Jazz Appreciation Month (or JAM) is intended to draw greater public attention to the extraordinary heritage and history of jazz and its importance as an American cultural heritage. In addition, JAM is intended to stimulate the current jazz scene and encourage people of all ages to participate in jazz – attend concerts, listen to jazz on radio and recordings, read books about jazz, study the music and support institutional jazz programs. We at Jazz Arts Group are passionate about America’s art form and encourage you to experience the joy, the power and the glory of jazz through any of our program offerings – an indoor concert at the Southern or the Lincoln, an outdoor concert at the Zoo or the Topiary Park this summer, a class at the Jazz Academy, or through a Jazz in Schools program.

The National Museum of American History (NMAH) has developed a poster of the legendary jazz artist Dave Brubeck to celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month in April. NMAH Curator of American Music John Hasse worked with the artist Leroy Neiman to have him create the portrait in tribute to Brubeck. Neiman has provided other jazz works for JAM posters featuring Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. For more information on Jazz Appreciation Month, visit http://smithsonianjazz.org/jam/jam_start.asp.