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Throughout April 2006, the National Museum of American History celebrated its fifth annual Jazz Appreciation Month with concerts, a poetry workshop, lectures, performances, a day of swing dancing, two new displays, and audio podcasts about jazz.
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Events
Highlights included two concerts by the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra. One featured the Smithsonian Associates-sponsored "From Harlem to Hollywood: Ella Fitzgerald"; the second highlighted the music of Oliver Nelson and Quincy Jones and was presented in association with the Blues Alley Jazz Society's Big Band JAM at the Sylvan Theater. There was a performance of Latin jazz and hip-hop sounds by two U.S. State Department-sponsored bands, JazzSabrosón and Opus Okoben; five concerts by U.S. military bands; and a day of swing dancing, in collaboration with the Washington, D.C., Lindy Exchange. Additional programs featured three lecture-conversations: jazz archivist Reuben Jackson delved into the sounds of the Claude Thornhill Orchestra; curator John Hasse presented an overview of Miles Davis; and NPR producer Felix Contreras riffed on Latin jazz percussion. A "Looking American" presentation by David Shayt on textile and clothing objects collected in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina included materials associated with the New Orleans jazz scene. A poetry workshop was open to middle and high school students. NPR's Tavis Smiley hosted an evening panel discussion at the Museum.
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Podcasts
The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation debuted "Prototype Online" a twice-monthly podcast series featuring inventors and innovators. In April the series focused on jazz, and highlighted the inventiveness of jazz musicians and composers. The free podcasts can be downloaded from invention.smithsonian.org or iTunes and listened to on computers or mp3 players.
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Exhibitions
From its extensive collections, the Archives Center displayed objects that focus on jazz and the radio. Selected new acquisitions from Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk were on view in Miles & Monk in addition to permanent presentations on Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald.
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National Partners
Key national partners for Jazz Appreciation Month in 2006 were Broadcast Music, Inc., the National Park Service, and the U.S. Department of Education, with support from 23 additional national arts and education associations.
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Media Partner in the Nation's Capital
The media partner in the nation’s capital was WAMU 88.5 FM, American University Radio.
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