Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium/ CBJC members are busy planning for the 8^th Annual CBJC Jazz Festival scheduled for 26 days from April 4^th – to April 29^th 2007.

The theme for this year’s festival is “Jazz and Rhythm- Voice of the People”, which speaks to the tempo of jazz music as it finds its sound in the contemporary voice of the people.  “This music is always evolving” stated CBJC chairperson Jitu K. Weusi . “If you trace this sound from the 1920’s until now (2007) you will find that every decade has a distinct sound that echoes the voice and the mood of contemporary people.  Jazz stays in step with the people.”

The Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium, born in 1999, is an amalgam of jazz musicians, venue owners, churches, community based organizations, and lovers of the music.  Over the past 7 years, they have presented an annual Spring Festival, established a Brooklyn Jazz Hall of Fame, and produced yearly programs of events and activities that feature local jazz musical talents.

“Our mission is to bring the music and musicians back to our community as a means of involving our culture in the upliftment of our community.  We also realize the economic upturn that results in creating new clubs, restaurants, and taverns that include a place for musicians to play and work for other community residents”.  Weusi explains, “The annual festival ( CBJC -8^th) is a way of extending a hand to all the entities that can present music venues in Central Brooklyn and urge them to work cooperatively with CBJC ”.

            There will be exciting performances each day of the festival.  Don’t miss it and help spread the word.

Upcoming Events for the 8^th Annual Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival includes:

• March 8^th- Press Conference at Brooklyn Borough Hall to announce the festival schedule
• March 17^th- “Jazz-The Women’s Viewpoint”.  With this year’s theme “Our Time, Our Place, Our Story”.
• March 31^st – CBJC Community Day, Bedford- Stuyvesant Restoration Center .
• April 4^th- CBJC Gala Fundraiser with Top Shelf Jazz talent
• April 28^th-Youth Jamboree/Health Awareness Day.
• April 29^th- Brooklyn Blowout-Closing Event featuring sounds of the areas outstanding talents.

This year all festival events will feature video footage from the 1^st JAH Pilgrimage held Feb. 15-25 2007 in South Africa .

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