Mainly due to the advocacy of John Hasse, Curator of American Music at the Smithsonian Institute, April has been declared Jazz Appreciation Month in 2002 (JAM). The mission is to stimulate the current jazz scene and encourage people of all ages to participate in jazz – to study the music, attend concerts, listen to jazz on radio and recordings, read books about jazz, and more. There are even 112 suggestions on how to celebrate on the JAM website – find
out more here.
Others have joined the celebrations with the Jazz Journalist’s Association JazzApril and International Jazz Day on April 30. This year’s International Jazz Day Celebration will take place in Paris featuring luminaries such as pianists John Beasley (Music Director), A Bu, Eliane Elias, Antonio Faraò, Isfar Sarabski and Herbie Hancock; trumpeters Till Brönner, Avishai Cohen, Hugh Masekela and Claudio Roditi; vocalists Dee Dee Bridgewater, Al Jarreau, Annie Lennox, Rudy Pérez and Dianne Reeves; saxophonists Igor Butman, Femi Kuti, Guillaume Perret and Wayne Shorter; bassists James Genus, Marcus Miller and Ben Williams; guitarist Lee Ritenour; drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, percussionist Mino Cinelu, harmonica player Grégoire Maret, and oud player Dhafer Youssef. Everyone can join the live stream starting 7pm Paris time.
Every location around the world is encouraged to join the celebrations and this year, Bloomington will join with International Jazz Day in 3D – David Brent Johnson from WFIU will moderate a discussion with our living legend David Baker and author of Indianapolis Jazz: The Masters, Legends, and Legacy of Indiana Avenue David Williams. Celebrations will take place at Topo’s 403 (403 N Walnut) with a short reception at 6.30, the discussion at 7, and an open jam session at 8pm. David Williams will also bring various Indianapolis jazz memorabilia to display – let’s celebrate in style!
And of course, let’s continue then for the rest of the year – sometimes these special declarations and efforts make us forget that every day is International Jazz Day!