independence and improvisation, and energy; all of which are hallmarks of American ideals.
Today, Jazz is one of our country's most sought-after international exports, with its language being "spoken" by people around the world. Jazz, emanating from America, has become world music. It is the music of the twenty-first century. South Florida JAZZ is committed to perpetuating jazz in these particular ways:
Offering performance venues for musicians, local, regional, national, and international, whom we regard as treasured talents.
Nurturing the next generation of jazz musicians and enthusiasts by active educational and live performance programs.
Networking with other cultural arts organizations to expose larger numbers of people to serious jazz music of various styles.
Encouraging performance opportunities for non-professional musicians for pleasure and skill-enhancement.
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| Pat Metheny |
Overview
South Florida JAZZ is South Florida's premier jazz organization serving the Keys, Miami, Miami Beach, Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, and the Palm Beaches and is celebrating its Platinum anniversary (20 years).
South Florida JAZZ was founded as a non-profit organization in 1991 to
produce the Hollywood Jazz Festival for the City of Hollywood. In 1996 it created a seasonal concert series, which progressively has grown in stature because of the high-caliber talent that it features from around the globe.
The Hollywood Jazz Festival was suspended in 2005 and replaced by an annual Anniversary Concert that showcases exceptional artists. In 2010 that artist was 13-time Grammy Award-winning pianist Chick Corea.
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| Paquito D'Rivera |
The principal educational objective of this organization is to inculcate an understanding of the importance of America's classical music, jazz, in students in the Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade county public school systems. It is an established fact that children exposed to formal music show superior academic achievement.
South Florida JAZZ, Inc (SFJ) produces a seasonal monthly concert series preceded by either a lecture/demonstration by a jazz artist or educator or a "Meet the Artist" question and answer period that allows the audience to ask historical and other jazz-related questions relative to the featured artists. In addition, it has been a contributing sponsor of the Broward Library Foundation's "Books 'n' Bears" program providing live musical performances, stuffed animals, and books to Title I children during the Holiday.
Further, SFJ is a sponsor of free student workshops, clinics, master classes, and concerts produced in conjunction with the Frost School of Music at University of Miami, Florida International University Jazz Studies Department, the New World School of the Arts, a magnet school in Miami-Dade County, and most recently, the Broward College Jazz Studies program. There is active collaboration with BC for the future with scheduled workshops and concerts on the BC campus facilities.
SFJ encourages visiting artists to give master classes and clinics to collegiate and high school music students. Previous participants in this program include Gerry Mulligan, Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Lovano, Bob Mintzer, Arturo Sandoval, Randy Brecker, Joe Henderson, Paquito D'Rivera, Don Menza and Paul Wertico. This is an ongoing program to introduce music students to elite professionals.
We recognize that jazz developed from African and European influences and grew with our country. It captured the spirit of the nation through its melding of cultures; its independence, improvisation, and energy; all of which are hallmarks of American ideals.
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| Chick Corea |
SFJ uses these lecture/demonstrations as a springboard for further opportunities to listen to Jazz music as entertainment. SFJ brings educators and first-rate professional musicians to the schools to accomplish its goals.
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