‘Jazz & the Civil Rights Movement’ on Thursday

Master Flautist Galen of Flute Juice Productions will present “Jazz and the Civil Rights Movement” at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge on Thursday.

The lecture, which will include musical interludes, is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26, in the City Room of the Coffey/McNally building (A-111). It is free and open to the public.

The lecture is co-sponsored by RSCC’s International Education Department and their Arts and Lectures Committee, and Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning.

Galen Abdur-Razzaq is a master flautist, jazz historian, teacher, and lecturer who performs at colleges and universities on the topic of the history of jazz, its historical significance, and its most influential contributors, a press release said. His company, Flute Juice Productions, is based in Orlando, Florida. Galen has many years of experience in teaching music theory and appreciation, teaching and writing classical music and chamber music, and performing for major festivals, conventions, and special events, the press release said.

With a master’s degree from Rutgers University, Galen has built a strong record of teaching, arranging, and performing, the press release said. He has performed at the Jazz Mobile in New York, as a flutist for Billy Taylor’s Band, in the off-Broadway play, “The Lion and the Jewel.” He was music director for actor John Amos, of television sitcoms “Good Times” and “Men in Trees.” Galen also arranged and performed the music for the Children’s Miracle Network, New Jersey Chapter, headed by John Amos. He performed and recorded with such artists as Gwen Guthrie, Eddie Gladden, Grachan Moncur III, Billy Taylor, Freda Payne, Sun Ra, Clifford Adams, Curtis Boyd, Melba Moore, John Patton, Sonny Phillips, and many others, the press release said.

All are invited to enjoy this free special performance of music and learning, the press release said. For more information, contact the International Education Department at RSCC at (865) 481-2000 or ORICL at (865) 481-8222.

This press release was submitted by Katherine Smith.