Upcoming events for Never Givin’ Up: The Life and Music of Al Jarreau, Wisconsin Riffs: Jazz Profiles from the Heartland, and other miscellaneous happenings.
October 25, 2025. Special concert, Paul Dietrich Jazz Ensemble. Part of the Chamber Music and Jazz at Ripon Series. Sponsored by a friend and alum of Ripon College, this concert will feature the big band music of Paul Dietrich, with a stellar band of musicians from Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison and elsewhere. See the poster attached for the personnel of the band. Concert is at 7 pm. An open rehearsal for any educators or students takes place from 4-6 pm. Both events are free admission and take place in Demmer Recital Hall, Rodman Center for the Arts, Ripon College.
PAST EVENTS:
April 8, 2025. Book talk, Never Givin’ Up: The Life and Music of Al Jarreau. Fairway Knoll, N112W17500 Mequon Rd, Germantown, WI. 2 pm.
April 13, 2025. Wisconsin Jazz talk; the Greg Balfany Quartet will also perform (possibly with someone sitting in for a tune or two). Cappella Performing Arts Center, 721 King St., La Crosse, WI. Exact time TBD.March 13, 2025. Presentation about jazz in Ripon and east central Wisconsin — and Al Jarreau. Ripon Historical Society, 508 Watson St., Ripon, WI. 7 pm.
February 12, 2025. Presentation about Wisconsin jazz (including Al Jarreau). Shorehaven, 1306 W. Wisconsin Ave., Oconomowoc, WI. 1 pm.
September 16, 2024. Talk at Ripon Public Library, 120 Jefferson St., Ripon, WI. 6 pm.
September 12, 2024. Talk at Fond du Lac Public Library, 32 Sheboygan St., Fond du Lac, WI. 6 pm.
Another performance that I would like to let everyone know about is happening in Milwaukee on Saturday, August 24. Singer Blair Clark brings to Milwaukee his tribute to Al Jarreau that will take place at the Skylight Music Theatre, 158 N. Broadway, at 8 pm. I will be playing in the back up band — as well as selling Never Givin’ Up at the venue. Here’s the poster for that event.
August 13, 2024. History Sandwiched In talk, sponsored by the Wisconsin Historical Society. First floor conference room, U.S. Bank Plaza building, 1 Pinckney St., Madison, WI, 12:30 pm. Book signing after the event in the History Maker Space Gift Shop across the hall.
July 26, 2024. Interview on WBEV (95.3 FM, Beaver Dam, WI), Hometown Today Show, with Amy Hudson, 10-11 am. Listen on air or at https://dailydodge.com/wbev/
July 16, 2024. Class about Al Jarreau and Never Givin’ Up for Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
I haven’t been using this page to publicize my performances. But one coming up this week is special enough that I really want to get the word out about it. The superb saxophonist and jazz educator Marc Jimos decided to put together a show to highlight the wonderful music of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, mostly from the classic bands of the late 1950s and early 1960s. These bands featured the playing and compositions of Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Timmons, Curtis Fuller, Benny Golson, Cedar Walton and Lee Morgan. Our band features local stars Marc Jimos, Marty Robinson, Mike Kubicki, Dave Story, Danny Lueck and yours truly. Come out and hear this program of terrific music on Thursday night, June 13, from 6-9 at the Legacy Hotel (1004 Brett Favre Pass) in Green Bay!
May 16, 2024. Presentation at Brookfield Public Library, 1900 N Calhoun Rd, Brookfield, WI . 7 pm.
May 8, 2024. Presentation at Quarry Ridge Retirement Community, 2851 Fitchrona Rd, Fitchburg, WI. 2 pm.
April 17, 2024. Private event: Elmbrook Historical Society.
