Chris Kozak Jazz Quintet Concert at UA to Highlight Realizing the Dream Events

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Chris Kozak Jazz Quintet, with Eric Essix on guitar, will highlight the 2012 Martin Luther King Jr. Realizing the Dream celebration, a series of special activities honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, in the Moody Music Building Concert Hall on The University of Alabama campus.

What began 22 years ago as a single concert has grown to include activities year round, including a Legacy Banquet, Distinguished Lecture Series and a Performing Arts Presentation.

“The Realizing the Dream concert changes every year,” said Dr. Samory Pruitt, vice president for Community Affairs, who works with Stillman College, Shelton State Community College and the Tuscaloosa chapter of the SCLC to produce the MLK program. “It brings together different parts of the community from in-school programs to children’s art, from college and youth choirs to this year’s talented jazz quintet.”

Tickets to the concert are available beginning Friday, Jan. 6. There is no charge, but tickets are required. To reserve a ticket, phone 205/348-7111.

Essix, a Birmingham native steeped in the soul, R&B, gospel and country music he grew up with in Alabama, has recorded more than 15 albums.

The concert, sponsored by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Realizing the Dream Committee, will feature music inspired by the civil rights leader’s 1964 Berlin Jazz Festival speech, an excerpt of which reads: “God has brought many things out of oppression. He has endowed his creatures with the capacity to create – and from this capacity has flowed the sweet songs of sorrow and joy that have allowed man to cope with his environment and many different situations. Jazz speaks for life.”

Chris Kozak, an associate professor and director of jazz studies in the UA School of Music, will be joined by guitarist Tom Wolfe on double bass and electric bass; Jonathan Noffsinger, saxaphone; Rob Alley, trumpet and flugelhorn; and Mark Lanter, drums.

Wolfe is associate dean of humanities and fine arts in the UA College of Arts and Sciences and professor of jazz studies in the School of Music, where Noffsinger is associate professor of saxophone and Alley and Lanter are both instructors.

Other events on the schedule are:

• Legacy Banquet, Friday, Jan. 13, 6:30 p.m., at the Hotel Capstone: Three Realizing the Dream awards will be presented. The speaker will be U.S. Rep. Terri A. Sewell of Selma, who represents the 7^th Congressional District of Alabama. Tickets are $25 each and are available by phoning 205/348-7111. Gwendolyn Ferreti, a doctoral student at the University of Texas at Austin, will receive the Horizon Award for work in Latino communities. Bryan Fair, a UA law professor, will receive the Call to Conscience Award for his scholarship in justice, equality and peace. Dr. Nimrod Reynolds will receive the Montaintop Award recognizing lifetime commitment to the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

•  Events on Monday, Jan. 16: Unity Breakfast, 7 a.m., Hay College Center, Stillman College. Speaker: Rev. Jeffery Cammon, St. Peter AME Zion Church. Unity March, noon, beginning at Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School proceeding to City Hall. Mass Rally, First African Baptist Church, 6 p.m. Speaker: Rev. Freedom Woods, Pine Grove Baptist Church, Greensboro.

• Throughout the year: Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Lecture Series and Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Presentations. For details, phone 205/391-2227 or visit www.theatretusc.com.