Jazzanooga announced Thursday the full slate of events and programming for children and families. Scheduled during Jazz Appreciation Month, April, Jazzanooga draws fans from all across the region for a month of performances and educational opportunities.
JazzReach Concert, April 11, 6:30 p.m. The Bessie Smith Cultural Center. Metta Quintet, the official resident ensemble of JazzReach Performing Arts & Education Association, Inc (www.jazzreach.org) will perform an evening show just for kids and families. Since premiering its pilot program in 1997, the New York City based, JazzReach has become one of our nation's leading arts-education organizations. Its highly acclaimed programs have served over 80,000 young people and have been presented by some of America's most prestigious performing arts venues. This event is part of Jazzanooga’s Big Nine Jazz Series – An animation of the downtown MLK Blvd. Corridor with the sounds of jazz. Tickets $10 adults, $5 children. Purchase at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/jazzanooga-presents-jazzreach-featuring-metta-quintet-tickets-10564299103
Jazzanooga Youth Music Academy. This group of middle and high school music students will perform at various venues during the month of April. They will be featured at Jazzanooga’s headline concerts the weekend of April 25-27. The students meet on Saturdays to study jazz under the direction of Dexter Bell. Through community collaborations, the academy is housed at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center and gained support to host Master Classes from The Chattanooga Chapter of The Links, Inc.
“The Chattanooga Chapter of The Links is thrilled to partner with Jazzanooga to help fund the Jazz Youth Academy," said Carman Davis, Arts Facets chair, the Chattanooga Chapter of The Links, Inc. "This sustainable program allows the Links to offer continuous support to this program while assisting with providing stellar training in the arts.”
For information about the Youth Music Academy visit http://www.jazzanooga.org/#!jazzanooga-youth-music-academy/c1teu
Jazzanooga Music Scholarship. Jazzanooga has partnered with the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga to establish a music instruction scholarship. This $500 scholarship is awarded to a deserving student and assists in providing funds to further music instruction.
“I am excited about the inception of the Jazzanooga Music Scholarship because it is such a natural component of what Jazzanooga represents,” states Rebecca Smith, scholarship director at the Community Foundation. “This scholarship is more than a monetary award; it’s offering a passionate music student an opportunity to further his/her musical talent …and who knows, the recipient could be Chattanooga’s next Yusef Lateef or Lovie Austin.” To apply for the music scholarship visit www.cfgc.org.
Big Nine Jazz Finale, April 26, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. MLK Boulevard. Hit the scene on MLK Boulevard as Jazzanooga offers up a traditional New Orleans second-line parade starting at Whiteside Park and ending in front of The Bessie Smith Cultural Center. After the parade, the fun continues with performances and events throughout the historic MLK neighborhood. Featuring a kids’ creative area, jazz dance, a CD exchange, jazz Zumba and more. Scheduled to perform: Tennessee State University Jazz Collegians, University of Tennessee Knoxville Trombone Ensemble, Sweet Georgia Sounds, 9th Street Stompers, Jazzanooga Youth Music Academy and others. Free and fun for the whole family.
Jazzanooga, started in 2010 as a one-day community festival and has grown to a month-long celebration that celebrates and promotes Chattanooga’s extraordinary jazz heritage. The festival is supported by the Benwood Foundation and the Lyndhurst Foundation. In-kind support comes from Double Cola. Event sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information, visit www.jazzanooga.org.
Students from the Jazzanooga Youth Music Academy
- Photo2 by Megan Hollenbeck