James P. Johnson (1894-1955), known as the “Father of the the Stride Piano” and a noted jazz composer and performer, also turned his talents in the late 1930s to writing opera.
'De Organizer' and 'The Dreamy Kid': Premiere recordings of James P. Johnson operas – People's World peoplesworld.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from peoplesworld.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
After only one verified complete performance at Carnegie Hall in May 1941, "De Organizer," the opera by James P. Johnson and Langston Hughes, vanished.
The opera was thought to be totally lost until 1997 when the late James Dapogny, a professor at the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theat
After the first Evergreen Jazz Festival in 2001, organizers and musicians alike were not sure whether there would be a second. Now, 22 years and 19 festivals later, the event is stronger than ever.