Fifty years ago later this year, the legendary jazz musician Horace Tapscott formed the Pan Afrikan People’s Arkestra – a Los Angeles based group of local musicians that defined the concept of a community band. The Pan Afrikan People’s Arkestra, or P.A.P.A., featured live jazz performances and was the heart of the African American arts movement in LA. Horace Tapscott was only in his twenties when he started P.A.P.A., choosing community work as his reward over an international career path. Tapscott led the Arkestra through the 1990s. Although he died in 1999, his legacy lives on. Celebrating with the Pan Afrikan People’s Arkestra on their 50th anniversary is Build an Ark, an L.A. based music ensemble formed by Carlos Niño in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, as American fighter jets were dropping bombs on Afghanistan. Build an Ark features musicians like Dwight Trible, who is also the vocal director for the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra. Together, the two community-based musical institutions will be performing on July 23, at 8 pm, as part of the Grand Performances series in downtown Los Angeles. KPFK is a media sponsor of the event.

On Monday July 18th, 2011, Uprising host Sonali Kolhatkar spoke with Steve Isoardi, Jazz historian and author of several books including “The Dark Tree: Jazz and the Community Arts in Los Angeles,” and Carlos Nino, Director of Build an Ark.

Watch the interview here:

The concert featuring the Pan Afrikan People’s Arkestra and Build An Ark will take place as part of the Grand Performances concert series on Saturday July 23rd at 350 South Grand Avenue (near the Pershing Square Metro Stop). Attendees are encouraged to come at 7 pm. The concert will start at 8 pm.

Martina Steiner recorded this interview.