I have a number of events already scheduled for this year, including in April, May, July and even September. The next one is one I’m really excited about. On March 7 I will be giving a talk at the Milwaukee County Historical Society (910 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Dr., Milwaukee). Milwaukee native Joe Turano, who was Al’s music director for the last years of Al’s life, will be at the event, singing and playing some of Al’s music, and sharing some of his experiences with Al. He’ll be accompanied by the excellent Milwaukee bassist Eric Hervey. (A trombone player may sit in on a song or two.) It should be a wonderful night! This is a ticketed event ($10). Tickets can be purchased at: https://milwaukeecountyhistory.square.site/product/one-on-one-with-kurt-dietrich/630?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=true
November 13, 2023. Interview with David Ahrens on WORT radio’s “Madison Book Beat.” The interview will air live on 11/13 at 1 pm. It will also be archived on the station’s website. The live show can be heard at: wortfm.org NOW AVAILABLE AT: https://archive.wortfm.org/
November 5, 2023. Interview with Norman Gilliland for Wisconsin Public Radio’s “University of the Air,” will be broadcast on the Ideas Network stations of WPR on 11/5, 4:06-5:00 pm. You can listen live on your local station, or on the website: https://www.wpr.org/listen-live?network=ideas After the broadcast, it will be available in the archives of the show. LATER — the interview is now archived at: https://www.wpr.org/shows/life-and-music-al-jarreau (If the link doesn’t work, just search the website for Al Jarreau.)
November 4, 2023. Southeast Wisconsin Book Festival. A panel discussion, “From Milwaukee to Hollywood,” with other Wisconsin authors (including famous filmmaker David Zucker), 1:45 – 2:45, in room N133 at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Waukesha campus. Book signing afterwards.
October 21, 2023. Wisconsin Book Festival. Wisconsin Historical Society Auditorium, 816 State Street Madison, 12 pm. Book talk and signing. This is one of a series of book events all over Madison that day, including several at this very venue. The schedule will be pretty tight, so don’t be late! I get to be introduced by the terrific editor of Never Givin’ Up, Elizabeth Wyckoff.
LAST MINUTE ADDITION: October 14, 2023. Interview on Max Ink Radio; live at 7 pm; rebroadcast on October 15. Originating in Madison, this show focusing on Wisconsin music and musicians is broadcast on the Civic Media Radio Network. A variety of independent stations across the state carry the show. You can find them listed at the bottom of this page: https://maxinkradio.com/
October 12, 2023. I was interviewed for a short segment about Never Givin’ Up for the Milwaukee Public Television show Black Nouveau. That show aired on WMVS at 7:30. As of October 13, the show could be viewed at: https://video.milwaukeepbs.org/video/mke-public-library-celebrates-125-years-yoawjs/ The Never Givin’ Up segment is towards the end of the 27-minute episode. The “web exclusive” section of the interview (which I may like better than the on air segment) is at: https://youtu.be/tJFLWAdTGVw
September 23, 2023. Milwaukee Public Library, East Branch; 2320 N. Cramer St., 3-5 pm. Book discussion and signing. Books will be supplied by Milwaukee’s great bookstore, Boswell Books. There is limited seating. You can sign up for the event at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-life-and-music-of-al-jarreau-with-author-kurt-dietrich-tickets-689398177507?aff=oddtdtcreator
September 13, 2023. Ripon College, Lane Library, North Reading Room, 7:30pm. All you locals! Please come out to my first event after the release of Never Givin’ Up: The Life and Music of Al Jarreau. Copies of the book will be available for purchase (and signed by the author!).
Book reading/discussion, June 16-17, 2023. Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin. On Friday morning, June 16, during the 50th reunion of my graduating class from Lawrence I will be presenting a talk derived from Wisconsin Riffs entitled “Lawrence and Jazz in Wisconsin: A Love Affair.” It will highlight many outstanding musicians in the book who either attended Lawrence or have taught there, or both. More importantly, on Saturday, June 17, at 1:30 in the Lawrence Chapel, there will be a concert of the music of my late great Lawrence classmate, the nonpareil jazz educator Fred Sturm. I will be leading a truly all-star band for the occasion, with such great Wisconsin musicians as John Harmon, Dane Richeson, Mark Urness, Patty Darling, Tim Albright, Tom Washatka, Marty Robinson, John Kirchberger, Paul Dietrich and others. The concert will be free and open to the public, with a goodwill offering taken. It will be outstanding. I’d love to see a great crowd at it.
