JAZZ TEACHERS DCTM
Washington DC is home to a large community of world-class jazz musicians. In addition to performing, many of these musicians also teach. This site is designed to help students find teachers. The site also provides some links to jazz venues where you can hear DC area musicians play. One of the best ways to learn is to go out and listen to these wonderful jazz musicians perform. You will also find a glimpse into the rich history of jazz in Washington DC and the institutions that preserve its legacy.
"The nation's capital has been a fertile city for jazz for a century. Some of the most important clubs in the jazz world have opened and closed their doors here, some of its greatest players and promoters were born and grew to maturity in town and still play here, some of the institutions so critical to supporting the music remain active."
Maurice Jackson and Blair Ruble. "Jazz in Washington DC." Washington History Journal, Spring 2014.
Jazz Conversations at the Library of Congress:
Henry Threadgill talks about his life in music with Larry Appelbaum senior music reference specialist in the Library 's Music Division, Library of Congress, Washington DC.
Bill Harris was an American acoustic guitarist who played in R&B and jazz idioms. Harris studied guitar in Washington, D.C. at the Columbia School of Music, and in 1950 began playing with the R&B vocal group The Clovers. He remained with the group through 1958, playing on many of their most successful hit records. He played in the DC area through the 1960s and 70s and also taught music, publishing several books on guitar technique. He was awarded a compositional fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1972; for much of 1972-1973 Harris played in France. After returning to the US, Harris began managing his own jazz club, Pigfoot, in DC.
Common At The White House Library
NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert, "Letter to The Free," featured in Ava DuVernay's documentary, 13th.