Jazz is the only unhampered, unhindered, expression of complete freedom yet produced in this country — Duke Ellington.
“Culturally, jazz is really America’s greatest contribution to the world of art.”
Over the course of a week, the Coastal Jazz Association celebrates this fundamentally American genre, offering free concerts and jam sessions to the city of Savannah.
And the city is a perfect venue for jazz music, as it is as diverse as the art form itself.
District spoke with Skjp Jennings, president of the Coastal Jazz Association, about the importance of sharing jazz with the community.
“We feel very strongly about how the Jazz Festival brings the community together because, with the lone exception with the St. Patrick’s Day parade, there is no event in Savannah that brings together such a large and diverse crowd of people.”
Without diversity, Jazz would never have become as internationally popular as it is today. And with its reputation continuing to stand the test of time, it has become even more important that the next generation become acquainted with Jazz.
“It’s a cultural thing you know that parts of our mission really is to spread the love of Jazz, spread knowledge of Jazz, all these things so that we forward the cause of jazz.”
Music break.
That’s 15-year-old Andreas Varady. The Slovakian born guitar prodigy headlining this year’s Savannah Jazz Festival.
“I’ve been practicing since I was four. I travel all over the place like I come to the states Europe of course, like everywhere.”
Varady insists, however, that he is your average teenager.
“I feel just like everybody else and I actually don’t feel like I’m missing out on stuff, but I think I’m getting more stuff because I get to go everywhere in the world but yeah, I mean everything is the same. I get to do my hobbies and anything I like to do.”
The America in which Jazz was conceived has changed, immensely. The Duke’s, Monk’s, and Basie’s have given way to the Martino’s, Mehldau’s, and well, Varady’s.
To keep the legacy going, to help it to thrive, the CJA visited a number of public and private schools throughout the week, teaching, answering questions, and, more importantly, playing.
On September 23, the Jazz Festival began at Blowin’ Smoke, which has served as the spot for events leading up to, and immediately following, the larger concerts held at Forsyth Park.
“And you know there’s a lot of logistical stuff that has to be done particularly for the main three days in the park.”
Jennings admits that the show that audiences see is one that has taken a great deal of pre-planning.
“It’s really a year round effort I can tell you when next years’ festival is already it’s already going on, the planning for it.”
This has been Shannon Craig reporting for District.