Here’s a link to an article on the Lawrence website:
https://www.lawrence.edu/articles/reunion-concert-celebrate-music-fred-sturm
May 16, 2023. USS Liberty Memorial Library. Grafton, Wisconsin. 6-7:30 pm. Talk on Wisconsin jazz, focusing on jazz in Milwaukee. Working from Wisconsin Riffs; copies of the book will be for sale.
April 23, 2022. Presentation for Fond du Lac celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month. Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts, 51 Sheboygan St., Fond du Lac, 7:00 pm. I’ll be talking about the development and activity of jazz in Wisconsin, focusing on a number of the figures in Wisconsin Riffs. Copies of the book will be available.
November 18, 2021. Talk for Ripon Historical Society (508 Watson St., Ripon), 7 pm. I was all set to speak to my local historical society (the oldest in Wisconsin) before the pandemic hit (see below). A year and a half later, I’m finally able to do it.
Here’s a story about it: https://ripon.edu/2021/11/08/kurt-dietrich-to-discuss-wisconsins-jazz-history-nov-18-for-ripon-historical-society/
March 3, 2021. Talk for the Wisconsin Historical Society Press’s “Book Bites” series. This event will be streamed live at 7pm on Wednesday, March 3 on the WHSP Facebook page. If you can’t catch it live, or if you’re one of the “Philistines” who is still not on Facebook, you can watch a recording of it later at the WHSP site (or YouTube).
Here’s the announcement page for the event: https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Event/EV8004
The Historical Society Press’s Facebook page is here: https://www.facebook.com/whspress/
March 19, 2020. I’ll be giving a talk in my hometown — at the Ripon Historical Society, 508 Watson St., Ripon, WI. Evening time to be announced. THIS EVENT WAS CANCELLED BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
February 5, 2020. Hatch Public Library, 111 W. State St., Mauston, WI. I’ll be talking as part of the library’s monthly “hatch-Ed” series. I might even play a little trombone! 1:00 pm.
February 2, 2020. Book talk at Kingston Historical Society, 575 N. Main St., Kingston, WI. 1:30 on Super Bowl Sunday! (over long before the game)
November 29, 2019. Pre-concert talk with Mrs. Fun (Connie Grauer and Kim Zick), artists profiled in Wisconsin Riffs, before their performance at the annual Thanksgiving weekend jazz event at Thrasher Opera House, Green Lake.
October 10, 2019. Fox Cities Book Festival. My reading/talk will be at the Neenah Public Library, 240 E. Wisconsin Ave., Neenah, at 6:30. As usual, I will be highlighting a number of the great Wisconsin musicians in Wisconsin Riffs, including Fox Valley players, and their music. Here’s the site for this event: https://foxcitiesbookfestival.org/event/wisconsin-riffs-jazz-profiles-from-the-heartland/
August 31-September 1, 2019. Fox Jazz Fest, Jefferson Park, Menasha. My friend John Harmon and the Jazz Corner Society decided to name this year’s festival — the 25th anniversary of this wonderful free festival — Wisconsin Riffs, after the title of my book. All of the acts are Wisconsin-connected artists. Many of those, David Cooper, Randy Sabien, members of the Lawrence University Faculty Jazz Sextet, Brian Lynch, Matt Buchman and Marty Robinson, Ike Sturm, and Janet Planet, are profiled in my book. I will be at the Festival, with copies of the book. I’d be happy to sell signed copies to anyone, of course. And like everyone else, I’ll be enjoying the excellent music. Here’s the Jazz Festival’s website: http://www.foxjazzfest.com/ Down Beat magazine posted an article about this 25th anniversary: http://downbeat.com/news/detail/fox-jazz-fest-preps-for-25th-anniversary-edition
March 29, 2019. Heid Music, Oshkosh (1750 W. South Park Ave.): Friday Night Heid. Spearheaded by a former student of mine, Heid Music is putting on an event for area band directors, students and any other interested parties. At 5:30 pm I’ll give one of my usual talks about Wisconsin jazz musicians. Sometime after 6, our Jazz Improvisation Group from Ripon College, made up of students and community members, will play a little live music. It should be a fun occasion.
