Jazz Arts Program in Red Bank Helps Put Instruments in the Hands of Kids

My 13-year-old son loves being a jazz musician but was looking to find some like-minded peers who were as serious about learning and performing as he was. Well, we have found it!

The Jazz Arts Academy is a year-round comprehensive training program providing real world experience to aspiring young Jazz musicians, presented in association with the Count Basie Theater Performing Arts Academy in Red Bank, NJ.

The Jazz Arts Project provides unique educational programs for area youth. They place "instruments in their hands, music in their hearts, and hope in their future." And I can't thank them enough for how they have helped my son find other kids like himself to play jazz music with...and for providing hugely talented musicians/instructors to teach the kids and provide venues for them to perform in.

Here's a fact: "Music training does more than sports, theater or dance to improve key academic skills, regardless of socioeconomic status." -- Data from the German Institute for Economic Research.

The Jazz Arts Project also presents world-class jazz performances featuring renowned artists in order to raise money to help support these budding, young jazz musicians .Jazz Arts Project is a non-profit, 501 (c) 3 organization and a certified and registered charity with the state of NJ. If you would like to make a donation, CLICK HERE.

The Jazz Arts Academy produced 25-30 events each year from intimate jazz cafe nights through large scale events at concert halls and festivals, as well as educational workshops and special programs for youth.

You can attend some of these great upcoming events, too!

This evening (Thursday, July 28th) at 7 pm at Riverside Gardens Park in Red Bank, there is a free jazz concert featuring Bruce Williams. Opening for him will be several kids from the Jazz Arts Academy Summer Jazz Band Camp (including my son Ben on drums!)

And this Friday and Saturday nights (July 29th and 30th) at Two River Theater's Marion Huber Theater in Red Bank, you can attend the Summer Jazz Cafe, described as 'NJ's Best Kept Secret" and named "Pick of the Year" by Tri-City News. You'll be seated at cozy candle-lit cocktail tables with warm lighting in an intimate setting (BYOB) with a 'big city' style nightclub atmosphere at a fraction of the price, and see amazing performances by the Jazz Arts Academy Summer Jazz Band Camp opening for Conrad Herwig.