This event is open to the public. Masks are required in all NOVA buildings.

*Free parking available for attendees in lot B13*

In this presentation, co-authors Josephine Matyas and Craig Jones will talk about how the music of the Mississippi Delta emerged from the conjuncture of politics, culture/ideology, geography (land/water), and the lived experience of humans under conditions of brutal oppression and inter-generational trauma. These forces converged to produce a form of therapeutic release – music, chants, field hollers – that served a collection of spiritual, psychological, ceremonial, and oppositional needs among enslaved persons. Craig and Jo will talk about the nature of life under slavery and how the reproduction of everyday life produced what became the blues. They will also show how the blues was revitalized in the United Kingdom, and eventually became foundational to North American popular music, informing music genres like Motown, R&B, soul, rock and roll.

The presentation will include a slideshow of the “sacred sites” of the Mississippi blues, which they visited as part of the research for their book, Chasing the Blues: A Traveler’s Guide to America’s Music.  Jo Matyas is a long-time travel writer who has explored the globe and has a special interest in the history and culture of a destination. Craig Jones has a PhD in International Political Economy and has worked as a professional musician for 40 years.

Please join us! Tuesday, February 22 @ 2-3 p.m. in the CE Forum in the Ernst Cultural Center – Refreshments will be served.