Documenting the National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Rocco Landesman visit to Peoria, Illinois as he kicks off the "Art Works" tour. This piece captures the spirit of the Central Illinois Arts Community as they promote the visibility of arts in the area. Click here to watch this Arts Works video.

Music to Listen to While Reading The Great Gatsby

CD 781.63 BIL         
 Billboard Pop Memories: the 1920’s
Includes “My Blue Heaven” and “Sonny Boy” and music performed by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra and Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians.

CD 784.48 BIR          
The Birth of Rhapsody in Blue: Paul Whiteman’s Historic Aeolian Hall Concert of 1924
In the 1920s, the media called Paul Whiteman “The King of Jazz.”  This two-disc set contains numerous recognizable tunes including “Yes We Have No Bananas,” “Kitten on the Keys,” “A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody,” and “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.” This concert is considered a defining event in the Jazz Age.

CD 781.65 BEI
Bix Beiderbecke: At the Jazz Band Ball
With Louis Armstrong, Beiderbecke was one of the two most influential jazz soloists of the 1920s.  In 1927 this native of Davenport, Iowa, joined the best-known dance orchestra in the country, the Paul Whiteman Orchestra. 

CD 781.65 BEI
Bix Beiderbecke and the Chicago Comets  Recorded in 1924.

CD 781.65 BEI
Bix Beiderbecke: Singin’ the Blues  Recorded in 1927.

CD 781.65 BEI
Bix ‘n’ Bing  Bix Beiderbecke and Bing Crosby perform with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra.

CD 781.65 ARM
Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings, volumes 1, 2, 3, and 4
Louis Armstrong's Hot Five was the most influential jazz band of the mid-'20s.  In 1927 Armstrong expanded his ensemble for the first time to become the Hot Seven.  Includes “Potato Head Blues” and “Willie the Weeper.”

CD 782.14 GER
Fascinating Rhythm: the Broadway Gershwin 1919-1933
"Fascinating Rhythm" was written by George Gershwin in 1924 with lyrics by his brother Ira Gershwin.  This CD also includes “’S Wonderful” and “Someone to Watch over Me.”

CD 781.65 MOR
Jelly Roll Stomp
Piano player Jelly Roll Morton was a pioneer of modern American jazz.  His best-known tunes include Jelly Roll Blues and King Porter Stomp, both of which are on this CD, which was recorded between 1923 and 1924.

CD 781.65 DOD       
Johnny Dodds, 1926
Johnny Dodds was a jazz clarinetist and alto saxophonist who recorded with numerous small groups in Chicago, most notably Louis Armstrong's Hot 5 and Hot 7, and Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers.

CD 781.65 ARM
Louis Armstrong and King Oliver
Joe “King” Oliver was Louis Armstrong’s mentor and teacher.  This CD, which includes “Canal Street Blues” and “Weather Bird Rag,” was recorded during 1923-1924.

CD 781.654 ORI
Original Dance Music of the 1920’s/1930’s
This CD was digitally restored and remastered from original recordings of 1925 through 1931 and includes “You’re the Cream in My Coffee,” “I Wanna Be Loved by You,” and “Who’s Sorry Now.”