CENTER FOR JAZZ ARTS LAUNCHES UNPRECEDENTED VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT December 28, 2006 Los Angeles --- The “American Stories” project is a new, community-based program bringing together WW-II veterans, their families, and their local communities in the collection of wartime stories focusing on the unending spirit of freedom and hope brought by American jazz during the time of the Allied liberation of Europe and the Pacific. “It’s impossible to accurately describe the emotional impact of listening to the experiences of these remarkable individuals being told in their own words,” stated Guy DeFazio, president and chairman of the Center for Jazz Arts. “We could not be more honored or more proud to be making it possible for them to come together and share their inspiring stories with the world.” As the survivors of WW-II become ever fewer in number, an even greater need exists for their children and grandchildren to learn about their lives, and for their personal experiences to highlight this unparalleled facet of American cultural heritage for students, educators, families, and communities across the globe. Through their participation in helping bring-to-light the central role that jazz music and culture has played in uniting countless, diverse peoples and communities during the overwhelming challenges of war, WW-II veterans are participating in the creation of a new and richly informative learning resource for both current and future generations. Both written and visual accounts of the veterans' wartime experiences, involving jazz performances, broadcasts, and other events, will be made available through the Center for Jazz Arts website, as well as through a variety of in-school and community-based, educational programs. For WW-II veterans and their families interested in sharing their stories, please contact: Center for Jazz Arts P.O. Box 16760 Beverly Hills, CA 90209 (866) 950-5200 (866) 950-5201 (fax) 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. To contact the CJA: Public Relations Center for Jazz Arts (866) 950-5200 info@centerforjazzarts.com [ back to top ]