Jazz Appreciation Month Celebrates America’s Musical Legacy
April 2026
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Smithsonian Institution has once again designated April as Jazz Appreciation Month, or JAM.
Jazz Appreciation Month was created in 2001 by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary heritage and history of jazz throughout the month of April. The initiative encourages people of all ages to participate in jazz by studying the music, attending concerts, listening to recordings and broadcasts, reading about jazz history, and engaging with the art form in their communities.
In his article “Jazz,” published by Smithsonian Music in March 2016, Dr. John Edward Hasse—Curator Emeritus of American Music at the National Museum of American History—described jazz as “often acclaimed as America’s greatest art form.” The Smithsonian Jazz program likewise characterizes jazz as one of America’s most influential cultural exports.
Smithsonian Jazz presents performances through the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra (SJMO), develops educational initiatives such as Jazz Appreciation Month, and maintains extensive archival collections and public resources dedicated to preserving and promoting jazz history. As the Smithsonian notes, JAM is an annual event that pays tribute to jazz as both a historic tradition and a living American art form.
Local Jazz Appreciation Month Events
Jazz Quartet Concert and Community Jam Session — Official UNESCO International Jazz Day Event
Date: April 12, 2026 — 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Venue: Watchung Arts Center, 18 Stirling Rd., Watchung, NJ
Presented by: Blue Truffle Music
This Jazz Appreciation Month concert will feature Chris DeVito (piano), John Lenis (bass), and Gavin Davies (drums), joined by special guest Seth Burke (trumpet).
Burke, a rising jazz artist from Alaska, is currently pursuing jazz and classical performance studies at William Paterson University. The program will highlight jazz standards and modern repertoire, followed by a community jam session beginning at 4:00 p.m., bringing together students from regional music programs alongside veteran jazz artists from across the area.
Jazz Duo — Official UNESCO International Jazz Day Event
Artists: Chris DeVito — piano; Greg Grispart — woodwinds
Date: April 30, 2026 — 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Venue: The Bernie, 27 Mine Brook Rd., Bernardsville, NJ
Presented by: Blue Truffle Music
Celebrating both International Jazz Day and the opening of the newly renovated music venue The Bernie, this officially recognized UNESCO International Jazz Day event features one of the New York metropolitan area’s finest jazz duos.
Pianist Chris DeVito and woodwind artist Greg Grispart will present an evening of jazz classics and American Songbook standards, honoring jazz’s enduring role as a defining American art form.
