U.S. Provides American Jazz Music to Radio Stations

Arusha — Each April, the United States of America celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM), honouring one of the most significant contributions from America to world culture. The U.S. Government, through its embassies worldwide, supports Jazz Appreciation Month by encouraging jazz cultural events such as concerts, lectures, exhibitions, educational offerings, and poster shows. The U.S. Mission encourages people of all ages to participate and support institutional jazz and music programmes.

According to U.S. Embassy Cultural Affairs Officer, Karen Grissette, Jazz Appreciation Month aims to focus public attention on the many talented composers, musicians and other contributors to music. She explained that one reason April was chosen to honour jazz was because so many jazz legends have birthdays in that month. These include Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Johnny Dodds, Lionel Hampton, Charles Mingus, Gerry Mulligan, Shorty Rogers, Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente, Freddie Hubbard, Randy Weston, and Herbie Hancock. Jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald was born on April 25, 1918.

During the month of April, the U.S. Embassy has reached out to educational institutions with young talented Tanzanians by providing Jazz Appreciation Month posters to encourage students and teachers to continue develop their interest in jazz music.

Grissette recognized that radio stations have a leading role to play in encouraging talented people to develop their skills through music programmes. Because of this, the embassy distributed to all major stations CDs of American Jazz standards performed by the world-renowned "Jazz at Lincoln Center." The CDs includes Count Basie's "Jumpin' at the Woodside," Duke Ellington and Irving Mills' "It Don't Mean a Thing (If it Ain't Got that Swing)," Jelly Roll Morton's "Courthouse Bump," and John Coltrane's "Mr. Day," among many other classics. The U.S. Mission hopes the CDs, "The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad" will be shared by local radio stations with their listeners to stimulate talented musicians in Tanzania to continue to improve their skills.

Jazz music, which emerged in the United States in the early 20th century, is recognized around the world for its rich cultural heritage rooted in the African-American experience. But this truly original American art form now belongs to the world.
"Jazz has become an international language that bridges cultural differences and brings people of all races, ages, and backgrounds together," says the U.S. law, signed in August 2003, that recognizes the month of April as Jazz Appreciation Month. The annual commemoration, established by the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History, is now observed throughout the United States, and in a number of other countries, including Sweden, Germany, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Canada.

Earlier this month, American Jazz saxophonist Bobby Ricketts performed in Dar es Salaam and conducted workshops with Tanzania House of Talent, in partnership with The Living Room. Ricketts plans to return to Tanzania soon to continue inspiring talented, young Tanzanians to pursue their highest musical ambitions.