Busy, jazzy month for Jazzanooga
There have been a lot of changes in the local music/ arts/entertainment scenes over the last couple of years, and we’ve tried to point them out as best we could. Some get more attention than others, however.
We’ve written about places and events such as Songbirds Guitar Museum opening and becoming not only a tourist attraction but a live music venue, Moon River Music Festival selling out in eight hours, Walker Theatre getting updated and regularly selling out shows, but there are so many other things worth noting.
Jazzanooga and the work Shane Morrow has been doing, for example. It’s one of the better stories in town, to be honest. Morrow had this crazy idea a few years ago to present a couple of shows highlighting the role jazz and local jazz musicians have had on the city and today it is a full- blown organization that works throughout the year.
It does workshops, presents shows, teaches classes, organizes events and generally focuses a spotlight the diverse arts and cultural aspects of our community. The work the organization has done with area youth is laudable on its own.
April is National Jazz Appreciation Month and Jazzanooga has put together JAMFest ’18 featuring a dozen or so special events beginning April 6 with The Vibe Sessions: Jazz Meets Hip Hop at the Camp House.
It will be curated and hosted by Cameron “C-Grimey” Williams and will feature Seaux Chill, Marley Fox, Denise Adeniyi AKA The Divine Poetess w/ The Frequency and Djkstylz ThaTruth.
Throughout the month, there are planned panel discussions, shows by The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Jazz Band, Sweet Georgia Sound, Jazzanooga Youth Music Academy and visual art exhibits.
Rooted in Color on April 12, for example, will feature an evening of music and art by Rondell Crier, James McKissic, Rebecca Love, Josiah Golson and Jody Harris at the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga offices on Market Street.
Neshawn Bynum Calloway will present her tribute to Bessie Smith on April 27 at the Camp House.
Some of the events are ticketed and some are free, but all are important. We have so many talented people doing some pretty amazing things all over town, and Jazzanooga, the organization, is one of those working hard to bring them to light.
You can see the full schedule at jazzanooga.org.