JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Students and families gathered Saturday afternoon at Jackson State University for Jazz on the Plaza, an annual event held at the university.
Trumpets, violins, and saxophones filled the building as performers took the stage. The event featured JSU students, a local high school, and the Music Alive Ensemble of New Orleans as special guests.
Students highlight jazz alongside JSU’s other musical traditions
Kingston Grandberry, a freshman trumpet player at JSU, said the event gives the university a chance to showcase a different side of their musical talents, beyond the Sonic Boom of the South.
“Also, you gotta bring out the jazz part as well. And I come from the city of jazz – Memphis, Tennessee – and I come from a great jazz program, so for me to experience this as well is just very great,” Grandberry said.
Grandberry also said he sees the importance of bringing this experience to high schoolers.
“I know, for me, when I was in high school, it was very inspiring to see people older than me in colleges perform and see how to get better at the horn and just to see other people grow and where I can go as well,” he said.
Coordinator says event aims to preserve jazz music
Dr. David Ware, coordinator of jazz studies at the university, said exposure to jazz is a priority for the program.
“It’s important for us to expose our students to this type of music because we don’t hear it all the time,” Ware said.
Ware added that preserving the genre is another important goal of the event.
“Jazz is something that needs to be preserved, and we’re trying to do our part to do just that,” he said.
Jazz on the Plaza is an annual event at Jackson State University.
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