Sunday, Mar 13, 2016
Westminster Choir College of Rider University, in collaboration with the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, will present five films about popular music in Asia and the Asian Diaspora. All screenings are on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in Talbott Library room 2 on the Westminster campus in Princeton. Admission is free and open to the public. No ticket is required.
The schedule and films are:
March 23: Don't Think I've Forgotten
A documentary about the Cambodian rock tradition of the 1960’s and 1970’s that was destroyed by the Khmer Rouge. This music is at the heart of Cambodian American communities, and it is currently being revived by both Cambodian and non-Cambodian musicians. After the screening, Cambodian American singer-songwriter Bochan Huy will discuss how she grew up with this music and how she performs these songs today.
March 30: Mutiny: Asians Storm British Music
Based on seven years of research, Mutiny: Asians Storm British Music explores the Asian Underground music movement. Having experienced anti-Asian racism in Britain as youths, these musicians made a conscious decision to identify with and embrace black diasporic culture. In creating music that fused reggae and hip hop with Indian traditional and popular music, Talvin Singh, Fun-Da-Mental, Cornershop, Asian Dub Foundation and others captured the attention of British mainstream media and major record labels in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Director Vivek Bald will be in attendance and conduct a Q&A at the conclusion of the screening.
April 6: Asian American Jazz Night
This event focuses on the lives of three pioneers of Asian-American jazz. First up is be the 26-minute short Don't Lose Your Soul, directed by Jim Choi and Chihiro Winbush, which focuses on Mark Izu and Anthony Brown, two musicians who were deeply involved in using music to seek reparations and to educate Americans about the Japanese Internment during World War II. The feature film will be Fred Ho's Last Year, directed by Steven DeCastro, which explores the life and music of the late controversial matriarchal socialist saxophonist.
April 13: Live from UB
In a country known for its nomadic traditions, a small group of rock musicians give Mongolia a 21st century voice, combining traditional Mongolian music and instruments with popular music elements from the West.