performing Arts in Washington, and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in New Orleans. With instruments in tow, they filed into the ornately decorated White House East Room and State Dining Room to learn from the masters of their craft.
"I think it's good for the youth to come in and learn about music," said Linton Smith, a 17-year-old trumpet player from New Orleans.
From hosting music workshops to inviting schoolchildren to help plant a vegetable garden on the South Lawn, Mrs. Obama has said she wants to open the White House up to the American public.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Nixon had a huge party full of jazz immortals at the WH to celebrate Duke Ellington’s 70th birthday -40 years ago.
For the cost of this the Obama’s could endow a couple of inner city music schools to expand their summer programs...
Heck, they could get these jazz guys to do a benefit and donate the proceeds to a Chicago city music school for disadvantaged kids.
They could, but since the Obama’s are all about personal publicity this fits their need much better. Lots of Obama related good press in a short period of time.
gonna make it a real compared to what
The unending stream of tongue-bath media puff pieces continues.
“gonna make it a real compared to what................”
Les McCann
Is the workshop "America's greatesit artistic gift to the world" or is Marsalis or D'Rivera? And, btw, will classical musicians ever be represented in the Obama White House or is it rich folks' music?
I believes Mochelle is going to have the fabulous, (Young Hots) sing “Only My Mammie Love Me, but She Could Be Jivin Me Too.”
Mochelle also say “bring along a honkie and get yo ass in fo free.”
In addition, (Leotis Elevator) is going to sing “Baybay I Hads Mys Ups and Downs.”
Skin In Da Game,
NSNR
From hosting music workshops to inviting schoolchildren to help plant a vegetable garden on the South Lawn,
Has the veggie garden had a harvesting photo op yet?
OMG! This is First Lady Unbecoming.
That dog knows when there’s a camera around it seems....
well sakes alive that is just so cooooooooooooool of Michelle, now, ain’t it?
I just figured out why her arms look so toned Because she has a hugh ass
snort no mention of Louie Armstrong?
Cannon a$$.
gads, them are some natural looking duds there now
hip-hop
I have to agree with this:
Mrs. Obama said she wants young people, including her own daughters, Malia and Sasha, to be “aware of all kinds of music — other than hip-hop.”
I wonder if Eric Clapner wil be featured.
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