Wash U symposium will celebrate Black Artists Group

Though the organization only was active for a relatively short time in the late 1960s and early 1970s, St. Louis' Black Artists Group (BAG) played an important role in the cultural and musical history of the city and helped launch the careers of a number of noteworthy musicians and performers. On Thursday, February 16th and Friday, February 17, Washington University will host a two-day symposium examining the legacy of BAG and celebrating the work of the artists who took part.

Thursday's events will include a master class from saxophonist Oliver Lake; a poetry reading featuring Shirley LeFlore and J.D. Parran; and an evening concert in the Jazz at Holmes series featuring groups led by J.D. Parran and Floyd LeFlore. On Friday, there will be lectures and presentation of academic papers, plus a panel discussion with former BAG members Lake, Hamiet Bluiett, Floyd LeFlore and Parran.

On Friday night, many participants will be attending the performance by the World Saxophone Quartet, which was founded by Lake, Bluiett and another former St. Louisan, the late Julius Hemphill, and will be appearing Wednesday, February 15 through Saturday, February 18 at Jazz at the Bistro. There will also be a exhibit of BAG photographs and visual ephemera on display all month at the Olin Library on the Wash U. campus.

You can read more about the former BAG members and other symposium participants here, and see a complete list of events, most of which are free and open to the public, here.

(Corrected 2/8/06 to reflect the fact that the poetry reading on February 16 will feature Shirley LeFlore and J.D. Parran.)