6/2/22
Spotlight On: Geraldine Oliver
“Continuing my mission as a healer, I see using this music to help people heal. Heal their minds, hearts and spirits. Jazz is the healing force—my mantra."
6/2/22
June President’s Letter: Black Music Month 2022
Established in 1979 by Kenny Gamble, Ed Wright, and media pioneer Dyana Williams, it was Williams's lobbying work that ultimately led to the signing of a White House proclamation for the annual celebration in 2000.
6/1/22
Spotlight On: Paul Geiss
“I hope for Philadelphia's jazz scene to cultivate enough of an audience in the city and the surrounding suburbs that it will provide real financial support for established and up-and-coming artists.”
5/12/22
Spotlight On: Nicholas Krolak
Krolak believes that one’s artistic voice carries power “to uplift, to inspire, and to create thoughtful and meaningful change.”
5/11/22
Spotlight On: Eric McGarry
"The Philly scene is overflowing with amazing players and a strong sense of community. Philly is like no other scene, the players truly support each other and have strong support from older more established musicians."
5/6/22
Spotlight On: Brandon Dennis
“Music has been there to express the depths of my joy and pain when no words were present. Music has always been my greatest passion. Attending the CORE cooperative program will guide me in taking the necessary steps to take my greatest passion and curate that passion into a viable career.”
4/21/22
Spotlight On: Maya Belardo
“I want my generation and younger to fall in love with jazz as I did."
4/20/22
Spotlight On: Kyle Andrews
"The experience of musical healing always reminds me that being a musician is a powerful and important job, and this inspires me to get back on stage and bring audiences an experience that is sincere and meaningful.”
4/17/22
April President’s Letter: Jazz Appreciation Month 2022
The experience was yet another confirmation of the promise of our soon-to-be-launched Passages program. Passages will connect musicians across generations using the jam session medium as a foundation for mentorship, storytelling, and transference of cultural knowledge. When youthful energy meets seasoned experience, everyone gets lifted.
4/13/22
Lovett Hines Wins Jazz Journalists Association Award
Other regional winners include bassist, composer, and educator Ed Hrybyk of Baltimore, Massachusetts-based Terri Lyne Carrington, a drummer, composer, and educator who has been a keynote speaker at the Jazz Philadelphia Summit; and Sara Donnely from Washington, D.C., a longtime jazz advocate who administers programs that support jazz musicians at South Arts.
4/1/22
Philadelphia’s Rising Women in Jazz
The city of Philadelphia honors the legacy and tradition of jazz music, by providing exceptional educational resources that continue to contribute to the profound jazz community that has been established here.Temple University and University of the Arts, two of Philadelphia's premier institutions of higher learning, have exceptional jazz programs where students can hone in on their craft...
3/31/22
Love Notes project Celebrates Black Art
The forthcoming Love Notes Project is the brainchild of Rebecca Graham. It’s part of an arts education and advocacy program that will showcase and celebrate the rich legacy and historical significance of Black Philadelphia performing artists and cultural producers.
3/25/22
March President’s Letter: Get Jazzed Day 2022
The collaboration between the organizations for Get JazzEd Day was fluid and inventive, much like jazz itself. And just like the music, which serves the purpose of touching the lives of the listeners, our partnerships are designed to impact the lives of musicians, educators, students—everyone in our creative community...
3/24/22
‘Dangerous Tones’ Comes to Philadelphia
Station manager Bill Johnson says, “As a leader in jazz programming since 1969, WRTI wanted to provide American music lovers with this incredibly revealing series that showcases a powerful history and relationship between the U.S. and Denmark through jazz.”
3/22/22
Key of She Jazz March 2022 Recap
Up next, Key of She has been working to improve their website and expand their already extensive resources list (which already includes reading lists, film lists, listening recommendations, and a comprehensive list of over 600 women in jazz)...
2/24/22
Black Musicians Unite
Musicians’ Protective Union Local 274, American Federation of Musicians was chartered on January 2, 1935 by Black musicians. Local 274 was one of more than fifty Black musicians’ unions established in the American Federation of Musicians. The first Black musicians’ union Local 208 was established in Chicago in 1902. In Philadelphia, Frank Thurman "Frankie" Fairfax, orchestra leader, composer and trumpeter, became a key figure in the movement to organize a musicians' union...