Jazz Appreciation Month 2023
13th April 2023
13th April 2023
April is Jazz Appreciation Month and is the perfect time to celebrate Jazz on The Pantiles; the extremely popular and award-winning event that takes place annually between the months of May and September.
Jazz Appreciation Month was established with the aim to raise awareness of the phenomena that is jazz music; one of America’s most popular cultural achievements and global exports. Regardless of age or gender, jazz can and does appeal to everyone and often becomes a lifelong passion for fans.
During the month of appreciation, people are encouraged to attend jazz concerts, learn how to play musical instruments or simply listen to jazz at home or in the car. Simply search for Jazz FM on your radio.
Jazz originated from New Orleans in Louisiana, but its roots can be found in the musical traditions of both Africa and Europe.
The word ‘jazz’ actually derives from a Creole word that means African dance, but also refers to a form of dance that first appeared in a March 1913 edition of the San Francisco Bulletin.
This appearance expedited jazz’s appeal and cemented it as a popular music genre associated with dancing and nightlife.
Jazz on The Pantiles takes place on the bandstand in the centre of The Pantiles every Thursday night throughout the summer months. This year it kicks off on Thursday 4th May!
The weekly shows have attracted an array of local, national and international talent over time, with the audience being just as diverse. Performers have included The Skatonics, Spice Fusion, Derek Nash, The Vince Dunn Orchestra and many more.
In the past, Jazz on The Pantiles has won awards – most notably in the Tourism Event/Festival of the Year category at The Beautiful South Awards, securing a silver. Nigel Smith, Chief Executive of Tourism South East commented: “Achieving excellence isn’t easy – it takes vision, years of commitment and a lot of hard work from talented people.”
The first event of Jazz on The Pantiles for 2023 is planned for Thursday 4th May, where we’ll be welcoming Dino and Darby. Dino Baptiste is a highly energetic pianist, vocalist and entertainer from London. Now residing in Birmingham, Dino has strong links to Blues, Boogie Woogie & Rock & Roll as well as performing mainstream classics & current cover songs. His influences revolve around three idols since a teenager – Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis & Ray Charles.
Other performances next month are:
11th May: The Fabulous Red Diesel
The Fabulous Red Diesel will be serving up totally original off the wall jazz-fusion; think funky mayhem, flute and sparkly tuba soul!
18th May: The Simon Spillett Quartet
Over his 25-year career, Simon has been a multi-award-winning instrumentalist, quartet and big band leader, recording artist, record producer, magazine columnist and more! However, he identifies most strongly as a powerful tenor saxophonist. The Guardian describes Simon Spillett as “Straight-ahead, high-energy jazz… he does it with aplomb.”
25th May: Sue Rivers & Quartet
Sue Rivers is known for her musicality, her natural, mellow tone and the sheer emotion she pours into her performance, delighting audiences wherever she sings.
Be sure to keep an eye on our social media pages and our website for details of further Jazz on The Pantiles events. It’s set to be a toe-tapping season!