Published: August 10, 2006 11:10 am      

A jazz party

Weekend tribute to Eddie Durham opens with artists’ reception

This week in New York, festivities are already underway as Jazz lovers across the city celebrate the Centennial of Eddie Durham's birth and his great legacy to America's most original music genre. 

Next week, the party comes home to San Marcos, where Eddie Durham was born and raised and the public is invited to join in the fun at two big jazz-filled — and free — events.  

Beginning on Friday, Aug. 18, from 5 - 9 p.m., the excitement will kick off at the San Marcos Activity Center with a combined reception for the artists from the Walkers' Gallery exhibit, "Riffs, Roots, and Rhythms — Jazz, Jazz, Jazz," and the New York musicians who are flying in to perform for the Eddie Durham Musical Tribute on Saturday.  

For over 50 years, Eddie Durham arranged, composed and performed with some of the biggest names in jazz, including his arrangements for Bennie Moten, Count Basie and the Godfather of Bop, Glenn Miller. Durham was born in 1906 in San Marcos.

Durham spoke only Spanish as a child, and later infused Latin sounds into a large chunk of his work.

The public is invited to meet Michael Powers and his trio "Frequency" — the headliner band on Saturday night — and the versatile singer, Whitney Marchelle, who will augment many of the performances with her rich vocal style.  

Two nationally recognized jazz historians will be on hand to sign copies of their books. Dr. Douglas Daniels from California will sign his recently published, "One O'Clock Jump: The Unforgettable History of the Oklahoma City Blue Devils," which has an entire chapter dedicated to Eddie Durham. 

Dr. Dave Oliphant, from Austin, is the author of two books specifically on Texan Jazz, as well as many other books, articles and even poetry. He will be signing copies of  "The Roots of Texas Music," and will also introduce the evening's film, "Born to Swing."

No party — especially a jazz party — would be complete without live music, and at 6 p.m. guests will be awed by the amazing virtuosity of a born musician, Dylan Meeks from Wimberley. 

Dylan, 15, is an astonishing jazz pianist who will be sitting in with the Austin Jazz Pharaohs Saturday night, but who will perform solo at the Friday venue.

Finally, guest are invited to enjoy the 50 minute film showing of "Born to Swing: the movie about the alumni of the Count Basie Band of 1943." 

This nostalgic and music-rich film "recaptures the richness of Swing Music..." and features an "impromptu session worthy of the best of the Swing Era" including Eddie Durham and other great legendary Basie Band musicians.  

Hosting the party will be Eddie Durham's daughter, Marsha Durham, who will be bringing a special guest with her from New York, Edwina Handy, the great-granddaughter of the legendary W.C. Handy. On Saturday Handy will introduce Mike Powers, a 2004 W.C. Handy nominee.   

The reception and film are sponsored by the San Marcos Area Arts Council, the Calaboose African American History Museum, the city of San Marcos and numerous private contributors funded in part by the San Marcos Arts Commission.