Jazz In Our Community
It’s time to get back to the rhythm of things after summer! To us, back to school doesn’t just mean the start to a new school year, but the idea that we can take ourselves “back to school” at any point in our lives to seek experiences that lead us to expand our horizons long after graduation. Columbus Jazz believes in the indispensable need for lifelong musical opportunities and music education that extends beyond the traditional classroom.
Throughout the year, Columbus Jazz partners with the Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) to offer free performances at various branches, engaging our Greater Columbus community with fun, casual shows. Several performances by the Columbus Youth Jazz students are held at the CML Main Branch in the heart of downtown Columbus including semester end performances and summer camp final performances. CML Main Branch also partners with Columbus Jazz at the summer PBJ & Jazz family-oriented shows held just behind the library at the Topiary Park.
During the colder months, PBJ & Jazz is hosted at the Lincoln Theatre Ballroom. These concerts are family favorites, aimed towards kids aged 2–8 but are open to those of all ages. Kids enjoy a peanut butter and jelly sandwich while listening and dancing along with an interactive concert curated for young listeners. Families are encouraged to get out of their seats to dance and even sing along with the band.
For adults eager for opportunities to listen to jazz beyond the big stages of the Southern and Lincoln Theatres, Columbus Jazz brings bi-monthly jam sessions to Natalie’s Music Hall and Kitchen in Grandview. These lively programs follow the tradition of open performances known as jam sessions, where professional and amateur musicians alike perform tunes together.
Audience members are encouraged to sit back and enjoy the show, or for the jazz cats in the crowd, sit in with the band for a tune. Jazz as a genre is uniquely participatory and approachable, and the jam sessions embody this tradition and offer local musicians the chance to play with Columbus Jazz musicians.
Not a pro but still interested in keeping up your jazz chops? The Columbus Jazz Community Band (CJCB) offers a big band experience for adult musicians excited to make music outside of a professional setting. CJCB rehearses for two hours on select Wednesday evenings with concerts three times a year, making it accessible to many busy adults.
One CJCB member writes, “Playing in this band has been a dream come true. After not playing for 40 + years, I am so happy to have found the Jazz Academy when I first got to C’bus in 2009. This experience has made my life better.”
Jazz was born in community and continues to be a focal point of the art form. Columbus Jazz is committed to celebrating this tradition, bringing jazz to music lovers in all walks of life and levels of musicianship.
Support for our community jazz programming is gratefully accepted through our online giving platform or by following mailing instructions. Interested in legacy giving or sponsorship opportunities? Please reach out to Kelly Hebblethwaite Johnson, VP of Development. We’re eager to hear what inspires you and work with you to make your giving priorities a reality!