Since 1980, the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation has honored Detroit’s vibrant jazz music history through year-round concerts; educational programs, scholarships and mentorships; and producing the world’s largest free-admission jazz festival during Labor Day weekend. Drawing more than 300,000 attendees over the four days – plus another 2.5 million live streamers in 42 countries – the… Read more »
Author: Trevor Pitchford
Originally aired between 1995 and 2002, “Jazz Profiles” is a Peabody Award-winning documentary radio series chronicling the people, places, and themes of jazz. By combining interviews, archival recordings, music, and narration by singer Nancy Wilson, each program tells an informative and sometimes gripping story that celebrates our uniquely American art form and the people who… Read more »
Since our first collection in 2012, we’ve honored more than 100 pioneers of American music, writing and photography on our pages and have given 100% of the profits from the sales of their CDs, books and photos directly back to them as part of our commitment to the arts. But this summer we started something new…. Read more »
As America’s very first Jazz Studies program (est. 1946) – and consistently one of the world’s finest music schools – the University of North Texas has amassed a treasure trove of jazz history over the decades. The UNT Music Library’s Jazz Syndicate aims to make this material freely available to everybody. Forming a centralized online… Read more »
Congratulations, Kwame Dawes! The National Library of Jamaica has announced that he will be Jamaica’s new Poet Laureate. Often called “the busiest man in literature,” Kwame is the author of 20 books of poetry and numerous other books of fiction, criticism, and essays. We featured him as our 32 Bar Blues Voice of the Art several… Read more »
Grateful Dead/Dead & Company guitarist Bob Weir was among the honorees in last night’s “A Great Night In Harlem” all-star benefit concert at the legendary Apollo Theater in New York City. The gala supporting the nonprofit Jazz Foundation of America featured additional performances by the Sun Ra Arkestra, Chuck D and others. Weir was accompanied… Read more »
Through budget cuts, teacher shortages, limited resources, and a worldwide pandemic, the past several years have had a devastating impact on education – particularly in areas like music education that rely heavily on hands-on technique and group interaction. The crisis sparked the formation of a special partnership in 2022 between us and the nonprofit organization… Read more »
Thank you, DownBeat Magazine, for the great write-up! Grab your Holiday CD (and T-shirt) today. All profits we receive from their sales go directly to the Jazz Foundation of America’s Musicians’ Emergency Fund. Various Artists In The Key Of Chiaroscuro–Holiday Jazz Mix (Chiaroscuro Records/32 Bar Blues) Jazz Foundation of America, 32 Bar Blues and Chiaroscuro… Read more »
Congratulations to all of our featured Voices of the Art who received top honors in the DownBeat Magazine Readers Poll for 2023! Clockwise from upper left: Ahmad Jamal – Historical Album of the Year; Kenny Garrett – Alto Saxophone; James Carter – Baritone Saxophone; Brad Mehldau – Piano; Marcus Miller – Electric Bass; Brian Blade… Read more »
Before he was named an honorary founders board member of the Jazz Foundation of America, Hank O’Neal owned a jazz record label called Chiaroscuro. Combing through 30 years and 200 jazz albums that he personally produced; plus dozens of music festivals that he also produced; and a 25-year run hosting the NPR show “Christmas Music:… Read more »