Jazz Appreciation Month

Jazz Appreciation Month, or JAM, is a time to celebrate the history and cultural impact of jazz music. Why April? This month of spring is the birth month for several leading jazz figures, such as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Bessie Smith, Johnny Dodds, Billie Holiday, Charles Mingus, Lionel Hampton, Gerry Mulligan, Shorty Rogers, Tito Puente, and Herbie Hancock.

In addition, this year's JAM poster features Billy Strayhorn since it's his centennial year. You can see the full poster, created by the Smithsonian Museum, at the end of this post.

The JAM exhibit in the Library highlights various items from our collections. The record covers from the LP collection are particularly intriguing, attempting to illustrate the sounds of big band or avant-garde jazz, as well as the tunes of artists like Duke Ellington and Jelly Roll Morton.

Thanks go to Trisha Aurelio, Technical Services Supervisor, for putting together this exhibit and reminding us to appreciate and celebrate the cultural heritage of jazz.