The Life and Music of Don Pullen

Don Pullen: December 25, 1941 – April 22, 1995

January 14, 2012, Jefferson Center celebrates one of the most extraordinary and innovative jazz pianists and composers of the 20th century, Roanoke’s native son, DON PULLEN.

Join us for the Don Pullen 70^th birthday tribute, celebrating the rich spirit of Don Pullen’s music with a stellar ensemble, featuring the Kennedy Center's Jazz Advisor Jason Moran on piano, Christian McBride on bass, James Carter and Hamiet Bluiett, on saxophones, Nasheet Waits on drums, and video excerpts of Don Pullen in concert.  The tribute will also include photos of Don's life and career, an art exhibit, a special presentation from poet Nikki Giovanni and the launch of a children’s music scholarship fund in Don Pullen’s honor at the Music Lab.

Jefferson Center & Harrison Museum of African American Culture have partnered to bring you the "Don Pullen Art Exhibit" inside Jefferson Center. The exhibit is  FREE to the public and will remain open, Monday - Friday, 9am - 4:30pm through Saturday's Don Pullen Tribute Concert on January 14th. 

The exhibit to honor the life and work of Don Pullen includes paintings from artist Bill Warrell, photos provided by friends, family and professional photographer Michael Wilderman highlighting Pullen's childhood experiences in Roanoke and his performances as a touring musician, a video documentary featuring Pullen, as well as letters of support from Pullen's family, friends and fans collected during a movement in New York City to memorialize the late jazz great.

The Don Pullen Arts Exhibit is the result of a partnership between Jefferson Center and the Harrison Museum of African American Culture and is hosted by Norfolk Southern and Chamber Music America.

Pullen drew from his roots in gospel, blues, rhythm & blues, classical technique, the full spectrum and span of jazz, avant-garde explorations, merged with African, Latin, and Native American music.  Pullen’s concept and sound was thrilling and original, playing inside and outside, allowing dissonance to swing and freer music to work in time, in the groove of the blues and rhythm & blues, weaving all together as one.  The beauty, power, stunning creativity and virtuosity of Pullen’s music mesmerized audiences worldwide.

Find out more about Don Pullen and his life's work here www.donpullen.de

************************

“Don Pullen plays the piano with such pounding intensity…he unleashes tidal waves of harmonic energy… the work of a modern master at peak form.  Pullen often makes his clusters dance… This is music of uncompromising originality.”  - People Magazine ‘89

“Don Pullen was, in my opinion, one of the finest artists and human beings of the 20^th century.”  - Katea Stitt  Coordinator, Jazz Oral History Program, Smithsonian Institution

“Mr. Pullen, a brilliant improviser with a vast understanding of many musical forms, including not only jazz, but gospel and classical music, stunned audiences with his intense, elegant melodies and technical brilliance.  His performances were inspired and inspiring, with great clarity and spiritual depth.”  - Jenneth Webster Producer, Lincoln Center Out-Of-Doors, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

“Don Pullen, we have a special musician whose genius was his ability, unlike anyone before him, to dominate the whole spectrum of this musical genre known as Jazz.  His technique encompassed the fire, passion and spirit, along with a creativity that was so unique, unlike any other pianist in the 20^th century.  He is and was that important.”  - Kunle Mwanga, Producer, Earth Art Productions

“…a tour de force…one of the jazz world’s true super talents.” - Ebony Magazine