Brian Horton Quartet: Rhythm Road Tour,Summer 2009

Jazz at Lincoln Center/The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad presents

Brian Horton Quartet: Eastern Europe and Central Asia Summer Tour 2009

Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) produces an annual series of international tours for ten ensembles performing jazz, urban or American roots music to countries all over the world. Through performance, education and person-to-person interaction, The Rhythm Road program encourages mutual respect and understanding between the United States and the countries visited by ensembles. This year the Brian Horton Quartet was selected as one of the performing groups to tour Eastern Europe and Central Asia during the summer of 2009.

'We are proud to be part of such a diversely rich program and look forward to this venture in music.'
-Horton

Personnel:

Brian Horton-Saxophone, Ernest Turner-Piano, Ameen Saleem-Bass, Jaimeo Brown, Drums



Tour Countries:

Turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan

About:

The Jazz Ambassadors began in 1956 with a tour by Dizzy Gillespie and an 18-piece band that traveled in southern Europe, the Middle East and south Asia. Conceived by U.S. Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr, in 1955, the Jazz Ambassadors was an important part of U.S. diplomacy to counter Soviet propaganda. In 2005, the name of the program changed to The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad to include other American musical genres. This year American music groups from throughout the United States were invited specializing in jazz, urban/hip hop and other American roots music including blues, bluegrass, cajun, country, gospel and zydeco.

The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad program showcases the unique contribution of the United States to the world of music. The Rhythm Road ensembles’ presentation of our truly American musical idioms stimulates dialogue and builds friendship between and among cultures. Cultural diplomacy allows artists and audiences to share a common experience that reaches beyond differences in culture, religion, language, geography, and generations. The connections formed emphasize our similarities, while simultaneously celebrating our differences.