It’s almost here!

Memoirs of the Griot and their Influences on Jazz: Past, Present,  Future. Meet Professor Roxanne Stevenson, recipient of the 2022 Donald Meade Legacy Award. Dr. Stevenson is Director of Bands, Music Education, and Gospel Music Coordinator at Chicago State University. She has served for 29 years after nine years as band/choral director and classroom/music teacher grades K-12. Stevenson is the HBCU-NBDC Jazz Coordinator, IAC panelist, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camps director. Stevenson started the CSU Community Concert and Jazz Bands, Gospel Ensemble, and Marching Band. The Jazz Band presented at IMEA, Midwest, National Association for Negro Musicians Centennial, JEN, and was nominated for the AAAAC’s Black Excellence, and much more. 

This year the HBCU Spotlight Ensemble is North Carolina Central University Jazz  Ensemble. NCCU has earned a reputation as one of the premier university programs and is directed by Brian Horton, assistant professor of Jazz Studies. They will be joined by guest soloist and one of the finest pianists of his generation Joey Calderazzo, currently serving as Artist in Residence with Branford Marsalis in the Jazz Studies Program. 

The African American Jazz Caucus aims to promote the rich musical culture legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) & Predominately Black Institutions (PBI).  

The African American Jazz Caucus aims to connect developing music professionals and students with established working professionals who specialize in performance, composition, scholarship/publication, education, music business, and arts administration. 

Established in 2016 initially as the AAJC/JEN One-to-One Outreach program, the AAJC/JEN Outreach program has developed into an annual networking session held each year at the Annual JEN conference in January. During the JEN conference, AAJC members personally invite students of African descent and/or students that attend a Historically Black College and University or Predominately Black Institution to join the meetup session. 

Our annual in-person meeting hosted by Executive Director Dr. Triniece Robinson- Martin.  

Everyone is welcome.

We look forward to meeting you in the Exhibit Hall. Stop by BOOTH T1. Meet AAJC members, volunteers, and Executive Officers and view a  demonstration of the soon-to-be-released database available to AAJC members of Jazz educators and mentors.