April is Jazz Appreciation Month and WFIU Public Radio along with the Indiana Daily Student Newspaper and the IU Jacobs School of Music, is paying homage to jazz artists who helped make the American art form so widely recognized.
Why April? Long time WFIU announcer and Jazz Director Joe Bourne writes, “A lot of Jazz greats were born in April. Names like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, Herbie Hancock and Charles Mingus—and if that’s not enough, The Duke steps out on the 29th!”
Bloomington Mayor Kruzan has signed a proclamation recognizing April as Jazz Appreciation Month in the city of Bloomington.
Jazz Appreciation Month will be commemorated with numerous events. Visit our events calendar and sort by “Event Type” »
The Indiana Daily Student will print an in their newspaper with information on how to be entered to win one of four “JAM Packs”. Each JAM Pack includes a JAM poster, a Joe Bourne 25th anniversary T-shirt, a pair of tickets to the Jazz Fables Concert at Bear’s Place (Must be 21 to attend), and a Jazz CD. Be sure to check out the IDS in print or online.
WEEK ONE: April 1-7
Billie Holiday (April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959)
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed Lady Day, Holiday was a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing. Her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. She was admired all over the world for her deeply personal and intimate approach to singing.
For more on the music of Billie Holiday listen to this Afterglow program:
“Swing It, Lady, Swing: Billie Holiday With The Big Bands”
WEEK TWO: April 8 – 14
Herbie Hancock (born April 12, 1940)
Herbie Hancock is an American pianist and composer. He is regarded not only as one of the greatest living jazz musicians, but also as one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century. His music embraces elements of funk and soul while adopting freer stylistic elements from jazz. In his jazz improvisation, he possesses a unique creative blend of jazz, blues, and modern classical music, with harmonic stylings much like the those of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel.
WEEK THREE: April 15 – 21
Charles Mingus, Jr. (April 22, 1922 – January 5, 1979)
Charles Mingus was an American jazz musician, composer, bandleader, and human rights activist.
Having released numerous records of high regard, Mingus is considered one of the most important composers and performers of jazz as well as a pioneer in bass technique. Dozens of musicians passed through his bands and later went on to impressive careers. Mingus was also influential and creative as a band leader, recruiting talented and sometimes little-known artists whom he assembled into unconventional and revealing configurations.
WEEK FOUR: April 22-28
Ella Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996)
Ella Fitzgerald, known as the “First Lady of Song” and “Lady Ella,” was an American jazz and popular song vocalist. With a vocal range spanning three octaves, she was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing and intonation, and a “horn-like” improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing.
For more on the music of Billie Holiday listen to this Afterglow program:
Ella Fitzgerald and Mel Torme: Live at the Crescendo
Here’s how you can celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month:
• Attend one (or all!) of the concerts listed above.
• Listen to WFIU 103.7 fm weekdays from 3:30 to 5pm for “Just You and Me” with Joe Bourne. Night owls can hear jazz on WFIU 103.7 fm on Friday evenings from 8pm to midnight and Saturday evenings from 11pm to 2 am.
• Go to Landlocked Music or another music shop and browse the Jazz section for an artist that is new to you
• Go you your local public library and find a book, movie, or CD about jazz
Jazz Appreciation Month will also be commemorated with numerous events:
April 2
Jazz From Bloomington presents the “Future of Jazz” featuring pre-college talent from 8 to 18 years old
Special Guest: Jamey Abersold
KRC Catering, 216 S College
7:00 pm
April 8
Jazz Fables Series presents NYC jazz saxist Mike Lee’s New Tricks Quartet
Bear’s Place
5:30 pm
April 12
IU Jazz Ensembles directed by Jeremy Allen and Jeff McLaughlin
Musical Arts Center
8:00 pm
April 15
Jazz Fables Series presents NYC jazz trumpeter John McNeil’s Quartet
Bear’s Place
5:30 pm
April 15
IU Latin Jazz Ensemble directed by Michael Spiro.
Auer Concert hall
8:00 pm
April 16
International Record Store Day
Landlocked Music
April 18
Quarryland Men’s Chorus “A Tribute To Al Cobine”
First United Church
3:00 pm
April 20
Jazz From Bloomington and Arts Week present the Brad Sherpik Quartet
KRC Catering, 216 S College
7:30 pm
April 22
Jazz Fables Series presents Charles Mingus 88th Birthday Tribute
Bear’s Place
5:30 pm
April 22
WFIU Recycled Music Sale
Radio TV Building Rm 120
10 am
April 24
IU Big Band Extravaganza Celebrating the Golden Age of the Swing Era!
Directed by David N. Baker and Brent Wallarab
Musical Arts Center
8:00 pm
April 29
Jazz Fables Quartet – Joe Bourne 25th Anniversary Benefit Concert
Bear’s Place
5:30 pm
Every Wednesday in April
Jazz from Bloomington presents Hot Wings & Cool Jazz Jam Sessions Benefit for Bloomington High School South Jazz program
Buffa Louie’s
7:30 pm BHSS combo
9-10 pm Open Jam with Pro Rhythm Section
The Indiana Daily Student will feature a jazz artist who celebrates a birthday in April. Readers who respond will be entered to win one of four “JAM Packs”. Each JAM Pack includes a JAM poster, a Joe Bourne 25th anniversary T-shirt, a pair of tickets to the Jazz Fables Concert at Bear’s Place (Must be 21), and a Jazz CD. Be sure to check out the IDS in print or online.
Here’s how you can celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month:
• Attend one (or all!) of the concerts listed above.
• Listen to WFIU 103.7 fm weekdays from 3:30 to 5pm for “Just You and Me” with Joe Bourne. Night owls can hear jazz on WFIU 103.7 fm on Friday evenings from 8pm to midnight and Saturday evenings from 11pm to 2 am.
• Go to Landlocked Music or another music shop and browse the Jazz section for an artist that is new to you
• Go you your local public library and find a book, movie, or CD about jazz
About WFIU
WFIU—Public Radio from Indiana University—broadcasts in Bloomington at 103.7 fm, with translators in Columbus at 100.7 fm, French Lick/West Baden at 101.7 fm, Greensburg at 98.9 fm, Kokomo at 106.1 fm, and Terre haute at 95.1 fm. WFIU is an NPR member station offering local and national news as well as Jazz and Classical Music.
About the Indiana Daily Student
The Indiana Daily Student provides news to Bloomington and is read by 92.3 percent of the IU community. Today the IDS reaches more than 45,000 people and an online community of more than 150,000 unique users. IU Student Media has a rich tradition of serving the University as a student learning lab. The first issue of the Indiana Student was published in 1867. It later became the Indiana Daily Student in 1899.
About the IU Jacobs School of Music
As one of the world’s premier music schools, the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music maintains a distinguished reputation for the quality of its programs. Students from all 50 states and over 55 countries study in a conservatory atmosphere with 170 full-time faculty members who are among the best performers and educators in the world. Talented students consistently win national and international competitions and advance to careers in performance and teaching. World-renowned faculty, exceptional students, and incomparable artistic achievement are the hallmarks of the tradition at the Jacobs School of Music, which touches virtually every segment of musical life in the Americas and beyond.
About Jazz Appreciation Month
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History launched JAM in 2001 as an annual event that pays tribute to jazz both as a historic and living American art form. It has grown to include celebrations in all 50 states and 40 other countries.
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