Jazz Appreciation Month

Jazzers

Move to their 

own beat, but

keep the melody.

Improvise, and

work in harmony.

Sing the blues, yet

make it through.

Jump sometimes,

Bop in long lines, or

merge in fusion.

Never stop swingin’.

April is Jazz Appreciation Month. This initiative has been spear-headed by the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. Go to www.smithsonianjazz.org for a history of the initiative and information regarding this year's celebration.

In perusing the Smithsonian's site, I realized that there are three L's that can help us participate in this month-Learn, Listen and Local.

1. Learn more about the art form. This includes the history and contemporary jazz. Read a book or do research online.  The Smithsonian Jazz Site has oral histories of NEA Jazz Masters. You may listen or read a transcript. The site also has the "Today in Jazz History" calendar, which gives you a day-by-day accounting of some of the music's most important events.
2. Listen to the music. After all, that is really what the art form is about. Settle in with some old favorites or use your research to explore some new artists. 
3. Support your local musicians, clubs and radio stations. If there is a museum or musicians birthplace in your area support that, too. Art inspires other art so there may be jazz poets or visual artists who incorporate jazz influences in their work. Give them a look or listen, too.

Most importantly, continue to enjoy and celebrate the music all year long.

Related links

Jazz: NPR 

International Jazz Day

Jazz April 2014

American Jazz Museum

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Spotlight on Poetry and Jazz

April may be best known for jokes and showers, but it also is a month in which two art forms are highlighted. April is both National Poetry Month and Jazz Appreciation Month.

National Poetry Month was started by the American Academy of Poets 17 years ago. It is a time to celebrate poetry and the place it has played and continues to play in our culture. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to celebrate.

Click here for some suggestions from the Academy. One of the suggestions that jumped out at me is "Take a Poem Out to Lunch". Of course my first thought was "or, you could take a poet out to lunch!"

Here in the Kansas City metropolitan area, we are fortunate to have a Poem-a-Day Program sponsored by the Johnson County Library. Go to the library's homepage beginning April 1 and there will be a link to the program. Poems are posted everyday in April and archived on the site. If you go to the archive, you also will see poems from previous years. The poems for this program are supplied by The Writers Place. 

The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History has led the Jazz Appreciation Month initiative. The purpose is to learn more about jazz history and the current jazz scene in our country.

Click here for some suggestions on how to celebrate JAM.  This is not on the list, but I think in fairness I have to suggest that you take jazz or a jazz performer out to lunch!

One suggestion is to visit a jazz city or museum. Of course, I am going to suggest Kansas City. By visiting the American Jazz Museum and The Blue Room, you can learn about jazz history and hear contemporary performers.

I hope you will take some time in April to explore both poetry and jazz. It will be both a fun and enriching experience.

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