Since 21012 PFW has supported the celebration of attorney, activist, community leader and women’s rights advocated, Kate Schulte’s life at the Hot Times Community Festival on Sunday September 13th and we are continuing to do so This year Kidd Jordan returns, bringing with him baritone sax genius Hamiet Bluiett of the World Saxophone Quartet. The Jazz Poetry Ensemble will join them. Art for Justice Justice for Art is the motto of the Kate Schulte Foundation, which continues the legacy of the crusading civil rights lawyer who also loved the arts. Part of “Justice for Art” is acknowledging our avant-garde jazz geniuses. Letting them be heard in the heartland. Our mission is to bring these musicians to Columbus and build an audience for free creative music. One way we do this is by presenting a free concert at a large urban community festival: the Hot Times Festival.
Avant-garde jazz has a disproportionate effect on popular culture. Ellington was a revolutionary. Bird is part of a myriad of movie soundtracks. ‘Trane is everywhere. Miles’s fusion is an accepted part of modern music. James Brown had avant-garde sax solos. Ornette Coleman was an influence on the Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, Cream, the Grateful Dead, Zappa, the MC5, Living Color, the Roots, and many more. This is why avant-garde jazz is important. The music of the future becomes the music of now.
The majority of the avant-garde jazz greats never came to Columbus. Monk played here once. ‘Trane played here once. We’re changing that. The audience for the Hot Times Tribute has grown every year. FYI there is also a Kickstarter going on for this program.
