Apparently, April is Jazz Appreciation Month—who woulda thunk it?  Well, the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History did and recently contacted me as a community jazz advocate to do what I can to promote their new cultural initiative "intended to draw public attention to the glories of jazz as both an historical and a living treasure." The idea is to encourage musicians, concert halls, schools, colleges, museums, libraries, and public broadcasters to offer special programs on jazz every April.

This is the sixth annual Jazz Appreciation Month, although it's the first I've heard of it. While they contacted me (and hopefully others in the community who are advocates of jazz...say WGMC?) a bit late to affect events for this year, perhaps this would be an opportunity those of us who want to broaden the opportunities to hear jazz in Rochester to bring the music we love to more.  It would also dovetail nicely with the announcement of the lineup for the Rochester International Jazz Festival, which is in April.  [Note to other jazz advocates in Rochester:  If you didn't receive the Smithsonian's email, send one to me and I'll forward it to you.]  Anyone out there want to start working on this should contact me by the email link this site and I'll start putting you together.

Smithsonian Jazz has a Jazz Appreciation Month site with more information about the initiative, a jazz discussion board, and other goodies.  Check out the PDF availalbe here of ideas of how to celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month. Go check it out and let's start planning for next year!  I encourage you to leave a comment with your ideas.