Jazz is a uniquely American invention, the harmonious blend of African rhythm and the hymns and spirituals rising from the hearts of enslaved people in the American South.
It has been an amplifier for social justice reform, equity and resistance, uniting communities through a universal language of song. Emmy Award-winning composer, drummer and activist Jerome Jennings joins acclaimed trumpeter and bandleader Myles Twitty for a musical evening of history and impact. Through iconic classics and powerful original songs, they explore artists whose music has been anthems of resistance and hymns of hope in some of the nation’s most pivotal moments.
5:30 p.m. Opening performance with student musicians
6:00 p.m. Jerome Jennings performs with Myles Twitty
Presented as part of the Nathaniel R. Jones Freedom Speaker Series, generously supported by Francie and John Pepper.
If you need accommodations or have any questions about our accessibility resources, please contact us in advance at accessible@nurfc.org.
About Jerome Jennings
Jerome Jennings is a drummer, activist, bandleader, sideman and Emmy Award-winning composer. His debut recording “The Beast” is a reflection of the everyday joys and traumas of Black life in the U.S. It was named one of the top three jazz releases by NPR, received a four-star rating in Downbeat Magazine and was nominated for the prestigious French Grand Prix du Disque award for Album of the Year in 2016. Jerome’s sophomore recording “Solidarity,” released in November 2019, was recognized by NPR as best music that spoke truth to power. To date, Jerome has performed, toured and recorded with legendary musicians including Sonny Rollins, Hank Jones, Gerald Wilson, Christian McBride, Ron Carter, George Cables, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Wynton Marsalis (J@LC), The Count Basie Orchestra, Philip Bailey, Henry Butler and countless others.
About Myles Twitty
Myles Twitty is a trumpeter, bandleader, composer and arranger from Cincinnati. He began playing trumpet at the age of six after being introduced to it by his father, trombonist and music educator Terry Twitty. After years of playing in concert band, he heard Miles Davis’s “Kind of Blue” which opened his eyes and ears to a new world of musical possibility, pushing him to become the best trumpeter and musician he can be. To date, Myles has performed and/or studied with some of today’s most prominent jazz giants, including Rodney Whitaker, Marcus Printup, Carla Cook, Camille Thurman, Bruce Harris, Walter Blanding, Kurt Elling, Marc Cary and others. He has also shared the stage with some of the best musicians in the region, including Jim Anderson, Art Gore, Craig Bailey, Mike Wade, Marc Fields, Erwin Stuckey, Steve Schmidt and Darn Karlsberg, to name a few. He has arranged music for the horn section of world-renowned funk band Cameo. Myles earned his bachelor of music in Jazz Studies from the University of Cincinnati – College Conservatory of Music with a minor in Entrepreneurship. His Melanin in Music initiative provides access to music education for young Black musicians within his community.
