Performance at the Chopin Birthday Festival in Warsaw

by stanbreckenridge on June 19, 2014June 19, 2014

Stan Breckenridge performed Chopin selections with jazz interpretation during the 5th Annual Chopin Birthday Festival in Warszawa, Poland, on February 22, 2014.

McDonalds in Warsaw Holds the World Record

by stanbreckenridge on October 28, 2012November 4, 2012

McDonalds in Warsaw Since 1992 — Here is a photo I took on October 27, 2012 of the McDoland’s in Warsaw that holds the record for the most hamburgers sold in a day. I believe Bejing, China previously held this record.

Warsaw – Buildings

by stanbreckenridge on October 28, 2012November 4, 2012

This beautiful building in Warsaw is a gift from the Soviet Union to Poland. It was completed around 1955.

The Palace of Culture and Science is the tallest building in Poland.

University of Warsaw – Bebop, Cool and Free Form: Musicians’ Music

by stanbreckenridge on October 28, 2012February 15, 2015

A presentation, October 26, 2012, coordinated by my dear friend and colleague Professor Ewa Luczak of the American Literature Department, University of Warsaw. The audience included students (bachelor – doctorate candidates), faculty, and members of the Poland Fulbright office.

I am asking the audience to identify as many types or approaches to jazz in America. So far, they’ve identified four in addition to those seen in the lecture title.

The presentation included a PowerPoint presentation, singing, clapping, and a Q & A section.

Here I am singing the melody to the song “Long John” in demonstrating the omnipresent feature in African American music, namely call & response. The audience, +100, followed each call by enthusiastically singing the response.

Presented the significance of recordings by prominent musicians such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonius Monk, John Coltrane, and others.

Many students knew most of the discussed musicians of cool jazz such as Miles Davis, Dave Bruebeck, John Coltrane, Chet Baker, and others.

Demonstrating call & response by audience members to memorize two separate “response phrases.” As I present the call, I am requesting they sing the 2nd response.

I believe we all had a wonderful time together sharing one of America’s greatest contributions to music, namely jazz.

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