New Orleans Public Library Celebrates the Arts this Holiday Season with Jazz Tunes and Poetic Prose

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John Marc Sharpe
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NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC LIBRARY CELEBRATES THE ARTS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WITH JAZZ TUNES AND POETIC PROSE

Main Library Hosts Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra Premiere Preview and U.S. Poet Laureate Reading

NEW ORLEANS - December 14, 2012 - The New Orleans Public Library has invited the public to toast some of New Orleans' greatest artists with two major events this holiday season. The first was an exclusive premiere preview of "Dirt, Dust & Trees," a major New Orleans Jazz Orchestra Commission by Irvin Mayfield on Nov. 29, followed by a reading and book signing by U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey on Dec. 6.

"Dirt, Dust & Trees" - a tribute to Ernest Gaines - was written by Irvin Mayfield and performed by the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m. at The Joy Theater. The concert, a jazz tribute to literary legend Ernest Gaines, is part of a concert series entitled THE NOJO 10, which celebrates the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra's 10^th anniversary with 10 signature Jazz events. The event at the Main Library location featured a reading by Treme actor, Clarke Peters.

Natasha Trethewey, U.S. Poet Laureate, read a selection of her poems from her latest work Thrall (2012) at the Dec. 6 event. Trethewey is a Gulf Coast native, a Pulitzer-Prize winning poet and the 19^th U.S. Poet Laureate (2012-2013). Dedicated to recovering the Gulf Coast, Threthewey shared themes of race, history, politics and her own personal experiences with a crowd of hundreds at the Main Library location.  

"It is an incredible honor to be able to pay tribute to our city's unparalleled arts culture with such talented and inspirational artists as Ms. Natasha Trethewey and Mr. Irvin Mayfield," said Charles Brown, executive director, New Orleans Public Library. "Our goal at the New Orleans Public Library is to offer a place for locals and visitors alike to gather in community and celebrate the living history of New Orleans. It is through the willingness of local artists and supporters that we were able to accomplish that goal through our past events, and we look forward to continuing to host events for the enjoyment of our patrons as we move into the New Year."

For more information on past and upcoming events, visit http://neworleanspubliclibrary.org or "Like" New Orleans Public Library on Facebook.

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The New Orleans Public Library is the premier cultural institution that celebrates and preserves the collective memory and living history of New Orleans, Louisiana and the world. We foster the future aspirations and democratic dreams of all. The New Orleans Public Library inspires the individual and enriches the community through access to information, resources, technology and programming that is delivered by knowledgeable and creative staff.