FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WHAT: Guardians Institute’s 2014 Vanguard Gala WHEN: 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm WHERE: 2003 Carondelet Street McKenna Museum of African American Art
Tickets are $25.00 per person The Guardians Institute will hold their inaugural fundraiser, Vanguard Gala on Saturday, February 15, 2014. The event will raise funds to support the organization’s signature programs: Big Chief Donald Harrison Sr. Book Club, Family Saturdays, and Master Jazz Classes. The event will include special music performances by the Christian aTunde Adjuah Scott Quintet, Big Chief Brian Nelson, and special surprise guests. The evening of art, music, delectable culinary delights, and culture in one of New Orleans’ premier venues, McKenna Museum of African American Art will also include a silent auction. Items for the auction include; Silence of the Lamb movie posters signed by Academy Award winning director Jonathan Demme, original artwork, gift baskets, and frame ready photographs of members the Harrison Family who have been referred to as the First Family of Culture. Attendees will also be able to view the Donald Harrison, Sr.: The Legacy Continues exhibition. The special exhibit curated by the Guardians Institute includes; archival photos, original beaded artworks, paintings by Karen Ocker and Ronald Romanski, ceremonial attire by Big Chief Donald Harrison Jr. of the Congo Nation Afro New Orleans group, Mardi Gras Indian flag designe d by Alonzo Wilson and featured on HBO’s Tremè Series, as well as photographs by Eric Waters, Jeffrey Ehrenreich, Ed Brown, Phillip Colwart, Skip Bolen, Freddye Hill and others. Sponsors of the event include: LeRoux’s Supper Club & Banquet Hall, Sucre King Cakes and Treats. # For more information, contact Michael Burd, Jr. via e-mail at Rashim007.mbj@gmail.com ### CHRISTIAN ATUNDE ADJUAH Christian Scott, also known as Christian aTunde Adjuah (born March 31, 1983, in New Orleans, Louisiana) is a two-time Edison Award winner (2010, 2012), Grammy Award nominated jazz trumpeter, composer, and producer. Scott’s Grammy nominated international recording debut Rewind That (Concord Records) was called “arguably the most remarkable premiere the genre has seen in the last decade” by Billboard Magazine, earning Scott two prominent features on their cover, and inclusion in their list of “Ones to Watch in 2006”. Since 2002 Scott has released seven studio recordings and two live albums. Scott is known for developing the harmonic conve ntion known as the “forecasting cell” and for his use of an un-voiced tone in his playing emphasizing breath over vibration at t he mouthpiece; widely referred to as his “whisper technique.” Scott is also widely recognized as one of the progenitors of “Str etch Music”, a jazz rooted genre blind musical form attempting to “stretch” jazz rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic conventions to encompass as many other musical forms, languages, and cultures as possible. Through his partnership with Adam’s Instrum ents, Scott’s Siren Trumpet, Sirenette and Reverse Flugelhorn are revolutionizing brass instrument design all over the world. As NPR put it, "Christian Scott ushers in new era of jazz". He has been heralded by JazzTimes magazine as "the Architect of a new commercially viable fusion" and "Jazz's young style God". Scott is the nephew of Saxophonist Donald Harrison Jr. and is considered to be a major inspiration for HBO's Treme series lead character Delmond Lambreaux. Lambreaux, is a hybrid of both Donald Harrison Jr. and Christian Scott.