There have been a lot of changes in the local music/arts/entertainment scenes over the last couple of years, and we’ve tried to point them out as best we could. Some get more attention than others, however.
We’ve written about places and events such as Songbirds Guitar Museum opening and becoming not only a tourist attraction but a live music venue, Moon River Music Festival selling out in eight hours, Walker Theatre getting updated and regularly selling out shows, but there are so many other things worth noting.
Barry CourterJazzanooga and the work Shane Morrow has been doing, for example. It’s one of the better stories in town, to be honest. Morrow had this crazy idea a few years ago to present a couple of shows highlighting the role jazz and local jazz musicians have had on the city and today it is a full-blown organization that works throughout the year.
It does workshops, presents shows, teaches classes, organizes events and generally focuses a spotlight the diverse arts and cultural aspects of our community. The work the organization has done with area youth is laudable on its own.
April is National Jazz Appreciation Month and Jazzanooga has put together JAMFest ’18 featuring a dozen or so special events beginning April 6 with The Vibe Sessions: Jazz Meets Hip Hop at the Camp House.