In 1977, the fledgling Salt Lake Festival of the Arts opened on a three-block stretch of Main Street. Thirty-six years later, the Utah Arts Festival has evolved into a 4-day visual, aural and culinary extravaganza that draws over 80,000 people to Library and Washington Squares. On Wednesday, we’ll feature several honorees of this year’s festival, which opens Thursday, June 21.
Segment 1:
Our revered NBA franchise aside, jazz is a musical language, an ensemble art that celebrates syncopation, improvisation and swing. On Wednesday, we’ll talk with two giants of jazz in Utah, trumpeter and jazz arranger Neil Weight, and Henry Wolking, trombonist and former chair of Jazz Studies at the University of Utah.
Guests:
- Neil Weight, 2012 Utah Arts Festival Jazz Masters Award Winner
- Henry Wolking, composer of 2012 Jazz Commission, “Time Passing Time”
Neil Weight will accept his award, then conduct premiere performances of the arrangements he created with the Salt Lake City Jazz Orchestra during the Utah Arts Festival on Friday, June 22 at 8:30 p.m. on the Festival Stage. His new arrangement of “Body and Soul,” a classic jazz standard, will feature bandleader Jerry Floor on clarinet. Henry Wolking will present the world premiere of his Utah Arts Festival Commission “Time Passing Time” on Friday, June 22 at 8:30 p.m. on the Festival Stage.
Segment 2:
Two years ago, the Utah Arts Festival commissioned a dance for the first time and they turned to Tom Mattingly for the honors. The Ballet West soloist and choreographer returns to the Festival for yet another commission and on Wednesday, Mattingly joins us to talk about the power of contemporary ballet.
Guest:
- Tom Mattingly
Ballet West soloist Tom Mattingly will premiere a new work during the Utah Arts Festival on Friday, June 22 at 5:30pm on the Festival Stage.
Segment 3:
Politicians, polygamists, media, Mormons: They’ve all felt the sharp tip of Pat Bagley’s pen many times over the past 33 years. As editorial cartoonist for the Salt Lake Tribune, Bagley has developed a cutting wit and a loyal following. On Wednesday, we talk with this year’s winner of the Utah Arts Festival Literary Award about satire and the art of political cartooning.
Guest:
- Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune editorial cartoonist
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