The diverse musical style known as jazz began in New Orleans more than 100 years ago.
And almost 27 years ago, a group of dedicated volunteers led by the late Betty Forrest formed the West Michigan Jazz Society in order to create a culture of live jazz in our community. Based on the thousands of people who attend the weekly Jazz at the Zoo summer concerts, and the incredible turnout at the first-ever jazz festival downtown in August, it seems they have succeeded. Jazz is alive and well in West Michigan.
The West Michigan Jazz Society (WMJS) exists to preserve the legacy of jazz in our area and they do this by organizing and promoting live jazz events throughout the year and through their support of young jazz musicians.
Each year, the organization awards college scholarships to high school students studying jazz. Interest income from the jazz scholarship fund pays for the program and WMJS welcomes financial donations to go specifically toward this fund. They hope to expand it in the coming years and offer more students scholarships.
Another way they support young jazz musicians is by featuring local high school bands at the summertime Jazz at the Zoo concerts. This past June, musicians from the East Kentwood High School jazz band kicked off the popular Monday night outdoor concert series and high school jazz bands often play during breaks for the regular acts.
The Jazz at the Zoo concerts celebrated their 12th season this summer. From June through August, an eclectic crowd of more than 1,000 attends the weekly outdoor shows Monday nights at the John Ball Park Bandshell. People bring chairs, blankets, picnics, and sometimes even their dogs. Event sponsorships and donations collected each week keep the concerts free so everyone can enjoy them.
Jazz at the Zoo acts have included the Beltline Big Band, Grupo Ayé, Edye Evans Hyde, Mary Rademacher Reed, the Mark Kahny Band, the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, and more, offering a variety of styles for every taste.
When the weather turns colder, Monday night jazz heats up and moves inside the B.O.B. The second floor Bobarino’s is the venue for the monthly concerts held fall through spring. Audiences are treated to a lively jazz performance, along with a special dinner menu and wine specials. Students and WMJS members pay only $5 to get in and nonmembers pay $10. Members may also park for free in the B.O.B. parking lot the night of the shows.
Max Colley III played the first Monday Night Jazz concert in October to a sold-out crowd. The next show is Nov. 19 and will feature Benje and Ashley Daneman backed by the Western Jazz Quartet.
Future dates and performers for this series include:
- Jan. 21 - The Jim Cooper Quintet
- Feb. 18 - Vocalist Kathy Lamar and pianist Bob VanStee
- March 18 - Saxophonist Chris Bickley and The Maiden Voyage
- April 15 - Steve Talaga, Tom Lockwood, Scott Veenstra, and Diane VanderWater
WMJS currently has around 550 regular members and 50 lifetime members. They receive discounts to events and the monthly Jazz Notes newsletter, which highlights area performances and stories about the musicians. Memberships start at $10 for students, $25 for individuals, and go on up to the $250 lifetime member option.
WMJS memberships help to ensure that the organization’s events are free or have a low admission cost so everyone can attend.
“Our goal is to break even,” says Board President John Miller. “We’re not trying to make money on the events.”
He adds that the WMJS board and people who help with the events are all volunteers -- “no one makes any money.”
Encouraging a thriving jazz community is what WMJS is all about. In addition to the events they host, they also help promote local shows through their Facebook page and the Jazz Notes newsletter. This summer, they acted as the nonprofit fiduciary for the first annual GRandJazzFest initiated by jazz aficionado Audrey Sundstrom, helping her make the event happen.
There is no shortage of talented jazz musicians in West Michigan either and each year, WMJS honors one that stands out. Mark Kahny was the 2012 winner, with Edye Evans Hyde and John Shea each nominated the two years prior. A complete list of winners is on the WMJS website.
“It’s amazing that in a town this size, we are blessed to have so many good musicians,” Miller says.
WMJS is continually striving to share their love of jazz music with new audiences, especially younger ones. Since jazz varies so much in its style, many people find they like at least one form of it, if not all, and the organization focuses on presenting this diversity of styles in its concerts.
“We’re doing everything we can to keep it fresh,” says board member Darryl Hofstra.
As they have since 1986, WMJS will continue to support the longstanding tradition of jazz music and promote it locally through a mix of concerts and education.
“Our goal is to keep jazz alive,” says Miller.
If you would like to support the West Michigan Jazz Society, here are some ways you can get involved:
- Visit the
West Michigan Jazz Society online to find out more.
- Become a
member of WMJS.
-
Donate to WMJS or become an event sponsor.
- Attend the
Nov. 19 Monday Night Jazz concert at the B.O.B.
- Attend the holiday party Dec. 10 at the Watermark Country Club. Tickets are $30 and more information can be found in the latest Jazz Notes newsletter.
- Like WMJS on
Facebook.
Source: John Miller, Board President of West Michigan Jazz Society, and Darryl Hofstra, Board Member
Writer: Heidi Stukkie, Do Good Editor
Images provided by the West Michigan Jazz Society.