April is officially Jazz Appreciation Month. We would be remiss if we did not mention it, even on this last day of April. Given this has been the seventh year of Jazz being officially celebrated, there has been much celebrating, including the annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival which actually continues into the first weekend in May. The Smithsonian Museum has also been jumping to all things Jazz this month, including visits by such luminaries as Ramsey Lewis and discussions on the genius of this truly American art form. Also, be sure to check out how you can celebrate Jazz all year long and help to show your love to its oft-forgotten influence on many contemporary genres of music, including hip-hop music.
