“Beaumont’s Dave Oliphant is known as one of Texas’s foremost poets, whose writings tell the story of Texas towns and especially Texas jazz – a music genre Oliphant fell in love with at an early age.” – Beaumont Enterprise, May 2024

Dave visits the library to read excerpts of his poetry, and play recordings of musical pieces that inspired his work. He has written three books in prose on the history of jazz entitled Texan Jazz, The Early Swing Era, 1930 to 1941, and Jazz Mavericks of the Lone Star State, as well as editing a book entitled The Bebop Revolution in Words and Music.

A list of potential poems and musical works you’ll hear include:

“Dancing on the Ceiling”— Lamar Technicians
“An Afternoon of Debussy” — “Afternoon of a Faun” with flute
“The Hero’s Fall I Fell For” — King Oliver and his Orchestra playing “Too Late” in 1929
“Merry-Go-Round” — Duke Ellington
And more!

This program is free and open to all. No registration is required.

For additional information, please contact Samantha at samanthah@dkpl.org or at (815) 756-9568 ext. 1701.