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September
19, 2002 |
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Metro Blue Line: A Convenient Travel Option to Weekend of Music and Dance at Watts Towers (Los Angeles) - The Metro Blue Line and
two days of music and dance will make for the perfect marriage this
weekend as the 21st annual Watts Towers Day of the Drum
Festival and the 26th annual Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz
Festival take place on Saturday, Sept. 28, and Sunday, Sept. 29, from 10
a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Watts Towers Arts Center. The Watts Towers Arts Center is
conveniently located at 1727 East 107th Street, just four
blocks south of the Metro Blue Line 103rd Street/Kenneth Hahn
Station, a 20-minute ride from downtown Los Angeles and a 32-minute ride
from downtown Long Beach. Admission to the two-day event is free.
The Day of the Drum Festival (Saturday) celebrates the role of drums and
drummers in world cultures, past and present, and will include
performances by Cuauhtemoc Azteca Dance, 10 a.m.; Korean Classical Music
and Dance Company, 11 a.m.; Derf Reklaw Drum Ensemble, 12 noon; Hikari
Taiko Drummers, 1 p.m.; Big Black, the Rhythmist, 2 p.m.; Pete Escovedo
Latin Jazz Orchestra, 3 p.m.; Badaue, 4 p.m.; and Babatunde Olatunji, 5
p.m. The Watts Towers Jazz Festival (Sunday)
pays tribute to the American music forms of jazz, gospel and rhythm and
blues, and will include performances by I. Shabazz, 11 a.m.; Genesis, 12
noon; Lesa Terry – Her Violin, Her Quartet, Her Sound, 1 p.m.; Phil
Upchurch Quartet, 2 p.m.; Michael Session, 3 p.m.; Justo Almario Latin
Jazz Quintet, 4 p.m.; and Melba Joyce, 5 p.m. The two-day event also will feature
children’s activities, and food and arts will be available for purchase.
The public is invited to participate in the new Citywide Universal Drum
Circle held on-site both days. Judson Powell’s exhibition “Glass
Lace” will be on view. For information on train and bus service
to the Watts Towers Arts Center, call MTA at 1-800-COMMUTE or click on Metro
Transit on MTA’s website at www.mta.net.
Additional information about the Watts Towers Arts Center can be obtained
by calling (213) 847-4646 or TDD (213)789-2751. The 22-mile Metro Blue Line is one of
three rail lines of the integrated 59.4-mile Metro Rail system. The system
also includes the 20-mile Metro Green Line which runs from Norwalk to
Redondo Beach and the 17.4 mile-Metro Red Line subway which runs from
Union Station in downtown Los Angeles to Wilshire/Western and North
Hollywood. MTA-086 |
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