[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 112 (Friday, August 12, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
   CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 57 TO DESIGNATE 1995 AS JAZZ CENTENNIAL YEAR

  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I rise today to cosponsor and lend my full 
support to Concurrent Resolution 57, which would designate 1995 as Jazz 
Centennial Year.
  Last year in New Orleans, the Louisiana Music Commission, in 
consultation with historians, jazz musicians, and supporters, 
determined 1945 to be the 50th anniversary of the inception of jazz, 
and thus, 1995 to be the centennial.
  Jazz, of course, thrives in such diverse places as Chicago, New 
Orleans, New York, and Newport, RI. In fact, this weekend is the 40th 
annual Newport Jazz Festival.
  The Newport Jazz Festival continually attracts the biggest names and 
the brightest stars to Rhode Island's shores each summer. This year's 
line up includes George Benson, Manhattan Transfer, David Sanborn, Dave 
Brubeck, and the Newport All-Stars, a jazz band formed by George Wein, 
the founder of the Newport Jazz Festival. The All-Stars have been 
performing their signature blend of traditional jazz across the Nation 
since the 1950's.
  The festival showcases jazz's rich history and musical diversity, 
which make it such a unique art form. Both the old masters, and their 
students who will shape jazz's future, will be performing.
  Mr. President, jazz music embodies the distinct American spirit of 
innovation and improvisation, freedom and honesty, and discipline and 
study. These are attributes and ideals that have made our Nation great, 
and I would urge my colleagues to cosponsor this concurrent resolution.

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