The American Century of Music – From the African-American emotional expression that became blues and jazz to Tin Pan Alley and Hollywood"s Silver Screen, our music has touched the world during the past hundred years.

"Century Americana" is the collaboration of T.S. Monk, Nnenna Freelon and David Amram to bring the forces of American culture and their love of education together.

From Scott Joplin and Duke Ellington, Hoagy Carmichael and Jack Kerouac, "Century Americana's" debut in Cleveland in December 1999 was lauded in The Plain Dealer: "ultimately... satisfying, both musically and emotionally... vocalist Freelon was stunning... she (did) truly occupy, even transform, her material... the man (Amram) is multiply talented and fearless..."

- Performed with a Symphony, Chamber Orchestra or String Section

The last hundred years has become known as The American Century.

From African-American blues to jazz to Tin Pan Alley and Hollywood, our music – our cultural legacy – has touched the world as no other art form in any other period in history.

CENTURY AMERICANA is the ideal program to celebrate the music of the American Century! This innovative program marks the collaboration of renowned composer-conductor-arranger-performer DAVID AMRAM, five-time Grammy Award nominee and award winning vocalist NNENNA FREELON, and drummer-bandleader T. S. MONK to bring together the forces of American culture, and their love of education.

DAVID AMRAM is a genuine icon of American music. As the Boston Globe put it, “the Renaissance Man of American music.” From his classical journey as the first Composer-In-Residence to the New York Philharmonic (appointed by Leonard Bernstein) to his collaborations with Jack Kerouac (the first-ever jazz poetry performances), as composer of classic film scores The Manchurian Candidate among others, David has implemented a unique program celebrating the best of the music with the brightest of today’s jazz stars.

T. S. MONK, the first of those stars, has defined his own style and graced the covers of Downbeat Jazziz and Jazz Times in the past year and a half and won several Reader’s and Critics Awards with his music. Carrying on the legendary name of his father, he’s added a luster to it with his own contemporary flair!

NNENNA FREELON, five time Grammy Award nominee and winner of many performance and educational awards, has seen her career rise exponentially with her standing-ovation performance on the Grammy Awards TV show this year and appearance in the film WHAT WOMEN WANT and on its now-Gold certified soundtrack.

No other program is as daring or ambitious, and successful, in presenting the soul of American music from its origins to its influence on spoken word performance, film, and Broadway! This program is to be performed with Symphony, Pops or Chamber Orchestra. Minimum of 15 strings required.

Program includes Scott Joplin, Duke Ellington, Jack Kerouac, Thelonious Monk, Hoagy Carmichael, David Amram, Leonard Bernstein and others.

ALSO VISIT:
• David Amram
• T.S. Monk
• Nnenna Freelon