Museum of Fine Arts plans exhibit events

The following events will be at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts during exhibition of "African American Masters."

• Wednesday, noon: "The African American Culture," panel discussion. University of Utah faculty, representing art, music and dance, explore the complexity and diversity of the African American culture and experience. Presenters include Mary Francey, UMFA; Courtney Smith, department of Music; and Kaye Richards, department of Modern Dance.

• Thursday, 6-9 p.m.: "African American Masters Poetry Reading." Poet and author Nikky Finney reads from her work, which reflects her role as a female African American.

• Friday, noon: "Religious Music and Hip-Hop Culture," lecture. Deborah Smith Pollard discusses the influence that religious music has had on hip-hop culture.

• Saturday, 2 p.m.: "Paris Blues" (1961, b/w), Jazz Film Series. Two Paris nightclub jazz players (Paul Newman, Sidney Poitier) meet two vacationing American beauties (Joanne Woodward, Diahann Carroll) and find their passion for music is challenged by their desire for love. Louis Armstrong co-stars; Duke Ellington score.

• Feb. 19, 2 p.m.: "The Last of the Blue Devils" (1979), Jazz Film Series. A musical documentary recounting the energy and delinquency of the Kansas City blues and jazz scene with interviews and archival footage of the era's notable performers (Count Basie, Charlie Parker, etc.).

• Feb. 23, 1 p.m.: "Jazz Legends," Fine Arts Lecture Series with Dynamic Steve "Daddy-O" Williams, jazz director at KUER, sharing his passion for jazz and offering insights into the jazz legends, their music and influence.

• Feb. 26, 2 p.m.: "A Great Day in Harlem" (1994), Jazz Film Series. This Academy Award-nominated documentary, narrated by Quincy Jones, provides a rare glimpse into the close-knit world of the Jazz era with amusing footage of music legends (Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, etc.) just being themselves.