The entire month of April is dedicated to the great cultural achievements of jazz musicians who provide a powerful voice in uniting people across the world that made statement about freedom, creativity, and American identity.

The National Museum of American History designated April as Jazz Appreciation Month, otherwise known as JAM. JAM sponsors a number of programs to promote jazz, including concerts, lectures, educational materials and exhibitions. JAM is celebrated in 40 nations and in each state of America, but its primary home is in Washington, D.C.

April was chosen for JAM, now in its fifteenth year, in recognition of the birthdays of some jazz greats such as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Gerry Mulligan and Tito Puente, as well as drawing greater public attention to the heritage and history of jazz music and its importance to American culture. The freedom and creativity jazz music owns transformed America and inspired other music genres around the world.Throughout the month, the Internet, museums and community programs will feature jazz cultural history highlights, musical performances, stories, programs and productions. International Jazz Day is April 30 and the day is used to provide platforms for individuals and communities to explore the principals of jazz music.

Jazz is known for its roots in New Orleans, with it being one of the only genres to start in the Western world. Jazz roots back to the era of slavery within the United States and across the Americas, but unlike in the rest of the Americas, slaves here were allowed to own drums. Even though there can be a disagreement as to when Jazz was first born, there is an agreement that Jazz was not invented because it’s alive, it grows, it dies and it changes but remains the same.

“Before Rock n’ Roll, Jazz was the modern popular music, and it was very true in the 1940s and has had its influence in rock and modern pop artist,” Joshua Hollenbeck, a professor in the music department, said. “For example, if you go to an orchestra everyone plays the exact same thing every time, but in jazz players can take an improvised solo because of their knowledge of the song. No other musical styles give room for freedom and play outside of the box like jazz.”

Freshman nursing major from Houston, Texas Veronica Villafranco has been a fan of jazz music since her freshman year of high school. Villafranco played the clarinet in her high school band for four years and also played during several school musicals and other performances.

“Jazz music has a way of soothing me when I’m stressed,” Villafranco said. “I like to listen to it before games or while I’m studying because it calms me down and helps me think.”
Madison Jeffrey, freshman biology major from Groveton, Texas, said she enjoys listening to jazz music because it makes her feel like she is back in that time period when times were tough and the musicians expressed that through their music.

“I have a lot of respect for the ones that made something of themselves during that time,” Jeffrey said. “Louis Armstrong is probably my favorite jazz musician because you can kind of feel what he was feeling at the time when he recorded his songs.”

Jazz appreciation, however, encompasses so much more than recognition of these iconic artists and it relies upon educators, societies, libraries, museums and musicians from across the country to promote and teach this unique cultural expression.

“I have a lot of respect for jazz musicians in general. They are the ones responsible for kick-starting the music that we have today because a lot of artists use it for inspiration,” Jeffrey said.

Sophomore psychology major from Folsom, Louisiana Hannah Naquin said that although she does not listen to jazz music very often, it makes her think about the rich cultural influence it has on Louisiana in general.

“When I hear jazz music it makes me think about things like steamboats rolling down the Mississippi or parades going down the streets of New Orleans,” Naquin said.

Nicholls State University has their own jazz band that performs in high school events and at college events. They will be hosting a performance today at the 7 p.m. in Lindsley Hall.