By 
August 21, 2023
World-renowned trumpeter and vocalist Louis Armstrong once said, “If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.”
Every fall since 2015, Huntsville residents have flocked to Jazz in the Park–Huntsville to experience the magic that Armstrong described so many years ago.
This year’s free September concert series at Big Spring Park will be no different.
Beyond words
Experts say learning to read music is akin to learning a new language – but the sounds and rhythms that make up jazz are something everyone can understand.
“To Americans, jazz is an original genre of music,” said Kenny Anderson, Director of the City’s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (ODEI), which hosts Jazz in the Park. “It’s a form of music that has been celebrated for many, many years.”
Dr. Matt Leder, showband leader at Calhoun Community College, plays his trumpet at the 2023 Jazz in the Park announcement earlier this year.
The genre finds its roots in New Orleans in the late 19th century. At that time, musicians were fusing elements of blues, ragtime and even marches to create a wholly unique sound. The genre went international in 1914 with acts like Jelly Roll Morton and Buddy Bolden taking center stage.
Today, jazz can be heard in venues across the globe. However, the sounds heard here in Huntsville are just as powerful as those on the world’s biggest stages.
Celebrating community
Anderson said diversity is a key component of making Jazz in the Park successful.
“From a cultural perspective, jazz has the capacity to reach lots of different people,” he said. “You can easily go to jazz concerts like ours and see a diverse group of people who really appreciate the diversity of the instruments and vocalists.”
Anderson says jazz crowds lean older and more mature, but the genre can be enjoyed by everyone. He said jazz breaks barriers and allows listeners to reflect on their individual musical journeys.
It’s what differentiates Jazz in the Park from other concert series.
“What makes Jazz in the Park unique is that you have Grammy award-winning artists performing on stage for free,” Anderson said. “All because of the gratitude of a community that appreciates and understands why it’s important to have access to quality events like this.”
Even if you’re a newcomer to the genre, Jazz in the Park is a chance to connect with community members, learn about ODEI efforts in Huntsville and feel the excitement that comes with welcoming new folks to town.
Mayor Tommy Battle, ODEI Director Kenny Anderson, Dr. Matt Leder, Music Officer Matt Mandrella and Cynthia Joiner pose for a photo at the 2023 Jazz in the Park announcement.
Building a legacy
The late Bernard Lockhart, founder of Birmingham’s Jazz in the Park, alongside Anderson, brought his gift to Huntsville in 2015.
The first year, Jazz in the Park was one evening with two artists performing to about 800 people. Today, the bar is set higher with four nights of music every Sunday in September.
More than 60 artists have traveled to the Rocket City since the first concert. Some of the high-profile names even reach out to Anderson to perform – and they get a chance to pass along their expertise while they’re here.
Every year, ODEI identifies select area schools to host masterclass sessions with the headlining artists – at no cost to the school system or students.
“These are performers you’d normally only see during a Google search or streaming service,” Anderson said. “These opportunities with the biggest names in jazz offer teachable moments to those who hope to find themselves on stage at Jazz in the Park someday.”
The 2023 Jazz in the Park concert series will be held Sept. 3, 10, 17 and 24 at 5 p.m. at Big Spring Park East.
View the Program Guide and keep up with each show by following the City of Huntsville’s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion on Facebook.
