The advent of jazz music was rife with complexities. It sparked a sense of identity, style and social cohesion within the African American community, yet the artistic constraints many musicians experienced led the genre to become a symbol of racial segregation. Today, this iconic genre holds an enduring legacy as one of America’s greatest art forms. And to keep this legacy burning, for the past 36 years, the Los Angeles Jazz Society has brought free, interactive jazz education concerts to local elementary schools in celebration of Black History Month.
The Los Angeles Jazz Society presents its Jazz in Schools program to schools that have lost many or all of their music programs. This year, more than 24,000 children from more than 40 Los Angeles Unified School District elementary schools are experiencing the rich history, culture, style and trail-blazing artists behind jazz.
Following a two-year pandemic pause, Bobby Rodriguez, Charles Owens and Ryan Cross will perform three jazz combos almost daily throughout February. Rodriguez, Owens and Cross are well-known and highly respected jazz educators and musicians, bringing excitement and expertise to the stage.
As students dance and clap to the rhythm of the saxophone, the Jazz in Schools program honors the role that jazz plays in African American culture while highlighting its influence on American culture. Each combo spotlights a woman and a Spanish-speaking player, bridging the connection with Latin Jazz and demonstrating the inclusive nature of this art form.
An increasing number of L.A. schools are experiencing budget and program cuts, or losing their art programs altogether. With Jazz in Schools, more children will have the opportunity to experience the creative and expressive outlet that is performing and visual arts. To include the entire city in an equitable way, the benefiting schools are selected by city council districts with three schools in each district. A few of the upcoming school concerts include Monlux, Compton Avenue, Barton Hill and Sylmar elementary schools.
To learn more, visit lajazz.org or call 818-566-7982 for the complete concert schedule.