If jazz were to have a birthday, it might as well be in July. But official birth date or not, the University of Massachusetts' Amherst campus is once again offering their annual celebration “Jazz in July," a two-week program that brings students together with notable jazz musicians and educators for lectures, one-on-one sessions, group clinics, improvisation training, and even live shows. Running from July 11-22, Administrative Director L. Frank Newton discussed the origins of “Jazz in July."
Q: When did “Jazz in July" begin?
A: “Jazz in July" as we know began in 1981. There was a one-week program that started in 1978 that would eventually become “Jazz in July."
Q: Who created “Jazz in July"?
A: “Jazz in July" was created by Dr. Frederick Tillis when he was a professor in the department of music and dance and on his way to becoming the director of the UMass Fine Arts Center.
Q: What was the process like in getting the university to get behind it?
A: I know there were some struggles to get the university behind the program. Jazz was still fairly new to the music department in those days and there was not a lot of funding for such an endeavor. Unfortunately, I cannot speak on the specific struggles that “Jazz in July" faced in its infancy.
Q: What are some of the memorable or notable events in the history of “Jazz in July"?
A: “Jazz in July" has played host to some of the most influential jazz artists of all time. Artist such as Max Roach, Sheila Jordan, Yusef Lateef, Dr. Billy Taylor, and many more have been faculty for our program. Just having artists such as this grace our stages is a notable event.
Q: Why was July chosen to hold this special program? Was there any significance behind that decision?
A: It was probably more a logistical decision than any. There was a connection to the “Bright Moments" concert series that was always held in July. Other than the “Bright Moments" connection, I am not aware of any significance behind choosing July as the month.
Q: When did “Jazz in July" begin?
A: “Jazz in July" as we know began in 1981. There was a one-week program that started in 1978 that would eventually become “Jazz in July."
Q: Who created “Jazz in July"?
A: “Jazz in July" was created by Dr. Frederick Tillis when he was a professor in the department of music and dance and on his way to becoming the director of the UMass Fine Arts Center.
Q: What was the process like in getting the university to get behind it?
A: I know there were some struggles to get the university behind the program. Jazz was still fairly new to the music department in those days and there was not a lot of funding for such an endeavor. Unfortunately, I cannot speak on the specific struggles that “Jazz in July" faced in its infancy.
Q: What are some of the memorable or notable events in the history of “Jazz in July"?
A: “Jazz in July" has played host to some of the most influential jazz artists of all time. Artist such as Max Roach, Sheila Jordan, Yusef Lateef, Dr. Billy Taylor, and many more have been faculty for our program. Just having artists such as this grace our stages is a notable event.
Q: Why was July chosen to hold this special program? Was there any significance behind that decision?
A: It was probably more a logistical decision than any. There was a connection to the “Bright Moments" concert series that was always held in July. Other than the “Bright Moments" connection, I am not aware of any significance behind choosing July as the month.
