Jazz on the Move at the Frist Art Museum is a free community program presented by Nashville Jazz Workshop that blends live performances and engaging education on an influential artist of the genre. The event series, now celebrating 20 years, begins this Sunday (January 18) with two other events on February 15 and March 29.
The series will kick off with trumpeter Rod McGaha presenting on Miles Davis followed by instructor of jazz voice at Vanderbilt University Vineecia Buchanan doing a presentation on legendary jazz singer Carmen McRae, and will wrap up with keyboardist and bandleader Ty Bailie presenting on Dr. Lonnie Smith. David Rogers, executive and artistic director at the National Jazz Workshop, says audiences can expect maybe 70 percent performance and 30 percent lecture in this format.
“What it does is it illustrates each of this great jazz legends, probably most people have heard of Miles Davis but maybe many have not heard of Carmen McRae or Dr. Lonnie Smith,” he said. “But in any case, people get the opportunity to hear both musically but also historically, get some biographical information, some anecdotes. There’s often mixed media with projections of pictures, videos, interviews from when each of these artists were alive if they’re deceased. It gives the audience just a unique perspective through the lens of a performer and also an educator. There are not a lot of places you can go to learn from such high-quality educators and performers.”
He continues: “Rod McGaha is a trumpet legend and he’s presenting on a trumpet legends. Sometimes people don’t understand who these performers are and all the people they’ve played with. I think it’s just a unique, free program that people get to access world-class, top-of-the-line education and music in a time where that’s becoming more and more scarce. So I hope people take advantage of it. It’s free and it’s family-friendly, I’ve got two young kids and they enjoy it.“
Thursday night (Jan 15) WNXP Trivia is back at The Blue Room and Atomsphere’s Winter Carnival tour stops at Brooklyn Bowl. At the same venue on Friday (Jan 16) and Saturday (Jan 17) Zach Fox takes the stage and also on Saturday Ruston Kelly performs at the Ryman. Sunday (Jan 18) there’s a tribute to Todd Snider at the OG Basement and the final Sunday Night Soul is at the 5 Spot.
