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2nd Annual South Florida Jazz Summit
James Chism
Vice President, Jazzonian
Event Chair
2012 South Florida Jazz Summit
Observations from this year’s South Florida Jazz Summit ranged from enthusiastic to wildly ecstatic! The SFJS is an exciting yearly educational and networking conference plus expo for jazz businesses, organizations and jazz enthusiasts. It features educational panel discussions, performances by area professional musicians & school ensembles, and boasts seminars and workshops relating to the music and the business.
Never has there been an area gathering of this type until the first South Florida Jazz Summit in 2011. This year’s summit was much broader in its scope and mastery of topic. From Sammy Figueroa (regarded as one of the world's great musicians) to Dr. Tim Walters of Florida Atlantic University; from Professor David Gibble of Palm Beach College to the Jazzonian Young Jazz Leaders Honors Band conducted by Christopher Dorsey, Director of the Dillard Center for the Arts Jazz Band. There was also an accent on women in jazz featuring a lecture and concert by Joan Cartwright, Executive Director of Women in Jazz South Florida, Inc.
A unique feature of the Summit was the myriad of artwork on display throughout the venue--framed prints, art and photographs highlighting the 20th Century's Golden Age of Jazz. Most notable were portraits of famous jazz musicians like New Orleans coronet master King Oliver and his Creole Jazz band, Louis Armstrong, Tito Puente, Dexter Gordon, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Mario Bauz, Miles Davis, and many others. There were photographs from Herman Leonard, William P. Gottlieb, Art Kane, Ted Williams and local photographer Russell Levin; original paintings by the late Charles Mills and internationally-renowned Jazz and Latin American singing sensation Maria Rivas; and adding to the visual experience, interactive items like record LPs with liner notes, books on jazz, and the sights and sounds from great jazz music videos.
One of the things that made my experience singularly great was sitting in on an informative discussion about Jaco Pastorius and his influence on jazz. Moderated by jazz journalist Bob Weinberg (Jazziz Magazine, JazzBluesFlorida), the panel was comprised of radio personality and WLRN producer Ed Bell, and jazz bassists Rick Doll and Carl "Kilmo" Pacillo. They explained at length Pastorius’ ideology toward the bass and the music. Rick Doll then performed onstage demonstrating Pastorius’ effect in real-time.
The South Florida Jazz Summit is a fundraising event produced yearly by Jazzonian, the Jazz Museum of Florida, Inc. All proceeds from this event go to the Jazzonian Young Jazz Leaders Scholarship initiative and community outreach jazz education programs. Scholarships were awarded this year to two deserving members of the 2011-2012 Young Jazz Leaders Honors Band.
Jazzonian was founded by musician/philanthropist Bobby Ramirez in 2009 as an educational cultural arts museum initiative. During a conversation last year, Bobby intimated that this was and continues to be an audacious undertaking; however it’s a labor of love. His depth of commitment is impressive and greatly lends itself to the future of jazz in South Florida.
On a final note, it has been especially satisfying to witness firsthand the emergence of the South Florida Jazz Summit and it’s significance on the region. The Jazzonian volunteers are comprised of a team of gregarious, energetic and knowledgeable people with a strong desire to be of service to jazz. It’s the dedication of people which will continue to establish the summit as a positive force for jazz in years to come.
Sincerely,
James Chism
Vice President, Jazz Museum of Florida, Inc.
(dba Jazzonian and South Florida Jazz Summit)
james@jazzonian.org
561-445-7780
Empowering the Next Generation of Jazz Musicians at the 2012
South Florida Jazz SummitYoung Jazz Leaders Honors Band Program
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"I am" short film presentation premiered at the 2nd Annual South Florida Jazz Summit. Watch it and be inspired.
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Letter from the Founder and President of Jazzonian: Bobby Ramirez
Sun-Sentinel Article
Nonprofit Working to Create Young
Jazz Leaders ScholarshipSouth Florida Jazz Profile Archive
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