Jazz Appreciation Month 2025: Finding My Own Way to Jazz Musicianship

It's April 2025 ... and that means it's national Jazz Appreciation Month here in the U.S.! Join host CH as she shares her own journey to not only coming to love the genre - particularly the classics and standards of the 1930s and 40s - but also how it has shaped her sense of musicianship when she resumed playing drums after a 10 year hiatus. She reflects on how the sounds of jazz surrounded her at a young age (even if she wasn't suuuuper interested at the time), and how her original love of playing pop/rock music evolved as her own musical leanings changed over time. She also reminds us of the importance of embracing music - no matter the genre - at any stage of life for the personal enrichment and inspiration it brings to us all.

 

Show Notes

• Jazz Appreciation Month (known as "JAM") runs from April 1 - April 30 in the U.S. It culminates with the international celebration of International Day of Jazz on April 30th.
  • For those looking for more information and events that are scheduled for 2025, head over to the National Museum of American History, which founded JAM in 2001 (and of which is where CH pulled the quote that ended our episode).
  • Additionally, CH highly recommends the Ken Burns PBS documentary film, "Jazz", for those looking for a comprehensive examination and tribute to jazz from its earliest origins up to present day.
• Some of the artists CH mentioned that played in her grandparent's house as she was growing up: Duke Ellington; Billie Holliday; Ella Fitzgerald; Glenn Miller; Benny Goodman; Frank Sinatra; Dean Martin; Nat King Cole. Additionally, her step-father was a fan of Brazilian jazz.
• The Los Angeles radio station CH also grew up listening to was 94.7 The Wave (now known as The Soul of Southern California).
• Previous episode mentions:
  • Episode 20: Episode 62: Share the Chair - Tobi Stone (A Lifelong Journey of Jazz)
  • Episode 25: Little Drummer Girl