Under the direction of OFAM Jazz Advisor Dick Hyman and OFAM Music Director and Conductor James Paul, The Shedd Institute's 13th annua Oregon Festival of American Music, The Fabulous Fifties will explore and celebrate the vast musical landscape in the United States during the post World War II period, from roughly 1946 to 1960. The festival offers 5 evening and 7 afternoon concerts featuring a wide range of musical genres including jazz (late swing, bebop/hard bop and cool), early rock (doo wop and rock), standards (Broadway, Hollywood) and the folk revival; a 4 performance production of Lerner & Loewe's 1956 classic My Fair Lady; a 1950's-style dinner-dance; 3 student ensemble concerts; 5 films from the 1950s; 8 talk/presentations; and a public-participation jam and concert.
Special guest artists include The Dave Brubeck Quartet, commedian Mort Sahl, The Legends of Doo Wop, and guitarist Al Caiola. Featured guests include Peter Appleyard, Frank Capp, Byron Stripling, Ian Whitcomb, Terry Burrell, Shirley Andress, Lenanne Sylvester, members of The Emerald City Jazz Kings, and The High Street Singers.