Charles H. Wright Museum Celebrates Jazzy:

Jazz music in Detroit, is oftentimes overlooked and overshadowed by New York, New Orleans and Chicago, but it does have a deep-rooted connection

to this city. Now until February, the Charles H. Wright Museum has kicked off and is celebrating two new exhibits, Jazz Greats: Classic Photographs from the ank of America Collection and Detroit Jazz: The Legacy Continues. As you walk into the building and began to immerse yourself into the two exhibits, you will find a collection of amazing photos and stories from the golden age of jazz.

Detroit's history in contributing to the jazz scene began in the early 20th century. As musicians and singers began their travels to the North in search of

jobs, arriving in the Motor City, allowed them to contribute to the early development and molding of America's jazz sound. By the 1940s, amid racial

segregation, the black community offered numerous of places to play and listen to jazz music. Black artist and their music have always been a messenger, an outlet and a space of freedom. It's been a way to find solace and escape through the music, despite racial injustices in America.

Today, jazz is still relevant and present and it remains as a tool for marginalized groups. The Wright Museum does a great job at captivating the attention of jazz lovers and music lovers alike! The companion exhibition, "Detroit Jazz: The Legacy Continues" highlights only a select few of the many Detroit musicians and venues that influenced jazz music. Exhibitions manager and curator, Jennifer Evans, said, "Well, the first thing is it's the Detroit story of Jazz, it's the best that we could do, it's a really huge history but there's a lot, it's a big story. For a Detroiter coming into the show, it's all about this city, it's

all about these musicians and I think sometimes, jazz exhibitions have the tendency to pull the late greats. So, what we tried to do is focus on, the story completely on Detroit." Once you walk through and began reading about these legendary etroiters, you'll find that the jazz scene was a small interconnection of blacks that built relationships amongst each other. You begin to realized that for many, it was important to help cultivate the younger generation of artist.

Some musicians and singers became husband and wives and raised their children to continue on in their legacy. What the Charles H Wright Museum

has done with these two exhibits, is phenomenal. Specifically, "Detroit Jazz: The Legacy Continues" is a history lesson about local musicians from the past and it still includes current day and young musicians such as Tariq Gardner. The beauty of it all, is that it allows you to recognize that jazz in Detroit is still very much present and here to stay. By the end of the exhibit, as a Detroiter, it leaves you with a new since of pride. "I think the other

thing Detroiters will probably love about it is, people and places they recognize and that doesn't always happen with national or international stories.

So, I hope that when people come in that they'll see people that they know and they'll see places that they've been or heard about and maybe it'll get them to look it up or go there or to explore their city.", said, Jennifer Evans.

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History was founded in 1965 and for over half a century, it's one of the world's largest institutions

that has dedicated itself to exploring and celebrating the rich cultural legacy of African African Americans and the African American experience. Located

in the heart of Midtown Detroit's Cultural Center, it houses over 35,000 artifacts and archival materials, and offers more than 300 public programs and

events annually.

For more information about the museum, visit http://www.thewright.org.