March 28, 2019. My friends José Encarnacion and Patty Darling have invited me to come speak to their students in the outstanding jazz program at Lawrence University — my alma mater. We will be meeting in the so-called “jazz room” in the basement of the Conservatory complex from 4:35-5:45 in the afternoon. I look forward to sharing some of their probably unknown heritage with these talented and inquisitive students.
February 9, 2019. Book talk for the Beloit Historical Society, 845 Hackett Street, Beloit. At 1 pm, I’ll give a presentation about Wisconsin Riffs. At about 2, a combo from the award-winning Beloit Memorial High School jazz program will perform. (I will probably sit in and play a couple of tunes with them.) Refreshments will be served, with the whole show wrapping up by 3.
October 25, 2018. I have the honor of playing in duo with my great friend and mentor John Harmon for the opening event of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Local History & Historic Preservation Conference. It’s at the Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake. We’ll play some at 4:30 while folks get settled in at cocktail hour of the Mini-Grant Fundraising Reception. I will also speak briefly about Wisconsin Riffs. Sorry this isn’t open to the public, but it’s still all about spreading the word about Wisconsin jazz.
October 4, 2018. Book talk at Hub Stage, UW-Waukesha. This “author talk and reception” is part of the Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books. The event will run from 6:30-8:00 pm. It is a ticketed event; you can just attend the event, or attend the event and buy the book. For more information, see: https://www.sewibookfest.com/kurt-dietrich-wisconsin-riffs-jazz-profiles-from-the-heartland-author-talk-reception/
September 29, 2018. Book talk at the Wausau branch of the Marathon County Public Library (300 N. First St., Wausau), This event is part of the Central Wisconsin Book Festival. Talk begins at 10:45 am. For more information, see: https://mcpl.us/events/5837
September 25, 2018. Book talk at Lane Library, Ripon College, Ripon, WI. At 7:30 pm I’ll be talking to the “home crowd” on my home campus. I know that all of my Jazz Ensemble students will there, and hope many others will be as well. See the event listing at: https://www.facebook.com/events/2289785531038669/permalink/2289785561038666/
August 3, 2018. Milwaukee veteran guitarist Toty Ramos will be performing at Thrasher Opera House in Green Lake (506 Mill Street) with his new sextet. The concert begins at 7:30. At 6:45, I will be doing a pre-concert talk with Toty, reviewing his career in jazz and Latin jazz in Milwaukee. Trumpeter Eric Jacobson, also profiled in Wisconsin Riffs, will probably also join the conversation.
July 6, 2018. Madison singer Gerri DiMaggio will be performing at Thrasher Opera House in Green Lake (506 Mill Street) with her World Jazz Unit. The concert begins at 7:30. At 6:45, I will be doing a pre-concert talk with Gerri, who is profiled in my book, and probably as well with pianist Paul Hastil, who is also profiled. Also in the band are Gerri’s husband Bob Pesselman on guitar and John Christensen on bass.
Go to http://www.thrasheroperahouse.com/thrasher/default.asp?p=home for tickets and information.
June 26, 2018. Author talk at the Local Store, 205 N. Dewey Street, Eau Claire. 7 pm. See http://volumeone.org/sites/storegallery/events
June 12, 2018. Author talk at Caestecker Public Library, 518 Hill Street, Green Lake. Talk will be in the downstairs meeting room, beginning at 6:30.
June 6, 2018. Book release event at the Wisconsin Historical Museum, 30 N. Carroll (on Capitol Square), Madison. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press and the Greater Madison Jazz Consortium, as part of the Isthmus Jazz Festival. 6 pm.
April 30, 2018. Book release event at the Jazz Estate, 2423 N. Murray Ave., Milwaukee. Sponsored by Boswell Book Company. I will be talking about the new book, but as a special treat, there will be music by the Manty Ellis Trio, with Eric Schoor and Jeff Hamann. Cover charge $5, to underwrite the band’s appearance.
Kurt Dietrich 