JAM – Jazz Appreciation Month – an idea by John Hasse, Curator of American Music at the Smithsonian Institute in 2002, that has caught on like wildfire. “JAM is intended to stimulate 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”
After all, jazz was declared an American treasure and we should treat it like that. There are many ways to celebrate JAM – put on special events, make sure to go to a variety of jazz events, teach about it in a local school, tell your friends about this special music – let’s do it!
And of course International Jazz Day on April 30 has become a global celebration. This year’s all-star party will be at the White House, make sure to register your event here. Last I heard was that a few states were still missing representation – if you happen to live in any of these states, make an extra effort to contribute a jazz event!
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Maine
- Montana
- Nebraska
- North Dakota
Check out all these options to celebrate JAM – enjoy!