Pre-event reception – 6:15 PM | Tickets: $18 | Reception includes light refreshments and live performance by Robert Sykes, Jazz pianist.

Join Us for the Opening Night of the Lessans Family Book Festival!

We are thrilled to welcome bestselling author Larry Tye who will discuss his latest work, The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America.

Pre-Event Reception: Come and add some sparkle to our festive opening night! Kick off the evening with an upbeat pre-event reception, complete with live jazz music. Savor refreshments, chat with fellow guests, and feel free to dress to impress, capturing the elegant charm of the Jazz Age.

Author Presentation: Larry Tye will jump ON the Lessans Family Book Festival bandstand to share with us the lives of three great maestros OFF the bandstand. Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie wrote the soundtrack for the civil rights revolution. The Jazzmen explores the Black-Jewish alliance of old—one where each of these African American bandleaders had a Jewish manager and bandmates—and how that might offer a model for today.

Don’t miss this opportunity to join us to JAZZ IT UP and gain a deeper insight into the profound impact of jazz on American history and culture.

There will be plenty of books on hand for sale and author signings.

Questions: Please contact Marcie Blackman:
mblackman@benderjccgw.org or at 301-348-3808

All Bender JCC programs are open to everyone. Contact Kate Falls, Director of Inclusion, at kfalls@benderjccgw.org or 301.348.3767 to discuss support and accommodations.