By Patty Endres MA/ LED; Garden Square at Westlake Assisted Living
Jazz is a form of music that is American, but its roots are said to have come from New Orleans. is large port city that has an influx of many different types of people has influenced this music’s beginnings. African Americans and Europeans have brought both the feel and harmony to this music form about 100 years ago. Individual improvisation is part of this genre which highlights individual skills during a performance.
What could be more appropriate than attending the 46th annual UNC/Greeley Jazz Festival?
The UNC/Greeley Jazz Festival, Presented by Jamey Tebersold will be held April 21 – 23, 2016.
The largest event of its kind in the nation, the festival, “brings together internationally recognized artists, jazz lovers, award-winning clinicians, and over 250 college, high school, and middle school big bands, combos, and jazz vocal groups from across the country. Each year, over 8,000 participants enjoy the main stage concerts, after-hours sessions, daytime performances, and the many educational workshop sessions. The Festival is a non-competitive educational and cultural facet of the UNC Jazz Studies Program, the UNC School of Music and the College of Performing and Visual Arts that furthers the University of Northern Colorado’s mission of lifelong learning and commitment to service.” (http://arts.unco.edu/music/jazz_festival/)
This year the featured artists include New York Voices, The Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, The Ellis Marsalis Trio and jazz organist Joey DeFrancesco. The UNC Lab Bands will of course, be there, as well as other college, high school and junior high bands displaying their love affair with Jazz.
There are a variety of venues during the 3 days of the festival in Greeley, many of them are free, especially the junior high and high school jazz concerts that generally perform during the day.
So if you’re not sure you care for Jazz, maybe this could be a good time for you to explore the different sounds of this interesting musical sound. Look at the website or call UNC at 970-351-2394 for a schedule of events.
Photo by Chris Carroll