Along with John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor is generally acknowledged to be one of the great musical innovators of post-war jazz. Still vibrant at age 76, Taylor has performed at the White House, has been a Guggenheim Fellow and a MacArthur Genius Award winner. He has collaborated with dancers Dianne McIntyre, Mickail Baryshnikov and Heather Watts, as well as three generations of improvising musicians.

Born in New York, Taylor learned piano at six and went on to study at New York College and New England Convervatory. After first steps in R&B and swing-styled small groups in the early '50s with Hot Lips Page and Johnny Hodges, he formed his own band with Steve Lacy."Taylor's first record (Jazz Advance) remains one of the most extraordinary debuts in jazz," writes The Penguin Guide to Jazz.

Throughout the 50's and 60's Taylor made a series of landmark recordings such as Jumpin Punkins, Unit Structures, Nefertiti, the Beautiful One Has Come and a pairing with John Coltrane (Coltrane Time/Hard Drivin' Jazz. From 1961, Taylor oftem played and recorded with alto saxophonist Jimmy Lyons (until Lyons' death in 1986). Drummers Sunny Murray and Andrew Cyrille were also frequent collaborators. In the 1980s, William Parker and later Tony Oxley made great music with Taylor.

"There's nothing easy about Cecil Taylor's music," writes Kurt Gottschalk. "It's fast and it's furious. It's very nearly incomprehensible and, quite plainly genius. Sitting in his audience is nothing short of being in the presence of brilliance."

Cecil Taylor will perform a rare solo concert on Tuesday, September 26 at 8pm in Bowker Auditorium.

Mombasa Party is a get-together of some of the town’s major taarab artists: its aim being to revive the traditional acoustic sound of Mombasa taarab. With most of the current taarab production in East Africa dominated by keyboards and drum machines, these established artists have come together to celebrate the sound of taarab that they grew up with.

Taarab on the Kenya Coast from the 1950s onwards showed a strong liking for sounds associated with Indian film music. The harmonium was the first instrument in this heritage, followed by the tabla. Then the tashkota made its entry, first acoustically, later amplified; players in Mombasa developed a lead instrument sound somewhere between a sitar and electric mandolin. The tashkota has been described as a kind of ‘type-writer banjo’, with strings being stopped by an armature akin to a type-writer’s, with a piano-like outline of black and white keys. Songs include 4) Kombo "Bembeya Mtoto" ('Soothing a Child'), Zuhura "Tweta" ('Panting for Breath') and many more

One of the greatest percussion ensembles in the world, the Royal Drummers of Burundi have performed in the same way for centuries, passing down traditions and techniques from father to son. Their performances were traditionally a part of particular ceremonies, such as births, funerals and the enthronement of Kings. In Burundi, drums are sacred and represent, along with the king, the powers of fertility and regeneration. The origins of their performance being shrouded in ancient legend and mystery, the Drummers of Burundi channel the energy and creative spirit of a nation through these drums and the rituals surrounding them

The large drums "Ingoma" that are played are made from hollowed tree trunks covered with skin. The "Amashako" drums provide a continuous beat, and "Ibishikiso" drums follow the rhythm of the central "Inkiranya" drum. The thunderous sound of the drums with the graceful yet athletic dance that accompanies this masterful performance represents an important part of Burundi's musical heritage.

The drummers will enter the hall and criss-cross the audience beating hand drums to start the show then the Burundi experience begins.

Take the fabulous opportunity to visit three unique Asian Museums located in the heart of New York City. Upon our Manhattan arrival, you can start with an early dimsum lunch at a local Chinatown eatery. Next you’ll enjoy an hour long historical walking tour of Chinatown escorted by a guide at the Museum of the Chinese in the Americas. Uncover the history of one of New York’s oldest neighborhoods, tracing the development of Chinatown from its origins as the Native American village, Werpoes Hill, to one of the fastest growing present day immigrant communities. This tour includes a look at the Museum’s Mapping our Heritage Project- a pioneering three dimensional, interactive virtual map of old Chinatown district developed in collaboration with NYU.

Back on the bus, head uptown to the China Institute and the Asia Society both located on Park Avenue. There you’ll have the option to visit the China Institute to view a special exhibition on “Re-Inventing Books in Contemporary Chinese Art” followed by a talk and hands-on calligraphy workshop. Or perhaps you’ll select a visit to the Asia Society Museum for a docent led tour to view items from the permanent collection and "One Way or Another: Asian American Art Now", an exhibition that brings together 17 young artists who explore new approaches toward being Asian American.. “Stretching from the deserts of Central Asia to the continent’s eastern seaboard, China is home to the world’s oldest continuous civilization. The Asia Society collection includes Chinese ceramics, bronzes, Buddhist sculpture, and paintings dating from the 3rd millennium B.C.E. to the 18th century C.E.” Finally, having immersed yourself in unique and wonderful discoveries, you’ll head back home to the hills of western Massachusetts.

The cost for the 3 Museums Tour is $75. It includes costs of the bus, tickets, guides, and workshop at the Museums, pre-tour informational materials and PDP credits for teachers (optional). This will be a fully escorted tour. Snacks and water will be available on the bus. Lunch and dinner will be on your own.

The tour leaves Robsham Visitor Center at 8AM, stopping enroute at Holyoke Mall for any additional pick-ups. Leaving NYC at 5 PM expected arrival back at UMass is at 8:30 PM.

Supported in part by the Five College Center for East Asian Studies.

PeoplesBank is delighted to support the Fine Arts Center. As the largest, locally based community bank serving Hampshire and Hampden counties, our commitment to this area goes beyond providing financial services. Giving back to the communities where we live and work has always been part of our credo. And by supporting organizations like the Fine Arts Center, we help enhance the quality of life for all our neighbors.

Swiss-born artist Beat Streuli (b. 1957) has developed a substantial and impressive body of work in photography and video that documents the transient pedestrian activity of urban life. He documents the image of people in urban spaces around the world, in Asia, Europe, the U.S., Africa, and Australia. Streuli's images of people moving through and among each other blur a line between portraying anonymity and individuality. The dramatically slowed video images, which represent an ever-changing sea of pedestrians -- bodies and faces navigating through a given city -- offer a moving social portrait of contemporary society.

Streuli's exhibition at the University Museum of Contemporary Art will be the artist's first museum exhibition devoted to his recent video. He has exhibited widely throughout the world since 1990. A few of his many solo exhibitions have occurred at the Palais de Tokyo, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.

A special artist's book, along with a limited edition color photograph, will be published in connection with the exhibition, in collaboration with Atopia Projects.

Pro Helvetia Foundation, Switzerland, and Fondation Nestlé pour l'Art has provided generous support for this exhibition. Additional support comes from the Swiss Consulate in Boston; Murray Guy Gallery, New York; and Erna Hecey Gallery, Brussels.