Jan Christiansen (in white shirt), drummer son of MHC economics professor Jens Christiansen and brother of Jette Christiansen '01, is shown here with a friend in Africa. He will be appearing as a member of The Uplifters, a new band that is currently making its mark on the New York reggae scene, Sunday, April 22, at Blanchard Campus Center at 8:30 pm.

Jan Christiansen could easily have gone into the family business. His father, Jens Christiansen, is a professor of economics at Mount Holyoke. His mother, Brigitte Kahnert, is a professor of French and German at Holyoke Community College. His sister, Jette Christiansen '01, has excelled at Mount Holyoke. No slouch as a student himself, Jan Christiansen took courses at MHC while in high school and subsequently completed two years at Cornell University. But for the moment, Jan Christiansen has turned his back on academia for something more uplifting, so to speak—leaving Cornell after his sophomore year for a different rhythm. He is now a drummer in the reggae band The Uplifters, which will perform at MHC Sunday, April 22, at Blanchard Campus Center at 8:30 pm. The event, which is free, is sponsored by the Student Coalition for Action and Earth Day Coalition and is also part of the admission office's Preview program.

Originally a piano player, Christiansen developed his interest in drumming by playing with musicians in Senegal, where he spent the summer between his junior and senior years in high school. Inspired by his African experience, he took a class with Sénégal native and MHC associate professor of French Samba Gadjigo to learn more about African and Francophone literature and culture. At Cornell, he majored in Africana studies and continued his drumming lessons. Christiansen now brings a variety of musical influences to bear as a member of The Uplifters, a new band that is currently making its mark on the New York reggae scene.

Featuring everything from "dubbed-up jazz horns" and "smooth melodies," according to the group's Web site, The Uplifters' songs also feature lyrics laden with political, spiritual, and social themes that "reflect a common goal to maintain a pure and peaceful conscience among all creeds, races, sexes, and living things." Music to the ears on Earth Day.