An evening of fine food, inspired music and sparkling ambience rarely visits Valentine Dining Hall. Once every fall, though, a taste of the original Harlem Renaissance has become synonymous with expressions of virtuosity. That era of African-American culture and artistic thought may seem at least a couple of generations away, but this Black Students' Union celebration/revival reminded one and all of how much is owed the pioneer musicians and artists of the 1920s.

Jazz ensembles "Shades of Blue" and "The Blue Nomads"-the latter seemingly ubiquitous across campus events this semester-dominated the evening's musical performances. "Shades of Blue," in particular, impressed with several technically challenging numbers. An eclectic repertoire included the Lillian Hardin Armstrong composition "Struttin' with Some Barbecue," Hoagy Carmichael's classic "Georgia on My Mind" and John Coltrane's explorative "Impressions."

"The Blue Nomads," generally a combo that arranges the pieces it plays, provided a sampling of the work they've stamped their style on. Duke Ellington's "The Mooche," arranged by trumpet player Ben Rogers '06, and Charles Mingus' "Moanin'," arranged by guitarist Michael Kohl '06, were neatly complemented by "He Reigns Supreme," a variation on Coltrane composed by Austin Leach '08.

There prevailed a mood of lively entertainment and appreciation that could almost pass for a jam session. The easy familiarity of the hosts and emcees and the warmth of the patrons belied the fact that it was advertised and attended as a semi-formal. One could have been picky and expected more of the cuisine; it was by no means fancy, but there was really nothing to complain about. Portions were certainly generous, if nothing else.

Indeed, the variety of performances and readings should have taken most minds off the dinner. Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison's monologues from "Beloved" were recited, as was poet June Jordan's "Verbal Expression." While both represent the contemporary African-American literary scene, it wasn't very difficult to see how they each fit into the celebration of a specific period of refinement in American culture.

Some criticism has, in the recent past, been levelled at the College's cultural organizations for presenting only inauthentic microcosms of their respective cultures in their activities. "Harlem Renaissance" constituted a definite rebuttal of these claims; the vibrancy of the African-American community on campus made for an inspiring night.