Events at the Cultural Section

Jazz Appreciation Month

The 2007 Jazz Appreciation Month poster features a conté crayon drawing of Louis Armstrong by the celebrated American artist LeRoy Neiman. Neiman is best known for his portraits of sports and entertainment figures, and maintains a lively interest in jazz. In 2005, Neiman donated 75 boxes of his papers to the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art.

What is Jazz Appreciation Month?
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 idea is to encourage musicians, concert halls, schools,colleges, museums, libraries, and public broadcasters to offer special programs on jazz every April.

What are the purposes of Jazz Appreciation Month?
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.

Why is it needed?
Many people do not fully appreciate the joys, power, and glories of jazz. JAM 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.

Who designated it?
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. For more information, visit www.smithsonianjazz.org.

Has the United States Congress supported this initiative?
Yes, 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."

In celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, the American Cultural Center is proud to sponsor the Romanian tour of Gospel and Blues Singer Janice Harrington (), accompanied by pianist Ricky Cottom and drummer Tommie Harris. The ensemble will tour Romanian April 16-27, with performances in Constanta, Bucharest, Sibiu, Timisoara and Cluj. The schedule of performances is listed below.

More information about Janice Harrington is available at her website: www.janice-harrington.com

Online Resources about American Jazz:
• The National Association for Music Education
• Federal Resources for Education Excellence
• National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters
• National Museum of American History
• A Passion for Jazz
• About Jazz
• Friends of the Arts
• All about Jazz
• E-Jazz Online
• Jazz Chill Corner
• Janice Harrington
• Smithsonian Jazz | Jazz Appreciation Month

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