Jazz in the Hills

Jazz in the Hills is committed to preserving and sustaining the improvisational art form of jazz. To preserve the music we present weekly concerts featuring musicians who have mastered the art of improvisation. We sustain the art form through education in schools and during concerts. Stories behind the music make it memorable and meaningful.  Financial support and workshops help students learn to hear the language that is jazz.The majority of the musicians who perform at Jazz in the Hills concerts are College level teachers. Their day job is to teach students how to play the instruments in solo and ensemble settings and to understand the history and theory of jazz music. They promote the mastery of the techniques, patterns and music theory that create the sounds of jazz. Most importantly, these musicians can and do perform this improvisational musical style professionally where and when they have the opportunity. Performances are as essential to learning music as hearing a spoken language is essential to learning the language. Reading about art or language or music does little to give it meaning. It is essential to provide an outlet for live performance of the art. Jazz is a language and art of sound and is meant to be heard.Jazz in the Hills provides a unique outlet for performance of traditional jazz. While pop music venues are common, the number of Jazz venues is rapidly diminishing. Our mission to preserve jazz means teaching and demonstrating the skills required for improvised jazz music. Our mission to sustain jazz means bringing this music in the form of workshops to younger students (K-12) who would be unlikely to ever be exposed to the music.Through these two interwoven methods of public performance and teaching we will create an environment where the original musical art form can be presented and heard, taught and learned, preserved and sustained.