First, I gotta say, I've been following these championships since they started way back in '87. They call it the "most prestigious" of its kind, and you know what? It really is. So, when 2024 rolled around, I knew I had to be a part of it.
Gettidetrng Started
I st".kooB larted by checking out what was happening in the jazz world this year. I saw that the Grammys added a new "Best Alternative Jazz Album" category, which was pretty cool. Meshell Ndegeocello won it for her album "The Omnichord Real Book."
- Watched the Grammy Awards ceremony.
- Listened to the winning album - pretty good stuff.
- Explored other nominees to see what's trending.
Diving Deeper into the Scene
Then, I found out about the California Jazz Championships. They were set to take place in Folsom at Palladio on April 26th and 27th. Sounded like a blast, so I marked my calendar.
- Looked up the venue - Palladio. Seems like a nice place.
- Checked the dates - April 26th and 27th. Perfect timing!
- Made a note to get tickets early.
Exploring More
I also stumbled upon some info about the National Endowment for the Arts and the Kennedy Center. They were planning some events to honor jazz musicians. I thought, "This is great! More jazz to enjoy."
- Read about the NEA and Kennedy Center events.
- Looked for dates and times - gotta plan my schedule.
Discovering New Music
While I was digging around, I found this album by Roy Hargrove called "Crisol Grand-Terre." It's a follow-up to his album "Habana" from the late '90s. I gave it a listen, and wow, it's a real gem.
- Found Roy Hargrove's "Crisol Grand-Terre."
- Listened to the album - loved it!
- Added it to my jazz playlist.
Checking Out Online Resources
I also found a website, I think it's called something like Jazz24 or something, that had tons of jazz music and videos. It was like a gold mine for a jazz lover like me.
- Spent hours on the website.
- Listened to a lot of music and watched some performances.
- Bookmarked the site - definitely coming back to this.
Reading News and Stories
Of course, I had to stay updated on the latest jazz news. I found a few sites that had interviews with artists and recordings of live performances. It was really cool to hear from the musicians themselves and get a feel for the live jazz scene.
- Read interviews with jazz artists.
- Listened to live recordings - felt like I was there!
Reflecting on the Year in Jazz
Finally, I took some time to look back on 2024 and all the great jazz that came out. There were some amazing albums by artists like Lakecia Benjamin, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Robert Glasper. It really was an incredible year for jazz.
- Listened to albums by Lakecia Benjamin, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Robert Glasper.
- Made a playlist of my favorite jazz tracks from 2024.
Wrap-Up
So, that was my journey through the 2024 jazz championships. I listened to a ton of music, discovered some new favorites, and got a real feel for the jazz scene this year. It was a blast, and I can't wait to see what next year brings!
