March 22, 2003 - Operation SafeHouse of Riverside hosted their "First Annual Safe Place Walk-A-Thon" at Hunt Park in Riverside (4015 Jackson Street). We participated in the 5-K walk-run-a-thon and the Expo afterward. In the Expo, we featured a booth with several pieces from The Johnson Archive Exhibit, and displays our current projects, as well as having the items in our Catalogue available for purchase. We established a new business relationship with the SafeHouse Organization, and new friendships with the staff and the young people who are participating in the SafeHouse and Safe Place programs.

February 15, 2003 - 24th Annual Riverside Black History Month Parade & Expo -We celebrated the 109th Birthday of James P. Johnson (February 1, 1894), and all his accomplishments and contributions to African Americans and to the entire world! Featured in our booth was a memorial tour of the life of this legendary American, including pieces of the Johnson Archive Exhibit and the items available in our Catalogue. The Exhibit pieces on display ranged in date from 1917 to beyond his passing in 1955, and included Johnson's 1935 personally typed 4-page "Accomplishments Biography", as well as many original papers, articles, and other documents from Mr. Johnson's life. We were again greatly and warmly welcomed by the public, other Expo vendors, and made several new friendships within our community.

December 3 & 11, 2002 -- The World re- Premier of...

"De Organizer"

This remarkable opera was originally created by two giants of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1930s, jazz pianist and composer James P. Johnson and poet/novelist Langston Hughes. The two collaborated on the creation of a one-act opera, "De Organizer" which was performed once in 1940 in New York and then vanished. The piece, thought for many years to have been irretrievably lost, was brilliantly restored by University of Michigan Music Professor James Dapogny and performed by an ensemble of nearly 100 musicians in Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michigan in December 2002.

Extensive media coverage of this unexpected resurrection included articles in such publications as:

The New York Times ; Detroit Free Press ; The San Francisco Chronicle ; and Voice of America

Radio coverage included Celeste Headlee's story which ran on National Public Radio's Morning Edition on December 3 and an extensive interview with Dr. Mark Borowsky on Michigan Radio's The Todd Mundt Show on January 2, 2003.

Click on any of these links to read the articles and listen to the stories!

Stories were also featured in the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune.

December 7th, and 8th brought our first annual Christmas Bazaar at Highland Elementary School. This fun-filled weekend featured several local artists and craftspeople selling their festive merchandise, which consisted of a wide range of inexpensive gift ideas for this holiday season. Hot dogs, popcorn, and soft drinks were enjoyed by those in attendence.

Thanksgiving Weekend 2002 -- Dixieland Jazz Festival, San Diego - This enjoyable weekend featured our new merchandising line (more to come soon).

October 26 & 27, 2002 -- "Concert of American Music" performed by the North Coast Symphony Orchestra and pianist Bob Pinsker. This outstanding performance of Johnson's "Yamekraw: A Negro Rhapsody" was the first performance of the full version of this 1927 masterpiece in San Diego County, and was held at Mira Costa College in Oceanside, CA. One lucky family from Highland Elementary School was treated to the concert as their prize won in a raffle at our pancake breakfast in August. For more information about the piece and these concerts, see this article by Sandra Kraisirideja from the North County [San Diego] Times, and click here to read the program notes on "Yamekraw".

Labor Day Weekend-- Traditional Jazz Festival at the LAX Marriott . This was a great festival that featured classic jazz music from the 1920's through the 1950's. Featured were big bands, jazz quartettes, swing dancing, soloists, jam sessions, and much more musical entertainment through out the entire hotel. Vendors of all industries were also on hand in hopes of promoting their goods. Though many commented that this year was a little slower than in the past, the attendance for the weekend was well into the thousands! We were graciously accepted by the general pubic, and event and hotel staff alike, and we met many people who had a great story to tell about their interactions with "Jimmy Johnson". Featured in our booth were pieces of the Johnson Archive exhibit, a listening station featuring the CD "The Original James P. Johnson, 1942 - 1945", an on-line virtual tour, as well as several other Johnson items on display and for sale. We considered this weekend a great success and look forward to being at other similar festivals. If you have information regarding an upcoming event, please contact us via e-mail or telephone.

August 17, 2002 -- Kickoff Benefit Pancake Breakfast at Highland Elementary School, Riv. The event went off without a hitch, as over 300 people enjoyed breakfast cooked by JPJ Foundation volunteers. The breakfast featured pancakes, sausage, bacon, and fruit served to the sounds of classic James P. Johnson music, a flute performance by Pam Hodges-Jones and one of her former students, and a Swing Dance performance by The Rhythm Rascals. Over $1,500.00 was raised to benefit the incorporation of The JPJ Foundation Developing The Dream program within the school's current arts program. The money will be used with funds already raised by the Highland Elementary School P.T.A. to purchase instruments and equipment for their band, and to begin a voice instruction program for the children. Many thanks go out to all those who volunteered and to those who came out, as well as all of our sponsors!

August 3, 2002 - Charles Bibbs ended his exhibit at the Riverside Art Museum . Closing ceremony included several displays of Mr. Bibbs's original and lithograph works, as well as the other artists featured in the museums displays. Appetizers and wine were served courtesy of the Riverside Arts Council to the fine jazz tunes of JPJ Foundation Artist in Residence Dio Saucedo and his accompanying trio. A raffle was also held, with one lucky person winning a framed original piece personally signed by Mr. Bibbs, which had a ticket price of almost $1000!

April 27, 2002 brought the first edition of our BENEFIT DINNER & JAZZ CONCERT series held at 'The BARN' located on the campus of U.C. Riverside. Dinner and cocktails were served to the sounds of Tariq Soloman playing a mix of Jazz music on equipment provided by Showtime Entertainment. Lawrence "Pepper" Culpepper announced the performers starting with Ms. Chenique Piper, who performed "At Last". The feature presentation was the jazz sounds of The JPJ Foundation's Artists in Residency Gary Bias on saxophone and percussionist Dio Saucedo. The two performed along with a supporting cast of musicians from across the country, playing many notable songs, with a finale in honor of Mr. Bias's aunt's birthday. A huge thanks goes out to: FRANCIS FLOYD PIERCE, CPA; B-GRAPHICS AND FINE ARTS, INC.; IMAGES MAGAZINE; BLACK VOICE NEWSPAPER; OMEGA EVENTS; STUDIO-B ART GALLERY and to all our sponsors, participants, and guests. We look forward to many similar events coming very soon!

February 13, 2002 - 23rd Annual Riverside Black History Month Parade & Expo - We celebrated the 108th Birthday of James P. Johnson (February 1, 1894) as well as all of his accomplishments and contributions to African Americans and all of America! We had a booth at the B.H.M.P Expo in which a memorial tour of the life of this legendary American was featured.