Reaffirming a heritage
“Whereas, jazz has achieved preeminence throughout the world as an indigenous American music and art form, bringing to this country and the world a uniquely American musical synthesis and culture through the African-American experience and …”

U.S. House of Representatives resolution H.R. 57, presented by Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich. Text from www.hr57.org, Center for the Preservation of Jazz and Blues, 1610 14th St, N.W., Washington, D.C. 

This Black History Month is unique because for the first time we have in the White House an African American as the leader of our country, as a role model to inform some and remind others of the leadership, arts and cultural contributions of Africans and African Americans to American and world history.

Many in the jazz culture are excited about the possibilities of a black president said to be a jazz fan.

Once a widely popular form of music that attracted the young and old of all classes and cultures around the world which was danced to as much as it was listened to, jazz has become somewhat of an isolated, niche genre in a world of music dominated by pop, hip hop/rap, rock, country and soul/R&B. The number of jazz recordings sold has dwindled steadily over the years, and musicians say the venues for real jazz, those with gigs that consistently pay real money, are scarce.
The coming of Obama may mean a boost to the image of jazz. It is said he has John Coltrane and Miles Davis on his IPod. A “Meet the Press” interview, circulated via YouTube, as seen on the Washington Jazz Network Web site last month, has the new President talking about “inspiring our youth” about arts and culture by “inviting jazz musicians …” and others to the White House in order to promote “this incredible tapestry that is America.”

Jazz educators, like Ron Kearns, William E. Smith, Paul Carr, Allyn Johnson, are hopeful that more visibility for jazz will lead to more money and more emphasis for jazz in the schools and other organizations.

This writer requested a statement from the Obama-Biden transition team in January, when this column was being prepared, on the new President’s feelings about jazz and promoting it in his new administration. Stay tuned.

Networking for our heritage
The new Washington Jazz Network is the product of one of our area’s tireless promoters of the heritage, George V. Johnson Jr., whose network aims to help musicians, and the venues where they play and create a new worldwide community devoted to jazz.

Johnson, the vocalese master who has performed with many of the greats like Pharoah Sanders, James Moody, Lou Donaldson, Fred Foss, Buck Hill and many others, said he started the site (at washingtondcjazznetwork.ning.com) as a place for “every musician to meet and network.” (Vocalese is the setting of lyrics to established jazz orchestral instrumentals.)

“Members include musicians, doctors and lawyers and professors … people from all over the worldare coming to the site,” said Johnson, who said the site had about 130 members in less than a month, with a couple of hundred visits to the site every day. “I think soon it could be up to a thousand a day, as this network grows and word gets around,” he said.

Johnson added, “I came up with the idea because "NING" (an online platform for people to create their own social networks) gives us all the opportunity to use the Internet as a viral marketing tool. We can share ideas, music, dialogue, forums, news and connect with musicians and other jazz enthusiasts with just one click of a button around the world in a matter of seconds.  It puts us all on an equal playing field.  United we stand while exploring the world of Jazz!”

Technical difficulties…
…caused incomplete New Year’s wishes last month, including a wish for Charlie Fishman, producer of the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival, to have even more success with his expanded festival plans this year. And the quote regarding Bill Heid’s success as a jazz organist came from allaboutjazz.com.

February Highlights: Donald Harrison, Feb. 6-7, Bohemian Caverns; Patricia Barber, Feb. 13, Kennedy Center; Art Blakely Experience with Keith Kilgo, Antonio Parker, Feb. 20, Westminster Church; Black History Celebration, Paul Carr, Michael Thomas, Feb. 27, Westminster Church; Oliver Lake Organ Trio, Feb. 20, 21, Twins Jazz; Kurt Elling, Feb. 28, Kennedy Center.

February Birthdays: James P. Johnson, Joshua Redman 1; Sonny Stitt, Stan Getz 2; Eubie Black 7; Chick Webb 10; Machito 16; Stan Kenton, David Murray 19; Nancy Wilson 20; Tadd Dameron 21; James Moody 26; Mildred Bailey, Dexter Gordon 27.