April, 2015

"The Latin Connection In Jazz" has it's roots in the history of Afro-Cuban music through the Golden Era of Latin Music "When Mambo Was King" through today's continued blending of sounds from throughout the northern and southern hemispheres. This wide range of music will be explored through presentation by Chris and the music of Justo Almario, who was among several Colombian musicians recruited by Mongo Santamaria for his band in the 1970s, notably on the album, Afro–Indio (1975). Justo will be joined by Allan Phillips piano, Tommy Aros congas, and Fernando Gomez on Drums.

The students at Napoli learn about a wide variety of topics in the jazz realm, including scales, reading, theory, repertoire, and improvisation. Our jazz music lessons take our students through the greats, including Joplin and Gershwin. In preparation for Jazz Appreciation Month, the students were asked who some of their favorite artists were, then the staff worked to put it all together into the first Jazz 88.3 Guest Blog Post...at least that I know of ;) Jazz 88 has taken the YouTube video's selected by Napoli as illustrating each of the artists repertoire and put them into a playlist on the Jazz 88.3 YouTube Channel (SUBSCRIBE!). 

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Our annual Music Matters Instrument Drive is nearing an end! For the rest of the month of May, San Diegans can donate their used musical instruments to Jazz 88.3 and in turn, we will refurbish each instrument collected and distribute them among San Diego City School music programs. So dust off your old instrument(s) and swing by the Jazz 88.3 business office to drop 'em off (we're located in the L-Building on the City College campus) and help keep San Diego's youth musically-inspired!

San Diego’s Jazz 88.3 Jazz88.org has dedicated a gift from the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation to further the outreach of “Jazz An American Art Form” (JAAAF). JAAAF is a 45 minute presentation about the birth and development of Jazz and Blues, scaled for elementary and middle school students.  JAAAF was created by San Diegan and world-renowned bassist, Rob Thorsen and features a world-class lineup of San Diego musicians including Gilbert Castellanos trumpet, Bob Boss guitar, and Richard Sellers drums. Working with Young Audiences of San Diego, who schedules and places a variety of  enrichment programs for schools around the county, Jazz 88.3 underwrites a portion of the cost of JAAAF for Title I schools, schools that are often strapped financially.  

Ella Fitzgerald and San Diego have long and deep ties, from her earliest appearances here in the late 1930’s at venues like the Mission Beach Ballroom and through her celebrated accompanists who lived here and still make San Diego home.  And to keep the birthday celebration swinging, San Diego’s Jazz 88.3 on-air hosts share their thoughts on "Lady Ella" and will be curating some of their favorites tunes featuring the “Queen of Jazz” for you all day Saturday, April 25, the 98th Birthday of “The First Lady of Jazz” and in the weeks ahead. 

READ THE FULL ARTICLE for more on “Jazz An American Art Form”, Ella’s ties to San Diego, and thoughts and favorites from your Jazz 88.3 On-Air Hosts and Staff.

Heads-up Jazz Jam lovers: OUR SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ JAM is TAKING A BREAK. We hope to continue this ALL-AGES good-time at a new location in the near future. We will keep you posted.

Proud Mary’s Southern Bar and Grill at the Ramada Inn on Kearny Mesa and San Diego’s Jazz and Blues 88.3 are bringing San Diego’s Finest authentic southern breakfast eats and Live Blues Music together for Sunday’s Best Blues Brunch, with the inaugural hit on Sunday, April 21, 2015 from 11am to 3pm. Proud Mary’s owner and chef Michael Jacobs will be creating all new menu items for the Brunch including such items as Grandma's Picnic Basket with Fried Chicken, Hangover Helper with Chicken Fried Steak, unique “Benedicts” with Grandma’s recipe scratch Potato Pancakes, Graceland Fosters Waffles, and the Proud Mary’s Bloody Brunch. The Blues music will be LIVE with Blues music by harmonica, guitar, bass, drum, singer (whew!) Jon Atkinson with his Allstar Jammers kicking it off, continuing the new sensation that is the Jazz 88.3 Blues Jam each Wednesday evening at Proud Mary’s, with Jazz 88.3 On-Air Host J Otis Williams presiding over the Sunday Brunch festivities too! 

READ THE FULL ARTICLE for more brunch menu items and information on this great partnership between San Diego’s #1 place for Southern cuisine with Live Blues Music and San Diego’s #1 Jazz and Blues 24/7 Music Station!