Musician Bob Riccio is a man of many hats: not only is he a much-loved guitar and piano teacher, a professional musician, and a music composer and arranger, but the Wilton native is also an authority on jazz history. He’s sharing a bit of his knowledge in a lecture on the dawn of the Jazz Era following World War I.
The talk is the third of four lectures in the Wilton Library/Wilton Historical Society scholarly series called, “America—From the Guns of August to the Gathering Storm (1914 to 1939),” focused on World War I and its aftermath. Riccio will discuss the dawning of the Jazz Era and its implications on America’s outlook as a society. He will introduce listeners to some of the beginning influences on American Jazz from Africa and Europe in the early 1900s. He will touch on the religious music of that era, gospel and the blues, as well as early New Orleans and Ragtime influences, Dixieland, Boogie-woogie and ending with the emergence of Swing in 1932.
The lecture takes place this Sunday, March 13 at 4-5:30 p.m. in the Brubeck Room at the Wilton Library (137 Old Ridgefield Rd.). The moderator is Steve Hudspeth, and there will be a reception following the talk. The series is sponsored by Bankwell, and this 3rd lecture is sponsored by Elaine Tai-Lauria and Phil Lauria.
There no charge to attend, but donations are always welcomed. Registration is required, either via the Wilton Library website, or by calling 203.762.6334.