Lincoln College Contemporary Jazz Film “The Jump Jive Jukebox” PBS Television Premiere

 

[October 23, 2020] 

Lincoln College Contemporary Jazz Studies students make their PBS debut this month with the film adaptation of their Jazz-Theater performance of “The Jump Jive Jukebox.” The film represents two semesters of Contemporary Jazz student original song and script writing as well as live performances.

A two minute 10 second trailer for the film can be found here: https://bit.ly/30HbH5R

The film (25 minutes and nine seconds) will premiere on PBS stations in Springfield, Carbondale, Quincy, and Macomb on the following channels:

• WSIU-HD & WUSI-HD 10/24/2020 7:30 p.m.

• WSIU-HD & WUSI-HD 10/25/2020 10:30 p.m.

• WSEC-HD, WQEC-HD & WMEC-HD
  10/25/2020 10:30 p.m.

• WSEC-HD, WQEC-HD
  & WMEC-HD
  10/29/2020 9:30 p.m.

COVID-19 restrictions prevented the Contemporary Jazz Studies students from hosting a live performance on the Johnston Center for Performing Arts stage at Lincoln College this fall.

“For students in the performance arts, the coronavirus pandemic has been especially challenging. Working together to bring a live performance from initial concept through to polished performance is integral to their studies. Jazz, especially, is all about the interaction between the performers and improvisation is the vehicle to creative activity, so I’m very proud of the students who have persevered through this pandemic,” Dr. Denise LaGrassa, Contemporary Jazz lead faculty, said.

“The Jump Jive Jukebox” used the story of a shady talent agency called $tar Farm to present each student’s original composition. That complete show was recorded by students from the college’s Radio, TV and New Media program.

“While we all wanted a live performance, we are looking at this pandemic as an opportunity to refine existing skills and explore new ways of presenting a stage production to a wider audience,” La Grassa said. “It’s not what we would have chosen, but we are taking the challenges and turning them into opportunities to experiment and try new ways of reaching the public.”

Students are currently working on their next original Music Revue stage production (part I) based on a true story taking place in Lincoln, IL back in 1922 titled: Jazz v Logan County. Plans are to continue developing original stage film productions over the course of two semesters.

[Lauren D. Grenlund]