To commemorate the civil rights movement and the life of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., Buffalo State will host flutist Galen Abdur-Razzaq on Wednesday, February 5, at 7:00 p.m. in the Burchfield Penney Art Center’s Tower Auditorium.
Abdur-Razzaq, an accomplished musician and spoken-word artist from Montclair, New Jersey, will present the lecture and performance “Jazz and the Civil Rights Movement.” The event is free and open to the public.
An educator, arranger, composer, and director, Abdur-Razzaq studied at the Berklee College of Music and earned a master’s degree in education from Rutgers University. For more than 30 years, he has performed and spoken to college and university students across the country.
“Our programs are designed with a focus on jazz history, women in jazz, and the elements of jazz, as well as an overall understanding of musicology,” said Fiona Brown, general manager of Flute Juice Productions, Abdur-Razzaq’s production company. “The primary goal is to provide students with an understanding and appreciation of this art form, its cultural background, and historical significance. Notably, jazz was an instrument of expression during some of the most difficult periods in American history and is also considered an important pathway to a greater appreciation of music in general.”
Buffalo State’s Equity and Campus Diversity Office partnered with Student Affairs and Student Leadership and Engagement to support the event and received funding from a Faculty-Student Association (FSA) grant.
“We’ve never celebrated MLK Day with a musical performer,” said Michael Heflin, director of the Equity and Campus Diversity Office. “We thought his presentation and performance would be an excellent way to connect and engage with students, faculty, staff, and the community in a different way. We’re very excited about his visit.”
Abdur-Razzaq’s performance is the highlight of several free campus events recognizing Black History Month in February. Others include:
For more information about any of the events, please contact the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, (716) 878-6210.
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