Eddie Durham, San Marcos’ native son and renowned jazz composer, arranger and performer, was celebrated in New York on Aug. 19th. Hosted by Grammy Award-winning jazz aficionado, Phil Schaap, the Eddie Durham 113th Birthday Broadcast was aired on Columbia University’s KCR FM from 12 to 3 p.m. EST.
Schaap describes Durham as “the most overlooked musical genius of the 20th Century,” and does his part to educate the public about his legacy — among other ways through annual birthday tributes. This year, Schaap’s broadcast featured original 78s and a few of Durham’s early recordings with the Bennie Moten Kansas City Orchestra.
Durham was born to a musical family on Aug. 19,1906, in San Marcos. He performed on both trombone and guitar, arranged all of the early Count Basie Orchestra repertoire and composed a lot it. He composed classic Blues such as "Sent For You Yesterday" and "Good Morning Blues." He is the father of the electric guitar and arranged "In The Mood" for Glenn Miller.
The Calaboose African American History Museum will bring the celebration home with its 4th annual Eddie Durham Jazz Festival on Saturday in Eddie Durham Park, 205 MLK Drive.
Festivities begin at 4 p.m. in the Cephas House with a poetry workshop by local spoken word writer/performer Faylita Hicks.
At 5 p.m., also in the Cephas House, local artists Lydia Gantert and Richard Samuel will lead a participatory mixed-media art workshop inspired by the abstract expression of Jazz music, and Diana Garcia will facilitate a children’s art-guitar activity.
Music in the park begins at 6 p.m. with the Jerry Espinoza Tri; BluMoon goes on at 7 p.m. and The San Marcos Jazz Collective closes out the event starting at 8 p.m. The San Marcos Jazz Collective, coordinated by Nathan Rolfe, Jazz Band Instructor at the SMHS, will represent the big band sound of Eddie Durham’s musical genre, with 18 or more musicians from the SMHS Jazz Band, Texas State Jazz studies program, current students and graduates, and will be joined by featured guest pianist, Morris Nelms.
The program is free and open to all ages. The community is invited to bring picnics, blankets and chairs, but please no styrofoam, glass containers or cigarettes.
The Eddie Durham Festival is sponsored by the Calaboose African American History Museum and receives support from the San Marcos Arts Commission.
