San Jose Jazz Leads Celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month - April 2008
For Immediate Release
Smithsonian drives national effort to promote America's native art form
SAN JOSE, CA. March 18, 2008 – San Jose Jazz today announced programs to celebrate April 2008 as Jazz Appreciation Month in Silicon Valley. Programs include a new concert series in conjunction with City Lights Theater, exhibits at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, a lecture series conducted by world famous jazz personalities, and master classes at the Tait Museum in Los Gatos.
The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History has led this initiative and has enlisted a distinguished roster of federal agencies and departments, non-governmental organizations, foundations, and broadcasting networks. The U.S. Congress passed legislation which was signed by the President in August 2003, Public Law 108-72, declaring “(1) the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History should be commended for establishing a Jazz Appreciation Month; and (2) musicians, schools, colleges, libraries, concert halls, museums, radio and television stations, and other organizations should develop programs to explore, perpetuate, and honor jazz as a national and world treasure.”
The concept is simple: designate one month for an annual public spotlight on jazz. Jazz Appreciation Month (or JAM) is intended to draw public attention to the glories of jazz as both an historical and a living treasure. The purpose of JAM is to draw greater public attention to the extraordinary heritage and history of jazz and its importance as an American cultural heritage. In addition, JAM is intended 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 support institutional jazz programs. JAM is needed because many people do not fully appreciate the joys, power, and glories of jazz. The celebration this month is an effort by those who are passionate about jazz to share it with those who are not as familiar with it. JAM will encourage people to take jazz more seriously as a vital part of America’s cultural patrimony and as a great gift to the world, as well as to have fun with it. During April, San Jose Jazz, producers of the annual Comcast San Jose Jazz Festival presented by Southwest Airlines, presents a jazz workshop, lectures, concerts and a photo exhibit to celebrate Jazz in downtown San Jose.
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