Visitors Center to host film screening, performance

Internationally acclaimed percussionist Arthur Lipner will show his music documentary, “Talking Sticks,” Friday at 6 at the Biloxi Visitors Center.

After the one-hour showing will be a Q&A with Lipner. The program will conclude with Lipner playing a few pieces on solo vibraphone, and clapping/singing with the audience.

Tickets are $7 each, but seating is limited. For information or to reserve a seat, call the Biloxi Visitors Center at (228) 374-3105.

Arthur Lipner has been one of the leading vibes/marimba players for three decades.

Talking Sticks documents Arthur’s inner and outer journeys by exploring the roots of his instruments and their relationship to different cultures around the world. It was filmed in Ghana (a small village of 550 people), in the streets of Rio de Janeiro (Carnival), in the Chiapas region of Mexico at a marimba factory (where marimbas have been made by hand for over 100 years), and in Norway (where Lipner performs on an ice xylophone!).

Legendary jazz musicians Gary Burton, Mike Mainieri and others offer their personal stories and perspectives on these instruments which, although not in the mainstream of the USA music scene, are rich in tradition and connection to other cultures.

Lipner has appeared at more than 300 universities, and venues ranging from jazz festivals around the world to The Royal Palace in Marrakech.