Many people think that jazz is the music of the elite and well-established people. But, if you look into the roots of jazz, you will see the opposite. Jazz is an art of expression in the form of music. Jazz music is the fundamental music in human life.
Jazz tradition evolved from the lifestyle of black community in America who has been oppressed. Initially, the tradition began from the influence of tribal drums and gospel music, blues and field hollers (the shouts of cultivators). Its birth process has demonstrated that jazz was closely related to the life defense and expression of human life.
The interesting thing from jazz music was that the origin of the word “jazz” was derived from a vulgar term used for sexual acts. Most of rhythms in jazz were ever associated with the brothels and the women with an unfortunate reputation.
Then, in the journey of jazz, it eventually became an art form of jazz music, both in the specific composition and improvisation, which reflected the spontaneous melodies. Jazz musicians usually expressed their feelings that were uneasily explained because this music should be felt within the heart.
Jazz legend began in New Orleans and grew into the Mississippi River, Memphis, St. Louis, and finally Chicago. Of course, jazz was influenced by music in New Orleans, African tribal drums and the structure of European-style music. Jazz background could not be separated from the facts in which jazz was influenced by a variety of music such as spiritual music, cakewalks, ragtime and blues.
One of jazz legends who was believed was the legend around 1891. An owner of hair shaving shop in New Orleans, named Buddy Bolden blew his cornet and the time became the beginning of jazz music as a new breakthrough in the music world. Half a century later, American jazz music gave many contributions to the world of music. Jazz was also studied at university, and eventually became a serious music and was calculated by the world of music.
Jazz as a popular art began to spread to almost all of American society in the 1920s (known as the Jazz Age). Jazz was more widespread in the swing era in the late 1930s and it peaked in the late 1950s as a modern jazz. In the early 20s and 30s, “jazz” has become a common word.
The influence and development of blues music could not be left when discussing jazz music in the early years of its development. Expressions that shined when playing the blues were in line with the style of jazz. The ability to play the blues music became the standard for all jazz musicians, especially to be used in improvisation.
Blues music itself, which was originated from the southern region, had a very broad history. Blues players usually used guitar, piano, and harmonica, or played together in a group who played his own musical instruments.
By: Stewart B Johnston
The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame is located in the historic Carver Theater on 4th Avenue Business District in Birmingham, Alabama. The museum is in the Civil Rights District at 1631 4th Avenue North, in Birmingham, Alabama. Admission is free, and the hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.
The Carver Theatre is a popular spot for local jazz artists. They have been host to jazz legends like Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton. The Carver Theatre is open to the very best in entertainment that includes anything from theatrical performances to jazz jam sessions to swing dance classes.
The Carver Theatre for the Performing Arts was built in 1935. The present theatre includes 1,300 of the latest model theatre chairs and the newest development in air conditioning, sound, and projection. It was also one of several theatres in the Fourth Avenue area that offers first-run movies to African-Americans.
In 1990, the City of Birmingham began renovation of the Carver Theatre as a performing arts theatre and the new home of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and museum. It now operates as a non-profit, multi-use community theatre, which is open for bookings by local and national groups.
The art-deco museum is a place for entertainment as well as honoring great jazz artists with ties to the state of Alabama. Exhibits of accomplished jazz artists include:
o Nat King Cole
o Duke Ellington
o Lionel Hampton
o Erskine Hawkins
Visitors of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame travel from the beginnings of boogie woogie with Clarence “Pinetop” Smith to the jazz space journeys of Sun Ra and his Intergalactic Space Orchestra.
If you add the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame to your vacations ideas and become a visitor you will have a chance to get lost in Alabama’s rich jazz heritage. There are more than 2,200-square-feet of exhibits.
What you will see as parts of these vacation ideas include:
o Priceless jazz memorabilia: Paintings, quilts, instruments and the personal effects of artists like Ella Fitzgerald and W.C. Handy
The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame welcomes tour groups of any size. Their hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Guided Tours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and on Saturday after 1:00 p.m. The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame is closed Sunday and Monday. Admission is $2 per person for the self-guided tour and $3 per person for a guided tour.
If you bring a large tour group, look forward to both a tour and a showing of “Jazz in the Magic City.” “Jazz in the City” is a jazz documentary outlining the Jazz progression in Birmingham, Alabama.
For more information about the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame tours call 205-254-2731. You might want to add this to your vacation ideas as well.
Who does the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame honor? Inductees include:
o Performers
o Promoters
o Music publishing and recording leaders
o Broadcasters and others have had a significant impact on jazz music.
o Inductees into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame must also have been born in the state of Alabama or spent a considerable amount of time in Alabama developing, producing and influencing jazz.
If you are a lover of jazz music, you might want to add the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame to your list of vacation ideas.
Source: Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in Birmingham, Alabama
Important Disclaimer: The URL address in the resource box of this article is not associated with the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. This article and the web site is a resource to help you formulate vacation ideas.
This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.
Jacksonville Jazz Festival
What started out as a one-day, free event in Florida in 1980 has turned into an impressive festival, one of the country’s largest, almost 30 years later.
More than just strictly a jazz festival, this event also boasts the Great American Jazz Piano competition, which takes place at the start of the fest. The winner of that gets to play a featured set at the festival, held yearly in Jacksonville’s Metropolitan Park.
Wine lovers also have the rare opportunity to not only sample some of the more than 50 featured wines at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, but also speak with representatives from the highlighted wineries. That makes it a double-bonus weekend for devotees of jazz and wine – always a winning combination, anyway. In addition to good drink and good music, good food is served as well at the festival’s traditional Sunday morning brunch.
The Jacksonville Jazz Festivals has spotlighted a variety of categories from straight-up jazz – the Ramsey Lewis Trio and Chick Corea – to the smoother side of things with David Sanborn and Chris Botti.
Mt. Hood Jazz Festival
Now in its 28th year, the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival offers jazz lovers a premier reason to travel to the beautiful state of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.
Not too far out of Portland, the base of majestic Mt. Hood serves as setting for the festival, located in Gresham, Oregon, on the campus of Mt. Hood Community College.
Held in mid-August, the Mt. Hood Jazz festival has certainly seen its share of jazz legends take the stage. Those that have performed at the event that first started back in 1982 include: Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, The Crusaders and Buddy Rich, among others.
The Mt. Hood Adventures in Jazz series also brings in musicians from outside the region to play at various venues in Portland throughout the year.
Telluride Jazz Celebration
Talk about your scenic backdrops.
Located in the middle of the breath-taking San Juan Mountains, the Telluride Jazz Celebration cannot be matched in the landscaping department.
Mountain range above, gorgeous Beer Creek and San Miguel River below – that makes for an amazing setting to listen to jazz.
As such, this festival is definitely for the nature lover. Camping spots are available for those who really want to take advantage of all Telluride, now in its 33rd year of hosting a jazz fest, has to offer. Early June is usually when the Telluride Jazz Celebration is held. A jam-friendly jazz festival, Telluride welcomes an eclectic roster, featuring bands like Licorice, Ozomalti, Benvento-Russo Duo, Rebirth Brass Band and the Jimmy Herring Band.
The festival’s Jazz after Dark series takes over the nearby Sheridan Opera House and Nugget Theater.
By: Lennox Marshall