DCA celebrates 100 Years of Nuestro Pueblo – The Watts Towers of Simon Rodia, the 40th anniversary of the Annual Watts Towers Day of the Drum Festival, and the 45th anniversary of the Annual Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival. This historic occasion is being commemorated by DCA’s Community Arts Division with numerous virtual events honoring the 100-year history of the Watts Towers and the Watts Towers Arts Center Campus (WTACC). DCA and the Friends of Watts Towers Arts Center will host multicultural dance and music performances at the 40th Annual Watts Towers Day of the Drum Festival on Saturday, September 24, 2022 and the 45th Annual Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival on Sunday, September 25, 2022 to continue these festivities.
An all-star line-up of international recording artists, local jazz greats, percussionists, and dancers will come together over two days, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., for an unbelievable drum and jazz festival experience under the artistic direction of Rosie Lee Hooks, Patrice Rushen, and Munyungo Jackson. Presented by DCA and the Friends of Watts Towers Arts Center, the two-day festival is free and open to the public.
Saturday’s Day of the Drum Festival, hosted by Masters of Ceremonies James Janisse and Torrence Brandon Reese will kick off with Xochipilli, Aztec traditional dancing featuring Huehuetl and Teponaxtle drums. 1+1 Duo will carry the sound of world percussion from the Middle East and then hand off the rhythms to TaikoProject, one of Los Angeles’s leading taiko groups. La Bamba Collective will perform an Afro-Puerto Rican ensemble, bringing culture through Puerto Rican drums and dance. A tribute to “the Hit Maker,” James Gadson, will feature Munyungo Jackson, Clayton Cameron, Ronald Bruner Sr., Kenny Sara, and Kenny Elliot with Sherwood Sledge and Lynne Fiddmont, celebrating an artist who, “…recorded more hits than any drummer in town.” The program will conclude with Kouman Kele West African Dance Company performing an exciting traditional West African Musical Experience.
Janisse and Reese will return for Sunday’s Jazz Festival which will begin with a Yoruba ground blessing by Alaadun to unite all cultures. Watts Willowbrook Strings will provide musical performances followed with an artful blend of Italian jazz and West Coast soul performances by Jasmine Tommaso. With the sun just moving past high noon, Dr. Hoover will offer a demonstration of Tai Chi Chuan. Additional live musical performances will include Windy Barnes and the Influentials, the JMP All Stars featuring Patrice Rushen, Munyungo Jackson, and others. The Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra will perform and conclude the Jazz Festival.
The festivals’ activities are complemented by exhibitions at the Noah Purifoy and Charles Mingus Galleries including, “I Wanted To Do Something Big,” an exhibition from the archives recording the building, conservation, and preservation of the Watts Towers; and an installation of musical instruments from around the world at the Dr. Joseph and Bootsie Howard Gallery. The festivals will also feature a drum pavilion and universal drum circle led by Matt Gibson III. Supervised children’s activities will take place from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Food and beverages, along with arts and crafts, will be available for sale throughout the day. Guided tours of Nuestro Pueblo, the Watts Towers of Simon Rodia, will be available in addition to tiling and gardening activities at the Garden Studio Gallery.
Both festivals take place at the DCA’s Watts Towers Arts Center Campus at 1727 East 107th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90002. For more information, please call 213.847.4646, or visit wattstowers.org.
Festival Schedules:
40th Annual Watts Towers Day of the Drum Festival
Saturday, September 24, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Masters of Ceremonies: James Janisse and Torrence Brandon Reese
11:00 a.m. – Xochipilli
Aztec traditional dancing with Huehuetl and Teponaztle drums
12:00 p.m. – 1+1 Duo
World percussion
1:00 p.m. – TAIKOPROJECT
Based in Little Tokyo, one of LA’s leading taiko groups
1:00 – 1:15 p.m. – Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson presents a $4 million state budget check for the Watts Towers Arts Center Campus
2:00 p.m. – La Bamba Collective
Afro Puerto Rican ensemble bringing the culture through Puerto Rican drums and dance
3:00 p.m. – Tribute to James Gadson, “The Hit Maker”
Featuring Munyungo Jackson, Clayton Cameron, Ronald Bruner Sr., Kenny Sara, and Kenny Elliott with Sherwood Sledge
4:00 p.m. – Kouman Kele West African Dance Company
An exciting traditional West African musical experience
45th Annual Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival
Sunday, September 25, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Masters of Ceremonies: James Janisse and Torrence Brandon Reese
11:00 a.m. – Alaadun
Yoruba ground blessing uniting all cultures based on common themes and principles
11:30 a.m. – Watts Willowbrook Strings
Spiritually connected
12:30 p.m. – Jasmine Tommaso
Guitar and vocals–jazz duo revisit the classics, Lorenzo Grassi, guitarist
1:45 p.m. – Tai Chi Chuan
School of Healing Martial Arts with Dr. Daniel Hoover, Instructor
2:00 p.m. – Windy Barnes and The Influentials
Her sultry, impeccable voice stylings set a new standard with her all-star musicians on the jazz scene
3:15 p.m. – JMP All Stars featuring Patrice Rushen, Munyungo Jackson, Clayton Cameron, Dr. Bobby Rodriguez, Edwin Livingston, and more
Straight Ahead Jazz
4:30 p.m. – Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra
A community cultural institution that encompasses the creative arts, established in 1961, with multi-generations of artists
All Day Activities at the Festivals:
Drum Pavilion: Universal Drum Circle
Led by Matt Gibson III
“I Wanted To Do Something Big”
We celebrate our centennial with this exhibition, focusing on the history of Watts Towers with an emphasis on current and past efforts to preserve Rodia’s monumental architectural sculpture: 1921 to 2021, co-curators Mark Gilberg, Rosie Lee Hooks, and Rebeca Guerrero
Noah Purifoy & Charles Mingus Galleries
International Musical Instruments
Permanent Exhibition
Dr. Joseph & Bootsie Howard Gallery
Supervised Children’s Activities
Charles Mingus Youth Arts Center
Tiling and Garden Activities, Turtle Pond, and African Sulcata Tortoise Dwelling
Garden Studio Gallery
Food Court
Watts Towers Amphitheatre
Festival Posters Visual Art:
Michael Massenburg / Aiseborn / Mr. B. Baby
Additional Sponsors:
DCA’s Watts Towers Day of the Drum Festival, Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival, and “I Wanted To Do Something Big” exhibition are sponsored in part by:
- Friends of the Watts Towers Arts Center;
- The City of Los Angeles 15th Council District / Councilmember Joe Buscaino;
- Watts Towers Community Action Council;
- GRoW @ Annenberg TM, a philanthropic initiative dedicated to supporting humanitarian efforts across the globe as well as innovative projects in health, education, and the arts and civic and cultural life;
- Los Angeles City Department of Recreation and Parks.
Directions:
Watts Towers Arts Center Campus
1727 East 107th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90002
213.847.4646
wattstowers.org
The Campus is easily accessible from:
- the 105 East Freeway at Wilmington Avenue by taking Exit #10;
- via the 108th Street Bus Stop, 55 Route (North/South),
- via the 103rd Street / Graham Bus Stop, 117 Route (East/West)
- the 103rd Street / Watts Towers Station via Metro A Line (Blue)
- the 110 Freeway, Century Boulevard exit (Southbound) Imperial Highway exit (Northbound)
Self-parking and valet parking are free. ADA: Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request.
Visual Art: Michael Massenburg / Aiseborn / Mr. B. Baby
