Paul J. Hoeffler, known for his photographs of jazz legends, will join a panel of jazz aficionados at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, in Rush Rhees Library on the University of Rochester's River Campus. An exhibit of his work, "Mid-Century Jazz in Rochester, 1955-1962: Photographic Prints from the Paul Hoeffler Archive," is currently on display.
Hoeffler will talk about the music and culture of jazz with keyboard artist Gap Mangione, a Rochester native who has recorded solo and with his own bands for more than 40 years. The panel also will include Tom Hampson, jazz historian and host of "Mostly Jazz," a weekly radio program produced by public broadcasting station WXXI. Hampson's program draws from his vast collection of CDs with commentaries full of humor and fascinating anecdotes.
Jim Allen, who describes himself as "blessed or endowed with the spiritual certitude of jazz," will join the group. A Rochester educator and photographer, Allen often played in jam sessions at the old Pythodd Jazz Club where he "sat in with the likes of Jon Hendriks, Donald Byrd, Freddie Hubbard, Roland Kirk, and Grant Green." Using only available light, Allen photographed many jazz musicians when they entertained in Rochester. He writes a monthly jazz column for about . . . time magazine.
Another guest panelist will be musician and jazz historian Noal Cohen. He is co-author of the new book, Rat Race Blues: The Musical Life of Gigi Gryce, about the alto saxophonist and composer. A Rochester native and alumnus of the University of Rochester, Cohen travels widely on jazz research projects. Jason Crane, general manager of WGMC-FM, a local member-supported jazz radio station, will moderate.
The discussion will be held in the Hyam Plutzik Library, which is also in the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections where the Hoeffler exhibit is on display. The event is free and open to the public. For information, call (585) 275-4461.