Turkish Embassy Brings Back Jazz Tradition In D.C.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Turkish Embassy is hosting another season of jazz concerts in Washington to help mark the groundbreaking next week of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture.
The year's first concert is Wednesday, followed by concerts in May, October and December. Last year, the embassy brought back the tradition of hosting such concerts that began when Washington was a segregated city and the ambassador's residence was a hot spot for jazz.
In the 1930s and 1940s, the embassy featured performances by Benny Carter, Duke Ellington and others. The sons of Turkey's second ambassador, Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegun, hosted the rare events.
New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center is curating this year's concerts. Wednesday's performance features the Roy Hargrove Quintet. Tickets are distributed through the embassy's Facebook page.
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