Herbie Hancock (pictured), Wayne Shorter and Terrence Blanchard played at Loyola University in New Orleans last Monday, April 2, to celebrate the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz’s move from L.A. to New Orleans. The jazz legends were joined in performance by the Monk Institute’s incoming class during the announcement festivities.
The Institute unveiled its “Commitment to New Orleans,” a plan to revitalize post-Katrina New Orleans in the coming four years through key partnerships with area universities. Though Loyola University is the actual new location of the Monk Institute for Jazz, Tulane University, the University of New Orleans, and three Historically Black Colleges and Universities (Dillard, Southern and Xavier) were all named as part of the New Orleans Consortium.
As part of its mission statement, the Monk Institute pledged to aid local school systems and New Orleans jazz musicians for the benefit of the community.
Following the announcement, the Institute kicked off its “Jazz in America” program with Bobby Watson and Lisa Henry performing for McMain High School students. The program had been planned to take place at the high school, but the school auditorium has yet to be repaired since damage sustained during Hurricane Katrina.
Originally Published