Friday, December 16, 2016
Staff report
YOUNGSTOWN
Dave Morgan, a professor of double bass and jazz studies at Youngstown State University, has received a $35,000 Knight Arts Challenge grant to help fund his project to document the Akron jazz scene.
Morgan’s project, titled “Blue Is More Than a Color,” was selected from a field of nearly 300 art-related proposals. The Knight grant is a matching grant, so he must raise an additional $35,000.
Morgan plans to create a studio recording and video documentary featuring his original jazz compositions, performed by a group of 18 musicians and several soloists. The music will be presented in a series of concerts at the Blu Jazz+ club in Akron, and in a grand performance at E.J. Thomas Hall, also in Akron.
Morgan, who lives in Poland, said his jazz group will include Theron Brown, a YSU instructor of jazz piano and combos, YSU alumni Sam Blakeslee and Chris Coles, and former instructors Jack Schantz and Chris Anderson.
Morgan welcomes ideas to assist in his fundraising effort. Contact him at dave@davemorgan.com.