Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame

{{Infobox museum

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| established = 1978

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| location = Birmingham's historic Carver Theatre

| type = Jazz

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| collections = Paintings, quilts, instruments, and personal effects

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The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame (AJHF) is an organization and museum in Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It was founded in 1978, and opened as museum on September 18, 1993, with a mission "to foster, encourage, educate, and cultivate a general appreciation of the medium of jazz music as a legitimate, original and distinctive art form indigenous to America. Its mission is also to preserve a continued and sustained program of illuminating the contribution of the State of Alabama through its citizens, environment, demographics and lore, and perpetuating the heritage of jazz music."[http://www.jazzhall.com/jazzhalloffame/history.htm History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080627004353/http://www.jazzhall.com/jazzhalloffame/history.htm |date=2008-06-27 }}, official site

The AJHoF Museum

File:Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame Saturday Jazz Class 1.jpg

File:Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame Saturday Jazz Class 2.jpg

The museum is located in Birmingham's historic Carver Theatre, which is part of the Birmingham Civil Rights District, along with the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, 16th Street Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram Park. The museum contains more than {{convert|2200|sqft|m2}} of exhibits. The Jazz Hall of Fame also sponsors jazz performances around the city and brings jazz to many local students with school visits from musicians. It contains memorabilia such as paintings, quilts, instruments, and personal effects of such artists as Ella Fitzgerald and W.C. Handy, and offers a tour guided by Frank Adams.

Free Saturday jazz classes

Every Saturday morning since 1999, the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame has offered free jazz classes to any resident of the state of Alabama. Founded by Dr. Frank Adams, the classes are taught by local jazz band directors from area schools. In these classes, students learn to read and improvise jazz. Graduates of the AJHF classes have received scholarships to prestigious jazz studies programs, such as the ones offered by the University of New Orleans, the Manhattan School of Music and New School University in New York City.

AJHF Annual Student Jazz Band Festival

Every year, the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame invites middle school, high school and college jazz bands to perform in this annual three-day event. Bands are adjudicated by notable jazz authorities and awards for "Band of Distinction" and "Outstanding Soloist" are made in each of the categories: Middle School, High School, Junior College and College.

Past award recipients at the AJHF Student Jazz Band Festival

= College and University Bands of Distinction =

2004 - University of Alabama Jazz Ensemble A, "College Band of Distinction" - Tom Wolfe,{{Cite web |url=http://www.music.ua.edu/people/showperson.php?id=55 |title=Tom Wolfe |access-date=2007-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215140816/http://www.music.ua.edu/people/showperson.php?id=55 |archive-date=2008-12-15 |url-status=dead }} Director
2005 - University of Alabama at Birmingham, UAB Jazz Ensemble, "College Band of Distinction" - Ray Reach, Director
2006 - Jacksonville State University Jazz Ensemble, "College Band of Distinction" - Chip Crotts, Director
2007 - Troy State University, "College Band of Distinction"
2008 - Jackson State University, Jackson Mississippi, "College Band of Distinction"
2009 - Troy State University, "College Band of Distinction"
2012 - University of Alabama at Birmingham,"College Band of Distinction" - Steven Roberts, Director
2014 - University of Alabama at Birmingham,"College Band of Distinction" - Steven Roberts, Director
2015 - University of Alabama at Birmingham,"College Band of Distinction" - Steven Roberts, Director
2016 - University of Alabama at Birmingham "College Band of Distinction" - Steven Roberts, Director
2017 - Alabama State University, "College Band of Distinction" - Isaac Bell Jr., Director
2018 - Troy University, "College Band of Distinction" - Dr. Dave Camwell, Director

= College and University Outstanding Soloists =

2004 - Omari Thomas, University of Alabama at Birmingham, "Outstanding College Soloist"
2005 - Omari Thomas, University of Alabama at Birmingham, "Outstanding College Soloist"
2014 - Kameron Dickerson, "Outstanding College Soloist"{{Cite web|url=http://www.uab.edu/news/student-experience/item/4583-uab-jazz-ensemble-student-win-top-honors-at-hall-of-fame-competition|title = UAB Jazz Ensemble, student win top honors at Hall of Fame competition}}
2015 - Alex Garrett, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, "Outstanding College Soloist"

= High School Bands of Distinction =

2015 - Minor High School, "High School Band of Distinction" - James Crumb, Director
2016 - Alabama School of Fine Arts, "High School Band of Distinction" - Dr. Robert Janssen, Director
2017 - Oak Mountain High School, "High School Band of Distinction" - Kevin Ownby, Director
2018 - Minor High School, "High School Band of Distinction" - James Crumb, Director

= High School Outstanding Soloists =

2015 Matthew Belser, Alabama School of Fine Arts, "Outstanding High School Soloist"

= Middle School Bands of Distinction =

2015 Phillips Academy, Joseph Smith III, Director

= Middle School Outstanding Soloists =

2015 Jaeden Henderson, Phillips Academy, "Outstanding Middle School Soloists"

Spin-offs from AJHoF educational programs

There are a number of "spin-off" groups spawned by the educational programs at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. Among these is a group called the "Neo Jazz Collective." A group of young students, exhibiting the skills they learned at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, created this ensemble, with the intention of becoming a professional entity. The group is directed by Lud Yisrael. The group started their own school in Fairfield, Alabama, and is fast becoming a popular "Nu-Jazz" ensemble in the Birmingham area.

Annual "Taste of 4th Avenue" Jazz Festival

During the fall of each year, the "Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival" takes place, jointly sponsored by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and Urban Impact of Birmingham.

Free jazz workshops, clinics and masterclasses

AJHF offers free jazz workshops, clinics and masterclasses. Past guest clinicians include Lou Marini (saxophonist), Eric Marienthal (saxophonist), Bill Goodwin (drummer), T. S. Monk (drummer), and Gregg Karukas (keyboardist), Joey Alexander (pianist), and Esperanza Spalding.

Musical instrument recycling program

Every year, the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame accepts contributions of used, but repairable, instruments. Numerous instruments have been donated, many by famous musicians such as Lou Marini, Erskine Hawkins, Sammy Lowe and Haywood Henry. These recycled instruments are put to use by students of the AJHF educational programs.