From the sultry sounds of Nina Simone to the scat of Al Jarreau to the melodic tones of Joe Sample tickling the ivories on the piano, jazz in all its many colors has a wide range of admirers. April is Jazz Appreciation Month and KTSU-FM has an array of activities lined up.
“Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) is an international celebration created in 2001 to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary heritage and history of jazz by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History,” said KTSU General Manager Ernest Walker.
“KTSU has been in the community for over 45 years and jazz is the dominant genre on this station located on the campus of Texas Southern University. It’s the number one source for jazz in the Houston and surrounding area.”
The radio station’s celebration includes a daily on-air salute of jazz artists along with free and paid concerts at Discovery Green Park, Emancipation Park and the House of Blues during April.
The role KTSU plays in the celebration has special meaning.
“Many nationally known jazz musicians came from TSU such as the Crusaders, Kirk Whalum, Bobbi Humphrey and Joe Sample, just to name a few,” Walker said.
KTSU is not your ordinary jazz station. We are a public radio station that informs, educates and inspires people through the variety of musical programming.
“We give our audience the entire musical experience of jazz, including be-bop, contemporary, Latin jazz and much more,” he said. “KTSU leaves no jazz category unturned when it comes to the American art form we love.”
For more information about activities visit www.ktsuradio.com.