AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN FRANCE HOSTS CENTER FOR JAZZ ARTS TRIBUTE EVENT June 22, 2007 Los Angeles --- The American Chamber of Commerce in France recently hosted an exclusive gathering of members and guests, including the distinguished Association France-Amériques, for an evening of musical performances, food, wine, and special presentations in tribute to the WW-II veterans and survivors sharing their unique, personal experiences as part of the European launch of the Center for Jazz Arts’ newest visual history project (the “American Stories” project). “We’re extremely grateful to both the American Chamber of Commerce in France and the Association France-Amériques for their support of our work, and for their leadership in paying tribute to the wonderful men and women sharing their stories with us,” stated Guy DeFazio, president and chairman of the Center for Jazz Arts. “Their inspiring accounts will forever serve to remind us all of the many, long-standing values and hopes that we continue to share, and the American Stories project represents yet another example of the commitment of the Center for Jazz Arts to using jazz-history as a tool in building new bridges together, involving every generation.” During the evening, brief segments from numerous interviews taped during the project’s earlier, U.S. launch were shared, and special acknowledgement was given to each of the French, Belgian, and American veterans and survivors who had also shared their stories as part of the organization’s initial round of Paris interviews, throughout the week. As an example of the U.S. segments shown, the remarkable story of veteran Salvatore Sportelli, a veteran of D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, and numerous, other, major conflicts, involves his personal experiences being deployed in the countryside of England as part of the eighteen-month build-up for D-Day, and how he and his fellow soldiers formed a jazz band to lift their spirits, to have some kind of connection to home, before "having to crate their instruments and board the ship for Normandy.” As another of the brief segments shared that evening, the story of legendary, Hollywood musician Buddy Collette (the first African-American ever hired to a Hollywood studio orchestra) was shown, involving his personal experiences with the inter-racial dynamics during that complex time in the history of American civil rights, particularly by African-Americans in military service, and how he and his childhood friend Charlie Mingus were recruited from Los Angeles to become part of the military band at a Naval Reserve Station outside of Oakland, because of “the importance of music.” About the American Chamber of Commerce in France: The American Chamber of Commerce in France (AmChamFrance) was founded in 1894, making it the oldest U.S. business organization abroad. The Chamber is an independent, non-profit association registered both in France and in the United States. AmChamFrance is The Voice of American Business in France, dedicated to the optimization of U.S. investments and the promotion of transatlantic business ties. Among its many educational and exchange programs, AmChamFrance also acts as a nexus for associations promoting transatlantic understanding. About the Association France-Amériques: Gabriel Hanotaux, a former Foreign Affairs Minister, founded the "Comité France Amérique" in 1909. His idea of creating an association was triggered by the way the Ministry of Foreign Affairs classified America, which at the beginning of the 20th century was still placed in the "other countries" category. The Comité had a simple but ambitious mission: to alert opinion leaders, in the public and private sectors, to America's global importance. In 1927 the Comité acquired a town house, the hôtel Le Marois, built in 1863 under Napoléon III in what was then a dynamic new area around the Champs Elysées. Almost a hundred years later, the Association's mission has been broadened, and now it aims to strengthen ties and mutual understanding between France and all the countries of North and South America. About the CJA: Established in 2004, the Center for Jazz Arts is an international institution devoted to the study and advancement of American jazz culture throughout the visual, literary, and classical arts, around the world. Through its primary operations in Los Angeles, it is building a prominent new platform of engagement for students, artists, educators, and the broader public, from every generation. For more information contact: Public Relations Center for Jazz Arts (866) 950-5200 info@centerforjazzarts.com [ back to top ]