Buddy Bolden - An Opera
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CRITIC’S PICK: In fall 2020, I wrote a Listening Post about the premiere of ‘Buddy Golden,’ an opera written and composed by Atlanta saxophonist and composer Jeff Crompton.
More precisely, the article was focused on a video version of the (~48-minute) opera, a format compelled by the COVID-19 outbreak, which caused the canceling of dress rehearsals and the opera’s scheduled debut during the summer.
This weekend, on Fri., June 28 and Sat., June 29, the live premiere of ‘Buddy Bolden’ takes place at the First Existentialist Congregation in Candler Park where the stellar cast of the video version (which you can watch on YouTube) will all be performing onstage. The preview article at the link includes an interview with Crompton about the development of ‘Buddy Bolden,’ who is one of the seminal figures in the creation of jazz.
Excerpt: On the morning of New Year’s Day 2018, Atlanta musician and composer Jeff Crompton, best known as leader of the Edgewood Saxophone Trio and other adventures in jazz, woke up thinking, “I’m going to write an opera.” Crompton had two ideas in mind. The one he acted upon is the story of Buddy Bolden, a tragic figure of legendary proportions in the chronicle of jazz history.
- Doug DeLoach
From the venue:
Jeff Crompton presents “Buddy Bolden,” a short opera in three acts: the triumphant and tragic story of a legendary musician.