Congress passed legislation which was signed by

the President in August 2003, Public Law 108-72, declaring “(1) the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History should be commended for establishing a Jazz Appreciation Month; and (2) musicians, schools, colleges, libraries, concert halls, museums, radio and television stations, and other organizations should develop programs to explore, perpetuate, and honor jazz as a national and world treasure.”

At Chez Dilley every month is JAM, but if your taste or budget is such that you can only justify appreciating jazz one month a year then by all means make it April! Seriously, the Smithsonian's site has all kinds of neat stuff, so be sure to check it out.

Of course April is also National Poetry Month, so you might already be committed to celebrating the glory of verse, but the good news is you can wear a beret for both months all month long!

Q: Are you leading up to another "theme" show?

A: Do April showers bring May flowers? Sorry, shouldn't answer a question with another question...of course! Jazz & Poetry- they go together like calamari and clams. The cliche of the beatnik poetry reading with jazz backing is embedded in the American consciousness at this point and who am I to resist its allure? Monday's Just Plain Jazz (2 to 4 in the afternoon) will pay particular attention to soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy's "The Beat Suite" with settings of works by Allen Ginsberg, Kenneth Rexroth, Gregory Corso, Jack Kerouac and others. I'll also search the archives for enough examples of the blending of jazz and poetry to last us until next April.