Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame is located in Birmingham, Alabama’s largest city. The hall is a feature of Birmingham’s Carver Theatre, which is located in the Civil Rights District. The Carver Theatre was one of the theaters that provided African Americans with first-run movies.
About the Place
The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame (AJHF) was established in 1978 and first opened its doors as a museum in September, 1993. The museum, which has over 2,200 square feet of exhibit space, allows visitors to immerse themselves in the state’s rich jazz heritage.
The museum is an art-deco structure that honors great jazz artists with ties to Alabama. Since the hall’s inception, more than 200 inductees have been honored. The hall of fame features exhibits on legendary musicians, including instruments and personal items.
Aside from its collection of memorabilia and personal effects, the museum also serves as a venue for entertainment, hosting shows by local jazz musicians and comedians.
Features of the Place
The Jazz Hall of Fame promotes jazz performances throughout the city and brings jazz to many local students through school visits by musicians. The following are some of the hall’s notable features:
– Free Saturday jazz classes: Since 1999, the ADJF has provided free jazz classes to any Alabama resident. Local jazz band directors from area schools teach students how to read and improvise jazz in the classes. Scholarships to prestigious jazz studies programs have been awarded to graduates of these classes.
– Musical instrument recycling program: The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame accepts donations of used but repairable instruments every year. Many instruments have been donated by well-known musicians. Students in the AJHF educational programs use these repurposed instruments.
– 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 judged by well-known jazz figures, and awards are given out.
– Documentaries are also available at the hall. They include “Jazz in the Magic City,” a fascinating jazz documentary about the evolution of jazz in Birmingham, Alabama.
The hall of fame is a hidden jewel and a must-see for jazz fans.
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame is situated at 1701 4th Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203, United States. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and guided tours are available Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information on the museum and special events, visit their website.
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