Since 2001, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History has been designating each April as Jazz Appreciation Month and calling on communities around the country to join the celebration. By far the best way to celebrate and appreciate the music is to hear and see it in person, and the Greater Madison Jazz Consortium’s partner organizations give our community many ways to do just that.
As it is just about every April, JAM’s big ticket in our community is Madison Jazz Society’s Capital City Jazz Fest at the Quality Inn in Fitchburg. This year’s 26th annual Fest runs from April 25-27, and several sessions are already sold out, so if its “early jazz” you like, get your tickets soon. http://www.madisonjazz.com/event/capital-city-jazz-fest-2014/
If you like your jazz “string style,” check out Madison Music Collective’s concert and workshop program with world-class violinist Christian Howes and his trio at the Brink Lounge on April 13th. The ticketed concert begins at 3:00 PM, and is followed by a free audience talk-back and play-along workshop at 6:00 PM. http://madisonmusiccollective.org/Events/ChristianHowes.shtml
Also, courtesy of the UW School of Music’s Jazz Studies Program, Mr. Howes will give a free public workshop at 1:00 PM at Mills Concert Hall on April 16th. http://www.music.wisc.edu/extensions/eventdetails.jsp?event_id=2869
Speaking of the UW, the School of Music’s fine student jazz ensembles give several public performances, starting with the UW Jazz Orchestra at Monona Terrace at 5:30 PM on April 2nd, the UW Black Music Ensemble in Morphy Recital Hall at 8:30 PM on April 17th, and the Blue Note and Contemporary Jazz Ensembles and Jazz Composers Septet at 7:30 PM in Morphy Hall April 22nd. Two other student groups, the Madison Memorial High School Jazz Band and Percussion Ensemble are in concert in the school’s auditorium at 7:30 PM on April 8th. http://www.music.wisc.edu/calendar?eventcategory_id=0&ensemble_id=0&faculty_id=0&month=4&year=2014
As they do every month, students and other emerging musicians of all ages get a chance to build their improvising skills in public, on the bandstand, with Madison Jazz Jam’s professional “house band” at The Fountain on State Street, from 4:00 – 7:00 PM, April 6th and April 20th. http://madisonjazzjam.org/schedule/
Beyond the Jazz Consortium partners’ presentations, April brings two other special jazz programs to town. On Saturday, April 5th, at 8:00 PM, the Brink Lounge presents legendary bassist Eddie Gomez in concert with pianist Stefan Karlsson and our own Rodrigo Villanueva on drums. Then on Wednesday, April 16th, from 5:00 – 8:00 PM, it’s the annual Jazz at Five fundraiser, this year featuring performances by the Cliff Frederiksen Duo and the headliner, Twin Cities-based vocalist Debbie Duncan with the Lucas Koehler Trio.
And there’s plenty more live jazz in April at the gigs of our many fine local musicians. Check them out on the Madison Jazz Blog calendar’s daily listings.
Greater Madison Jazz Consortium 
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