Front Row episodes

The Jackson Street Music Program presents Jazz in the City's Jazz = Culture Festival, an evening of jazz and poetry featuring acclaimed poet Minnie Collins accompanied by pianist Darrius Willrich.

Jazz, an American indigenous artform influencing popular culture and global society for over one hundred years. The influence of Jazz music significantly transformed art. The literary art of poetry even created a genre known as “Jazz Poetry.” Jazz influenced legendary writer Langston Hughes. His works such as: “Weary Blues” and “Jazzonia,” published in 1926 during the Harlem Renaissance, reflected a new African American cultural attitude and perspective. Jazz In The City’s “Jazz = Culture” is a music and poetry performance with reference to the Harlem Renaissance’s “Salons” where aristocrats, artists and intellectuals gathered.

Collins reads from her original published works "The Purple Wash", (2012) and "Palm Power: Hearths in Harmony", (2019), works from the upcoming book: "Sycamore Stews". In addition, Collins' commissioned work includes: "Commemoration Plaques", an installation at Seattle's Historical Liberty Bank Building Apartments, (2019).

Willrich is a graduate of Seattle University and Cornish College of the Arts. Currently, he tours with Hip-Hop’s Grammy Award winning, Digable Planets, and he is a founding member of the Jazz trio, Folks Project.