A compelling hour of poetry and music where Jazz meets Classical, words of power and note collide in an inspired mix of electric literature and musical performance. T.J.Anderson III, author of "River to Cross," reads from his new collection of poetry, punctuated by musical excerpts performed by Maestro David Stewart Wiley at the piano and friends Julee Hickcox and Tracy Cowden at the flute and second grand piano. The music includes Joplin's Ragtime, George Gershwin's experiment in fusing Jazz and Classical in "Porgy & Bess" and “Rhapsody in Blue," Claude Bolling's "Baroque & Blue" and many more musical surprises.

The Big Read Roanoke Valley: The Big Read is a nationwide program created by the National Endowment for the Arts. Designed to revitalize the role of literary reading in American culture, The Big Read invites neighbors to read a single book of American literature in their communities, then come together for book discussion groups, panels, lectures, film screenings and other activities related to the book. The selected book for The Big Read Roanoke Valley is A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines.

Immediately following the performance, there will be a reception in Fralin Atrium at Jefferson Center.