Why You Need Jazz

& Why Jazz Needs YOU

By Miguel Juarez

A century after its birth, jazz music continues to be a source of wonder and delight for people from all walks of life. That said, jazz in Columbus has seen brighter days. I am often asked if our city has a jazz bar, along with the inevitable follow up question, “If not, why not?” Through the years I have come up with different answers that express my feelings about music and the city, but always find myself making excuses for Columbus.

The truth is, I don’t understand why we don’t have a jazz club. I believe, however, that with the help and support of our community, we can make it happen. We certainly have a rich history of jazz. Being home to the prestigious Liberty Theatre and the birthplace of Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, Columbus has always been a hotbed for jazz, music, and the arts. The Columbus Symphony Orchestra is the 2nd oldest orchestra in the United States and was founded by Herman S. Saroni, a student of Felix Mendelssohn.

More recently, through the persistent advocacy spearheaded by Columbus Arts Liaison Carrie Beth Wallace and other members of the Columbus Cultural Arts Alliance, Mayor Skip Henderson has recently proclaimed April as Arts and Culture Month in Columbus. CJS founding member Bruce Huff of City Council District 3 was also present during the proclamation and was excited to hear about our plans. The recent ArtFest, which was a month-long celebration of Arts that included over 60 events and 30 different artists, is a direct result of this proclamation. Arts and culture are both vital to the health and happiness of citizens, and there is no doubt that the city and people of Columbus are doing their part to push the arts to the forefront.

As far as a home for the CJS, although we don’t have a designated jazz club in our city yet, we still meet every 2nd Sunday at 3pm to discuss our plans with our members and anyone in the community who is interested in participating. Sydney Helms, owner of Sydney’s on First has graciously stepped up and volunteered her salon for our monthly meetings, which is usually followed by a live jazz concert at 5pm and an open jam afterwards.

These are great opportunities for artists and musicians of all ages and backgrounds to network, learn from each other, and possibly even form new bands and friendships. It is also a great way to get involved with the CJS in any capacity, whatever your abilities and skills are. We are always looking for new talent such as artists, musicians, photographers, videographers, leaders, organizers, developers, professionals in fundraising, accounting, marketing, and everything in between. We need help from our community.

In an age where everything can be factory-made and even AI generated, jazz is as important as ever. Jazz is an expression of the human experience which cannot be manufactured. We hope to see you on 2nd Sundays at Sydney’s on First.

HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT JAZZ IN COLUMBUS?

1. Become a member, partner, or sponsor.

2. Donate directly to CJS website: columbusjazzsociety.com

3. Attend and share CJS events (concerts, clinics, jam sessions, meetings)

4. Follow CJS on social media (@columbusjazzsociety on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube) for news and updates.

5. Enjoy and appreciate art.

CJS Musician of the month : Noah Herrera

CJS: What got you into jazz/music?

NH: My dad used to play blues (Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert King) in the car when I was a kid. When I was around 8 years old, I wanted to be like them and carry on the tradition.

CJS: What makes you excited about playing jazz in Columbus?

NH: Seeing the joy it brings to other people just by being yourself and being a part of a good community of people who thrive off music just like me.

CJS: Where can people hear you play?

NH: I play at The Loft Southern Revival jams on Wednesdays and at Piccolo in Auburn on Thursdays. You can also check my Instagram.

CJS: 3 jazz artists you’d recommend for beginner, intermediate, and advanced listeners.

NH: Grant Green, Emily Remler, Kenny Garrett.

CJS: Favorite local musician and why?

NH: Ricky Whitley has to be my favorite in the local scene. He understands what it means to be a performer above all else. I always get enjoyment out of seeing him play and seeing the great music videos he’s made over the years.

CJS: Advice/tips for aspiring musicians

NH: Don’t let random people tell you what you need to be. At the end of the day our goal is to express emotions and ideas through our music, and that is a personal and deep connection that all of us feel. Your ideas are not worthless even if someone else doesn’t see it that way. You drive your own future, don’t let it change. Also, practice and play like it will be the last time you’ll touch your instrument. We take our abilities for granted sometimes and we shouldn’t forget where we started.

To summarize: Play and be yourself.

To learn more about Noah, follow him on social media via @noah_j_herrera.