Julia Keefe and the Indigenous Big Band | Penny Stamps Speaker Series
Resilience and Brilliance in Indigenous Jazz PGlmcmFtZSB3aWR0aD0iNTYwIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjMxNSIgc3JjPSJodHRwczovL3d3dy55b3V0dWJlLmNvbS9lbWJlZC9SenBsX0xWdnVhZz9zaT1OalR2ZVFDMlVPYVY4VldwIiB0aXRsZT0iWW91VHViZSB2aWRlbyBwbGF5ZXIiIGZyYW1lYm9yZGVyPSIwIiBhbGxvdz0iYWNjZWxlcm9tZXRlcjsgYXV0b3BsYXk7IGNsaXBib2FyZC13cml0ZTsgZW5jcnlwdGVkLW1lZGlhOyBneXJvc2NvcGU7IHBpY3R1cmUtaW4tcGljdHVyZTsgd2ViLXNoYXJlIiByZWZlcnJlcnBvbGljeT0ic3RyaWN0LW9yaWdpbi13aGVuLWNyb3NzLW9yaWdpbiIgYWxsb3dmdWxsc2NyZWVuPjwvaWZyYW1lPg==https://www.pbsbooks.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/JKIBB_JaszGarrett.webp For hundreds of years, songs have been the vessels for stories, lessons, and prayers for the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. One of the newest additions to this world is the Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band, which presented its very first concert in 2022. The band focuses on reimagined traditional melodies made famous by Indigenous jazz musicians from the past, like singer Mildred Bailey (Coeur d’Alene) and saxophonist Jim Pepper (Kaw/​Mvskoke), as well as new works that push the genre forward. Led by the celebrated vocalist and luminary Julia Keefe (Nez Percé), the ensemble brings charisma, [...]
