Mini-Zooms

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AF DuPage continues a new concept – the mini-Zoom session – a 20 minute focused presentation on a French-themed subject.

Most  sessions will take place on Thursday afternoons promptly at 12:30 pm, a  perfect midday break to add some French culture into your schedule.

The  topics and presenters will vary. Most will be conducted in English, but  we may add some French language mini-Zooms into the mix. Zoom links are reserved for AF DuPage members and will be sent out the day before the session. Visit our Membership page to join or renew your membership.

Thursday, October 21, 12:30 pm - 12:50 pm Central Time, via Zoom

Presented by Col. Paul Herbert

Jazz emerged in the United States from ragtime and blues to become popular especially in New Orleans, Memphis, St.  Louis, Chicago and New York by 1917, the year the US entered World War  I. Among the two-million US soldiers sent to France were Black musicians  in the regimental bands of the segregated US Army's eight all-black  infantry regiments.  One of these was the Illinois National Guard's 8th  Illinois Infantry headquartered in Chicago.  This presentation will show  how these soldiers, performing in a unique style all over France  whenever possible, electrified French society, ignited the French jazz  scene and gave the world what some have described as America's greatest  cultural contribution.  

The photo is of Lieutenant James Reese Europe  directing the band of the 369th Infantry Regiment somewhere in France in  1918.