Examiner.com published a nice piece about Hollywood Rhythm Kings’ gig at the Burbank library.
Times—and music—were “a-Changin” back in the 1920s when Anne Shaw Faulkner wondered “Does Jazz Put the Sin in Syncopation”. That improvisational music with its unexpected rhythm left some people aghast, while others simply felt sublime listening to the great jazz musicians of the era.
At the same time, The Roaring Twenties did have its sharing of literary giants. Amongst them was F. Scott Fitzgerald whose novel “The Great Gatsby” presented an extraordinary view of American society, highlighting its avarice, idealism and individualism.
Those extravagant parties Fitzgerald commemorated just wouldn’t be the same without jazz music.
So it makes sense that in promoting The Big Read, which includes “The Great Gatsby” on its list of noteworthy books, the Burbank Public Library would host a concert by the Hollywood Rhythm Kings, featuring music of the 1920s.
The jazz trio, with David Coleman on piano, Kerry Crutchfield on drums, and Martin Blasick on bass, joins together to create the perfect nostalgic sound. As individuals, their extensive experience spans several decades, whether it’s been composing music for the theater (Coleman), performing live with bands at venues across the country (Crutchfield) or creating scores and soundtracks for TV shows and movies.
So too, the band has its finger on the pulse with a repertoire that includes songs like “Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue”, “What’ll I Do” and “It Had to Be You”, three songs on the soundtrack of the 1974 “The Great Gatsby” film, which starred Robert Redford, Mia Farrow and Bruce Dern.
Through their music, the Hollywood Rhythm Kings allows listeners to get a glimpse into the past and a better understanding of the 1920s popular culture.
The musical concert is being sponsored by Shakespeare at Play, a non-profit organization made up of professional, award-winning actors, directors, writers and producers, who are dedicated to keeping the arts alive. As they are avid supporters of The Big Read, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts that encourages reading for “pleasure and enlightenment”, there will be Big Read bookmarks, readers guides and CDs given away at this event.
Simply said, it’s an opportunity to be “…borne back ceaselessly into the past.” (From “The Great Gatsby“)
(The Hollywood Rhythm Kings will perform at the Burbank Central Public Library Auditorium, 110 N Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, 91502, on Tuesday, November 19, from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. This event is free.)
