Smithsonian Channel

All this month the Smithsonian Institution is celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM for short) and they’re inviting you to Live It, Learn It, Love It! When I was growing up my father was a huge jazz fan and I came to know at an early age who Benny and Duke were.  This month I hope to visit some of the events highlighting jazz around the National Mall.

To help guide me on my adventure, I discovered this useful website dedicated to the festivities.  It’s just JAMmed with cool things to do including interactive jazz classes featuring Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.

Jazz has influenced American culture for years, and to show its appreciation the Smithsonian Institution has put together a month-long schedule of events, exhibits, tours and classes for you to learn more about all that jazz.

Events, Exhibits and Extras

• Visiting or live in Washington DC? The DCist website covers local jazz events in their This Week in Jazz section. Take a look to see what’s going on in your neighborhood.
• Plan a trip to the Smithsonian American Art Museum for special gallery talk & tours exploring jazz-related works in the museums collection

Here at Smithsonian Channel we had a chance to talk with the talented Jazz Saxophonist Grey Osby as part of our series entitled Smithsonian Channel’s Sound Revolution.