Jazz in June at the Library

The acclaimed Jazz Duo of Henry “thins” Francis and John Clark will perform a concert of classic hot jazz in the Otto Fehlow Meeting Room of the Plymouth Public Library at 7 p.m, Monday June 18, . They will concentrate on the rich source of music know as The Great American Songbook, encompassing music from Louis Armstrong to George Gershwin – from New Orleans to Broadway. Enjoy this exciting genre of music that evolved during the first half of the 20th century as you learn some history from the duo as well as fill your soul with music.

The duo of pianist and clarinetist/saxophonist has been performing since 1996, offering programs of traditional jazz along with verbal commentary. Stylistically, they range from the beginnings of jazz through the swing era. Henry and John’s extensive knowledge of American popular song and jazz has yielded an eclectic repertoire including traditional jazz classics, Duke Ellington compositions, and noteworthy pop songs and Broadway show tunes from 1920 to 1950.

Henry “thins” Francis is what is know as a “stride” pianist (watch his left hand!), an almost extinct species. He is principally influenced by Fats Waller – hence the name “thins”. As a soloist, he has played at many jazz clubs in the Boston vicinity, at Hanratty’s in New York, and various jazz festivals around the country. Henry also leads and writes the
arrangements for The Swing Legacy, a septet which presents a repertoire, polish, and energy of the great big-bands of the swing era.

John Clark plays professionally with his own Wolverine Jazz Band, which is dedicated to performing, preserving, and expanding traditional jazz. He has played with such bands as the New Black Eagle Jazz Band, the Paramount Jazz Band, and the Happy Feet Dance Orchestra. He performs with Henry’s band, The Swing Legacy, and is on their latest CD as well as his own band’s CDs.

NOTE: HuiMin Wang was originally scheduled for this date so please mark your calendars for her new piano recital date of Monday, September 24, 2012. This program
is sponsored by the Plymouth Public Library Corporation and is free and no registration is required. CDs will be available for purchase. The library is fully accessible; please let
us know if you need special accommodations to attend. For further information, please contact Jennifer Harris at 508-830-4250//TTY 508-747-5882 or visit our website at www.plymouthpubliclibrary.org for a calendar of our events.