Kavod on the Road: The Real Ambassadors: Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck & the State Department Tours

At the height of the Cold War, the U.S. State Department arranged for jazz musicians (mostly all black) to tour parts of Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East as examples of democratic and cultural diplomacy through music, and to counter the ideology the Soviet Union was attempting to impart. Of course these same musicians experienced their own discrimination at home. This program with Dr. Matthew Goldwasser will provide both an historical overview and selection of the music performed. Included are samples from the opera The Real Ambassadors, created by Dave and Iola Brubeck starring Louis Armstrong and featuring other jazz notables. It had but one public performance and never made it to the Broadway stage as planned.Schmoozing and refreshments included. $5