Art Gallery

By Kevin Lee Associate Editor

MOJO Jazz Jam Session

When: 6:30 p.m., Mon., April 23

Where: Gulf City Lodge, 601 State St., Mobile

$7 MOJO members, $10 general public

April is National Jazz Appreciation month and Mobile’s ambassadors of jazz, the Mystic Order of the Jazz Obsessed, will mark the occasion in customary fashion.

The MOJO Spring Jam will feature the talent of all interested musicians but will be bolstered by The Guffman Trio. The trio, led by pianist/vocalist Cynthia Neves, is from Pensacola and played to rave reviews at the MOJO Holiday Jam in December. Neves and her compatriots, bassist Tom Latenser and drummer Fred Domulot, form a unique ensemble that sounds thoroughly modern without losing the edge of more vintage jazz from the genre’s golden era.

The jam sessions are a quarterly addition to MOJO’s Jazz Jambalayas, an educational and performance series that has thrilled Mobile music fans since its inception in 2003.

As with other Jambalaya events, the entrance fee includes a jambalaya dinner and participating musicians enjoy free entrance in exchange for showcasing their skills.

For more info, call 459-2298 or e-mail mobilejazz@bellsouth.net.

2007 Visual Arts Faculty Exhibition

Where: University of South Alabama Library, Third Floor Art Gallery

When: Through May 11

Putting to rest the wizened misnomer, “Those who ‘can,’ ‘do and those who ‘can’t,’ ‘teach,’” this exhibition by the talented professorial ranks of South Alabama is worth the venture. The display covers a wide range of materials and disciplines by Jeremy Colbert, Claire Evangelista, Diane Gibbs, Matthew Johnson, Marvin Kendrick, David McCann, Catherine McLeod, Phillipe Oszuscik, Walter Simon, Larry B. Simpson, Benjamin J. Shamback, Margarita Skiadas, Rachel Wright, Tony Wright and Kyeong-Won Youn.

Also, Alabama poet laureate Sue Walker has paired more than 30 poems by students with photographs, sketches and drawings by students of Claire Evangelista in an exhibit entitled Poets & Artists.

Hours are posted at www.southalabama.edu/univlib/info/hours.html.

For more info, call 251-460-7021 or e-mail Rexann Warren at rwarren@usouthal.edu

Gulf Coast Ethnic & Heritage Jazz Festival Poetry contest

When: Now through July 14

Poets are encouraged to submit one original poem, published or unpublished, 30 lines or fewer, any style, without profanity for the annual contest. Entires must be typed and include name, address and telephone number of the contestant.

Don’t worry, all authors will retain rights to their work, though they should keep a copy of their poems since none will be returned. Entries must be postmarked no later than July 14 and the entry fee is $5. Make check or money order payable to:

Gulf Coast Ethnic & Heritage Jazz Festival or GCEH Jazz Festival, Poets Corner P.O. Box 66286, Mobile, AL 36660.

The winner will be announced at the festival’s “Evening of Poetry” on Aug. 2 at the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science, 1255 Dauphin St. For more info, contact Janetta Whitt-Mitchell, (251) 473-5020 or e-mail: gcehjazz1@yahoo.com.

Kevin Lee is Lagniappe associate editor. Contact him at klee@lagniappemobile.com.

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