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Louisiana Jazz Saxophonist Helps NWC Celebrate Black History Month

Calvin Johnson Jr. performs with Northwest Catholic student-musicians. Submitted photo

Calvin Johnson Jr. came to West Hartford last month to celebrate Black History Month with the Northwest Catholic High School community.

Submitted by Kimberly Sanders Spera, Communications Director, Northwest Catholic High School

Calvin Johnson Jr. performs with Northwest Catholic student-musicians. Submitted photo

Calvin Johnson Jr. performs with Northwest Catholic student-musicians. Submitted photo

Northwest Catholic welcomed Louisiana saxophonist, composer and bandleader Calvin Johnson Jr. for a special Black History Month presentation on Feb. 24, 2015. He spoke about jazz music, its origins in New Orleans and the importance of music in the lives of young people.

Johnson called jazz music “the only true American art form,” citing its origins in New Orleans. He spoke about the role musicians played in helping develop and spread jazz around the world over the last century and how that role continues today as musicians share their knowledge and talent with young people, saying, “Mentoring is how jazz has been passed down through the generations.” Johnson also performed some jazz music with several Northwest Catholic student-musicians and the students participated in a New Orleans-style second line musical parade through the auditorium.

“We are very blessed to have the opportunity to host Calvin Johnson Jr. as a presenter during Black History Month,” said Elizabeth Lynch Oates ’94, Dean of Students and Chair of the Fine and Performing Arts Department. “Mr. Johnson’s presentation was dynamic and truly brought the feeling of New Orleans and jazz to our school. His message of the continuity of Jazz Music through cultural tradition, community and mentoring reverberated with our students and was an inspiration to our music students as they embark on their service project with Trumpets Not Guns.”

Johnson is a clinician with the Jazz Foundation of America, has served as a faculty member of the Louis Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp, and is an active supporter of music in New Orleans and the youth of that city through the non-profit “Trumpets Not Guns,” which works to help local schools and other music foundations provide instruments for children in the hopes of keeping them away from violence. The Northwest Catholic Music Department is working to collect instruments and raise money for Trumpets Not Guns. Northwest Catholic music students will be traveling to New Orleans at the end of March and will have the opportunity to present the instruments to the students of the Ellis Marsalis Center.

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