Smithsonian Institute's Jazz Appreciation Month Highlights Women Musicians

The Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC is celebrating its 10th annual Jazz Appreciation Month in April 2011.  The annual celebration pays tribute to jazz both as an historic and living art form, and encourages educators, jazz societies, musicians and the general public throughout the country to take part.

The 2011 JAM celebration honors the legacy of women jazz performers  "who helped transform race, gender and social relations in the U.S. in the quest to build a more just and equitable nation."  This year's JAM poster depicts the legendary jazz artist Mary Lou Williams.  The poster was designed by Keith Henry Brown.

Also, the National Museum of American History has developed a blog tribute to Dr. Billy Taylor (1921-2010), one of the premier jazz pianists, educators and elder statesman of the jazz world. 

For a schedule of events participating in Jazz Appreciation Month in Washington DC, click here.


For year round jazz concerts, night clubs, campus events, brunches, educational programs and festivals in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Jazz Stamp issued by US Post Office in New Orleans on March 26, 2011

The United States Postal Service has issued a Jazz commemorative stamp (44 cents) as a tribute to jazz, America's musical gift to the world, and to the musicians who play it. The stamp was officially released in New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, on Saturday, March 26, 2011.

According to the USPS Press Release, Art Director Howard  Paine designed the stamp to showcase the work of Paul Rogers, an artist from Pasadena, CA.  Rogers was inspired by the cover art from vintage jazz record albums.

Thurgood Marshall, Jr., Vice Chairman of the Postal Services Board of Governors, said, "With this evocative jazz stamp, we celebrate the music and the musicians who play it in studios, clubs and concert halls and on festival stages....Jazz is a pastime that brings people together, regardless of race, ethnicity or background."

For year round details on jazz concerts, night clubs, campus events, brunches and festivals throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Singer Michelle Cruz Performing at Cafe Tatant in Roxbury on Thursday, March 31

Popular jazz vocalist Michelle Cruz from Providence is performing at Cafe Tatant at the Roxbury Center for the Arts at Hibernian Hall in Boston on Thursday evening, March 31, 2011.  

She'll be performing songs from her new debut album, The Recovery.

Cafe Tatant is a dinner club setting with upscale cuisine prepared by George Huggins of Ethnica Gourmet.  Doors open for drinks at 6:30 p.m., dinner is served at 7:00 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for the dinner and show are $28, or for two guests, $54.  Tickets to just the show are $12.   To order online, click here.

For a list of upcoming performances at Roxbury Center for the Arts, click here.

For year round jazz concerts, nightclubs, campus events, brunches and festivals in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.
 

Pianist George Winston Performs at Natick Center for Arts on Saturday, March 26

New Age pianist and composer George Winston is performing at the Natick Center for the Arts on Saturday, March 26, 2011, at 8:00 p.m.   Tickets are $37-$42 and can be ordered online.

Winston's release of his album Autumn in 1980 began a movement toward clear, melodic music with strains of jazz, classical, and folk music. 

For a full schedule of events at Natick Center for the Arts, click here.

For year round jazz concerts, night clubs, campus events, brunches and festivals throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

We Four Perform John Coltrane Tribute at UMass/Amherst on Saturday, M arch 26

We Four, an ensemble of jazz masters, performs a tribute to saxophonist John Coltrane at Bowker Auditorium on Saturday, March 26, 2011, at 8:00 p.m.

 Tickets to the event are $15-$25, and for college students and youth 17 and under, admission is $10.

We Four is comprised of four stellar jazz musicians: tenor sax player Javon Jackson, drummer Jimmy Cobb, pianist George Cables, and bassist Peter Washington.

The concert is sponsored by WFCR, 88.5 FM. 

For a full schedule of music events at UMass/Amherst's Bowker Auditorium, click here.

For year round details on jazz concerts, night clubs, campus events, brunches and festivals, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourism information visit MassVacation.com.

Blues Guitarist Paul Speidel Celebrates New CD Release at the Acton Jazz Club on March 25

In celebration of its new CD, Retro Rocket, the Paul Speidel Band is performing at the Acton Jazz Club in Acton, Massachusetts on Friday, March 25, 2011 at 9:00 p.m.

Tickets to the show are $12 at the door, or $10 online.

Speidel, a Chicago native reared on the blues, is an electrifying blues guitar player who plays a range of jazz, rock, blues and R&B.

For a full schedule of events at Action Jazz Club, click here. For directions to the club, click here.

For year round details on jazz nightclubs, concerts, campus events, brunches, and festivals, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Grammy Winners Stanley Clarke and Victor Wooten Performing at Royale in Boston on Thursday, March 24

Legendary jazz bassist Stanley Clarke and fellow-Grammy Award winner Victor Wooten perform tonight, March 24, 2011, at Royale Night Club in Boston at 7:00 p.m..

Tickets to the show are $27 and can be ordered online.

Clarke won a Grammy at this year's Grammy Awards ceremony for Best Contemporary Jazz Album.  The Philadelphia native has revolutionized the bass guitar and continues to perform throughout the world.  

Wooten is a five-time Grammy Award winner who was deeply influenced by Clarke, and came to prominence during his time with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.  Clarke, Wooten and Marcus Miller have released a new album, Thunder, to great acclaim.

For a schedule of upcoming concerts at Royale, click here.

For year round details on jazz concerts, night clubs, campus events, brunches, festivals and courses in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.