How did the fund support come about?

 

The collaboration between the two women began when Dr. Keyes was invited to serve as the music director for IWP’s 7th Annual Lady Jazz™ Concert at the Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood, CA in the summer of 2006.  The “Blues in the Summertime” Concert played to a sold-out audience in the 1250 seat theatre.

 

In March 2007, Dr. Keyes invited Ms. Shamblee to collaborate on an application for a Center for Community Partnership award of support. They co-wrote the proposal for Dr. Keyes’s concept,  Beyond Central Avenue:  Contemporary Female Jazz Instrumentalists in Los Angeles.  The concept is inspired by the history of jazz in Los Angeles.  The historic Dunbar Hotel on Central Avenue was a focal point for jazz and night life in the City of Angeles in a similar way that The Cotton Club in Harlem served as a hub in New York.

 

How will this support be utilized?

 

The two year research project will capture the history and personal stories of a minimum of fifteen female jazz artists on audio and video through a series of interviews, community performances and related research activities through June 2009.  This information will be compiled and captured in an educational DVD.  The project will culminate with publication of a book co-authored by Keyes and Shamblee during the second and final year of the partnership.

 

Guidelines for the CCP support require that all of the funds be used for project expenses, with up to 25% allocated for a graduate research assistant.  The balance of the support is budgeted for the filming, editing and packaging of the DVD, Website services to develop and foster an e-community that encourages broader community participation, and related printing, mileage reimbursement and a minimum of three community outreach activities (performances).  Keyes,  Shamblee, nor The Instrumental Women Project will receive any support funds.

 

The additional funds required to support all project activities will be raised by Shamblee and The IWP Board of Regents.

 

Summary Profile of Dr. Keyes and Ms. Shamblee

 

Dr. Cheryl L. Keyes is an accomplished researcher and sought-after panelists on ethnomusicology in the U.S. and abroad.  She developed and teaches UCLA’s popular Women in Jazz course and is considered one of the nation’s foremost experts on the subject.  Her book, Rap Music and Street Consciousness, is considered one of the most comprehensive historical exposes in that genre.  Her talents as musicians on keyboards and flute are complemented by her abilities as a composer, arranger, orchestrator and conductor.  She leaves no doubt that her scholarly accomplishments are a mere glimpse into her talents as a well-rounded musician.  She is currently producing a CD that features her many talents.  *Click here for a more detailed bio on Dr. Keyes.

 

La Quetta M. Shamblee is the founder and executive director of The Instrumental Women Project.  2008 marks the ninth consecutive year of programming and the seventh consecutive year that she has been successful in securing a co-production grant from the Los Angeles County Arts Commission for IWP’s “Lady Jazz”™ Concert Series at the Ford.  Shamblee is an accomplished, executive-level nonprofit administrator who has served on a number of nonprofit boards, task forces and committees that address HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, youth education and other social issues.  She is the author of the 150-page, self-published Step-by-Step Guide to Grantwriting Workbook  used for the workshop series she conducts. She holds an MBA from Azusa Pacific University.

 

How Can You Participate?

 

The first CCP Grant project activity  took place during IWP’s 2007 Tea & Jam™ Annual Lady Jazz™ kick-off party on Thursday, August 16th in Pasadena, CA.  Commencing in October 2007, the UCLA CCP Grant section of the IWP website will be the location for information, photos and video clips from project activities. An IWP Community Producers’ Club webpage will list names of individuals and groups/businesses that make a minimum donation to support this project (see details below).

 

We welcome your participation in one or more of the following ways:

 

 

o Make a donation to support our efforts

 

o Become an active part of our e-community*

 

o Join us for an upcoming UCLA CCP Grant community event*

 

(*e-mail your name, city and state to be place on our e-announcement list)

 

o For additional information, please e-mail us at info@instrumentalwomen.com and place “UCLA CCP Inquiry” in the Subject Line

 

Stay tuned and join in to learn, participate and celebrate these incredible Instrumental Women™  in the Los Angeles region, whose influence reaches well-beyond Central Avenue.