Jazzanooga
Gregory PorterWHAT’S ON TAPFor full schedule and more information, visit: www.jazzanooga.org.Jazz U(niversity)What: An interactive online educational social media platform.When: April 3, 10, 17, 24.Where: Online.To participate: ovee.itvs.org/screenings.Extra: Free and family friendly.Downtown Jazz at the Waterhouse PavilionWhat: Live music featuring Chattanooga Community College Jazz Ensemble, Youth Academy All-Stars and Chattanooga’s Jazz Divas.When: 12:30-2 p.m. April 4, 11, 25.Where: Waterhouse Pavilion, 850 Market St.Admission: Free.Jazz on the Southern Belle RiverboatWhat: A dinner cruise with music provided by local musicians.When: 7-9 p.m. April 12.Where: Southern Belle Riverboat, 201 Riverfront Parkway, Pier 2.Admission: $42.95 includes cruise, dinner, tax, tip and music. For more information, visit chattanoogariverboat.com/imscart/index.php?page= shop/events_calendar.Jazz on the BluffWhat: Start at Rembrandt’s Coffeehouse Outdoor Patio from 10:30 a.m. to noon, then move to the Hunter Museum of American Art from noon to 4 p.m. Scheduled to perform are Tim Hughes Quartet, Normal Park Jazz Band, UTC Jazz Ensemble, The Undoctored Originals and Youth Academy All-Stars.When: 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. April 6Admission: Free.Living Jazz SeriesWhat: Live music from Dexter Bell Trio.When: 5:30-7 p.m. April 6.Where: Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave.Admission: $10 adults, $5 students.Phone: 624-5347.Boulevard HubWhat: A mini educational center featuring a community music listening lab, Jazzanooga event info and the photography exhibit “The Fine Art of Jazz.”When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 7-27.Where: Bessie Smith Cultural Center, 200 E. M.L. King Blvd.Admission: $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, $3 ages 6-12, free 5 and under.Phone: 266-8658.Information: www.bessiesmithcc.org/visit.JazzReach Featuring Metta QuintetWhat: Concert by Metta Quintet, the official resident ensemble of the JazzReach Performing Arts & Education Association Inc., a leading arts-education organization.When: 11 a.m. April 11 free school performance; 6:30 p.m. public performance.Where: Bessie Smith Cultural Center Performance Hall, 200 E. M.L. King Blvd.Admission: $10 adults, $5 children/students.Phone: 266-8658.Extra: JazzReach will also perform a free concert for school-age youth from Hamilton County Department of Education, charter schools and area home schools. To order tickets, e-mail jazzanooga@gmail.com.Information: For information and evening performance tickets, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/jazzanooga-presents-jazzreach-featuring-metta-quintet-tickets-10564299103#.Gospel Meets JazzWhat: An evening of the local gospel and jazz.When: 5:30 p.m. April 13.Where: Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave.Admission: $1.Information: barkinglegs.org.Jazz on the GrassWhen: 6 p.m. April 21.Where: Whiteside Park, 756 E. M.L. King Blvd.Admission: Free.Jazz at Memo’sWhat: Live music and chopped wieners, sausage and barbecue at one of M.L. King Boulevard’s iconic eateries.When: 6 p.m. April 24.Where: Memo’s, 430 E. M.L. King Blvd.Admission: Free.Edible JazzWhat: An Evening with Michael Twitty. Nationally renowned food historian and culinary blogger will host a community lecture and cooking demonstration on Edible Jazz and the importance of tradition, nature and availability of ingredients in black and Southern cultures.When: 5:30 p.m. April 24.Where: Dish T’Pass, 302 W. Sixth St. (Inside Chattanooga Workspace).Admission: $25.Tickets and information: www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=9913674066.ConcertWhat: Jazzanooga Presents Lalah Hathaway and Ruben Studdard.When: 8 p.m. April 25.Where: Tivoli Theater, 709 Broad St.Admission: $55.Tickets and information: chattanooga onstage.com/events/jazzanooga-2014-lalah-hathaway-ruben-studdard.JazzWalk 2014What: Parade/celebration featuring a kids’ creative area, jazz yoga, a CD exchange, jazz Zumba and performances by Tennessee State University Jazz Collegians, University of Tennessee Knoxville Trombone Ensemble, Sweet Georgia Sounds, 9th Street Stompers, Youth Academy All-Stars.When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. April 26.Where: Parade begins at Whiteside Park, 756 E. M.L. King Blvd. and ends at Bessie Smith Cultural Center.ConcertWhat: Jazzanooga Presents Gregory Porter and Avery Sunshine.When: 6:30 p.m. April 27.Where: Kirk Walker Community Theater, 399 McCallie Ave.Tickets and information: chattanoogaonstage.com/events/jazzanooga-2014-gregory-porter.
The late Bessie Smith is known the world over as the Empress of the Blues, but she was also well known in jazz circles back in the day. Likewise, jazz aficionados will likely know about the late Wilfred Middlebrooks, but his name is not nearly as famous outside the jazz world.
Both were born in Chattanooga, and both had remarkable careers. It’s Middlebrooks’ bass, for instance, that you hear on Ella Fitzgerald’s Grammy-winning live recording of “Mack the Knife” in 1960 from the album “Ella in Berlin.”
Shane Morrow is a jazz fan and community advocate who wants Chattanoogans to know about musicians like Smith and Middlebrooks, but also about people like Booker T. Scruggs and Dexter Bell, who are alive and well and playing jazz locally on a regular basis.
To accomplish his goal, Morrow has created the Jazzanooga Festival, a month-long celebration featuring almost two dozen events including food, educational elements and, of course, music. Many are free and most are open to families. April is Jazz Appreciation Month, so the timing seemed right, Morrow says.