The JazzArts Academy is thrilled to announce saxophonist Marcus Strickland as the 2024 Summer Music Camp special guest clinician! Strickland has been on two Grammy-nominated recordings. In addition to his busy performance schedule, Strickland is an educator in the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, where is serves as Associate Professor of Practice. The post Our JazzArts Summer Camp Clinician – Marcus Strickland! appeared first on JazzArts Charlotte ..read more

The vibrant sounds of New Orleans recently echoed with the passion and dedication of countless individuals who gathered for the 2024 Jazz Education Network Conference in New Orleans, LA. As the President and CEO of JazzArts Charlotte and the Board President of the Jazz Education Network, I am filled with tremendous pride as my two worlds came together at this exceptional event. The post Reflecting on the Jazz Education Network Conference: A Celebration of Jazz and Community appeared first on JazzArts Charlotte ..read more

Everywhere we turned from planned venues to restaurants for dinner, we encountered stellar musicianship and warm smiles to go with it, generously offered alongside fresh mojitos. One leaves Cuba humbled by the artistry assiduously cultivated in their culture at large in comparison with our own, making me appreciate JazzArts’ commitment to student education all the more. The post A Different Rhythm – JazzArts Charlotte in Cuba appeared first on JazzArts Charlotte ..read more

Our JazzArts All-Star Ensemble recently traveled to the Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conference in New Orleans after being selected to perform at the prestigious international conference. The post The JazzArts All-Stars Travel to New Orleans for JEN! appeared first on JazzArts Charlotte ..read more

This past November 4-7 was the North Carolina Music Educators Association (NCMEA) Conference in Winston-Salem. The largest gathering of music educators in the state with well over 1,000 attendees, this year’s theme was “Inspire Harmony.” The JazzArts All-Star Youth Ensemble had their inaugural performance at the conference in front of an appreciative and impressed audience! The post Inspiring Harmony at the NCMEA Conference appeared first on JazzArts Charlotte ..read more

Charlottean and JazzArts alum Sean Mason is a familiar face to local supporters who watched his musical growth over the past decade. Last week he took some time while on his “When You Wish Upon a Star” tour to talk about the roots of his new album, The Southern Suite, which releases on October 27. The post Sean Mason Explores the Duality of Life in His New Album appeared first on JazzArts Charlotte ..read more

October 4, your little ones will have the opportunity to begin mastering the ABCs of jazz – and have fun while doing so – with the relaunch of WeBop. WeBop is Jazz at Lincoln Center’s award-winning early-childhood jazz education program, and we are one of a very small number of institutions across the country that is certified to teach the curriculum. The post WeBop Brings Jazz Appreciation to a New Generation appeared first on JazzArts Charlotte ..read more

The vibraphone, or "vibes" as it is commonly referred to, first appeared in the early 20th century. It was initially used in vaudeville music but found its way into jazz around the 1930s, adding a new textural layer to the jazz soundscape. The post The History of Jazz Vibes appeared first on JazzArts Charlotte ..read more

JazzArts Charlotte CEO Lonnie Davis participated in an immersive cultural visit to Cuba The post The Music of Cuba, First-Hand appeared first on JazzArts Charlotte ..read more

Reflecting on some of the life skills honed studying jazz: adaptability and social awareness. The post Why Study Jazz? Adaptibility and Social Awareness appeared first on JazzArts Charlotte ..read more