Karen Rege is pounding the ivory as the pianist of Atiba's Dream. Keith McCarther is seen plucking at the bass. (Photo courtesy of Karen Rege)
Karen Rege is the director of library services here at DCCC but she is not your ordinary librarian by any means. When the workday ends, she is ready to jam./p>
Rege is a member of two jazz bands, one of which she started herself.
Nine years ago, Rege started a Latin Jazz band called Pastiche. Pastiche is a French word that means a piece made up of other pieces, she said, adding that the members of her band are a mixture of different people coming together to play.
“Although it is not a large band, each member brings so much energy that you would never know it was only seven of us,” Rege said.
Rege is also part of another jazz type band called Atiba’s Dream. The repertoire of this band includes traditional jazz and blues styles, free jazz, Caribbean, and African influenced pieces.
“This band is composed of older masters of music,” Rege said. “I am the only non-African-American female under the age of 55 in the band.”
Rege has rehearsal for both bands every two weeks, and she also does side gigs in other jazz bands.
“A typical day for me would be work until 4:30 p.m. or so, run home to grab dinner and equipment, and then I am off to rehearsal which is usually somewhere in Philly,” Rege said.
Rege earned a bachelor’s degree in music at Hartt School of Music in Hartford, Conn. She also holds two master’s degrees, one in historical musicology from the University of Michigan, and another one in library science from Drexel University.
“Music is my life,” Rege said. “Most of my time studying music was spent in a library which ironically is what pushed me to get my master’s in library science.”
Rege said she chose a career in library science because she really enjoys helping people. In May 2008 she received her doctorate in educational leadership with a specialization in educational technology from the University of Delaware.
Rege said the role of a librarian has changed since the age of the Internet, because there is so much information on the Web that it can be difficult to narrow down one’s search and find legitimate facts.
“I believe there is a need now more than ever for librarians,” Rege said. “We are more facilitators in helping students find correct information on research they have to do whether it is in the library or on the Web.”
Rege also teaches Introduction to World Music at DCCC. She describes the class as unique because of the different styles of music that are explored.
“We cover everything from traditional to Japanese hip-hop types of music,” Rege said. “I like to teach students where the music came from and its culture rather than just having them listen and memorize what kind of music it is.”
Rege’s passion for music has also given her opportunities to travel. In 2002, Rege went to Cuba to study music and dance through Artistas Y Musicos Latino Americanos, a local Philadelphia organization that promotes development and understanding of Latin music.
“There were traditional dance and drumming workshops to attend each day,” Rege said. “I had private piano lessons and really enjoyed observing other bands play.”
Rege said experiencing the culture behind the music she loves to play is something she will never forget.
Rege, whose experience ranges from concert production to stage and artist management, said she feels fortunate to be doing what she loves: Brazilian music and library science.
“In my job, anything could happen on any given day and what I love most is that people come to me for help,” Rege said. “My day is never boring and never the same. How many people can say that about their jobs?”
For more information on Pastiche and Atiba’s Dream visit www.salseramusic.com
