The Art of Cool Project (AOCP) presents a monthly concert every third Friday featuring a variety of local musicians ranging across idioms — from acoustic to electric, bebop to hip hop. Since its inaugural concert in August the AOCP has quickly gained a reputation of standing room only concerts hosted at LabourLove Gallery at Golden Belt in downtown Durham, NC. The AOCP has been described as “a strong addition to Durham’s bubbling music and art community.” (Eric Tullis – The Vinyl District, Chapel Hill, NC)
The Art of Cool Project is a jazz (also music with jazz roots) and art advocacy project that strives to cross artistic, economic, and cultural boundaries to bring together a diverse mix of people and creativity. We are dedicated to promoting the local vibrant, varied, and surprisingly under-appreciated music and art scene. The project is a unique collaboration between the music and art communities to bring both creative mediums to supporters in an intimate concert setting. The live performances showcase and stimulate the forward-focused creative thought that is occurring on the local music and art scenes. The Art of Cool Project is a creative philanthropic project spearheaded by trumpeter, Albert Strong IV, and Cicely Mitchell of Al Strong Music Productions.
The AOCP has featured the areas best local talent: jazz trumpeter, Al Strong Quintet; UNC-CH professor and pianist, Stephen Anderson Trio; ChamberSoul singer/songwriter, Shana Tucker; and hip-hop and R & B singer/songwriter, Carlitta Durand. Upcoming shows include smooth jazz saxophonist, Marcus Anderson; local Raleigh Hoscotch favorites, Peter Lamb and The Wolves; neo-soul singer/songwriter, Kim Arrington Band; and hip-hop/jazz quartet, The Beast.
The AOCP partners with visual artist, Luis Franco and photographer, Frank Myers of Sweet Life Photo to create the artwork for each monthly concert. The concert posters as well as images from the shows are highly sought after collectibles. Recent additions to each concert are popular poet/writer/performing artist, Dasan Ahanu as the concert’s MC and live painting artist, Artie Barksdale.
To keep up with the latest The Art of Cool Project News please visit www.theartofcoolproject.wordpress.com, subscribe to the email newslettter, YouTube Channel “The Art of Cool Project”, twitter @theaocproject, or Like The Art of Cool Project on Facebook.