The Taos Jazz Bebop Society is broadening its beloved School House Jazz program, bringing live jazz performances, hands‑on workshops and a new percussion‑focused curriculum to additional Taos schools in 2027. The effort, first launched in 2016 during the second Frank Morgan Jazz Festival, honors the late composer and pianist Bob Dorough, famed for his work on the educational television series “Schoolhouse Rock!”.
Program growth and new curriculum
According to an Oct. 23 press release, the Society has increased partnerships with public schools and secured a grant from the Kind World Foundation to fund a three‑part curriculum that traces jazz’s evolution through African musical traditions, Caribbean influences and the United States. Each participating school will receive three presentations:
- YIRIBA (Big Tree) – a three‑musician African drumming group demonstrating Congolese and West African rhythms and their migration to South America and the Caribbean.
- Los Cienne Gatos – the percussion section of a New Orleans‑rooted brass band, illustrating how jazz developed among free people of color and formerly enslaved individuals in New Orleans before spreading northward.
- Jed Margolis Golden Sound – a vibraphone ensemble that connects the instrument’s sound to African rhythmic traditions.
These presentations are designed to be interactive, allowing students to experience the music firsthand while learning the cultural history behind it.
Live performances and community partnerships
The Society has also partnered with the Taos Center for the Arts to provide free performances for school groups. Recent highlights include a concert by the Lorca Hart Quartet during the 2025 festival and an Oct. 1 performance by the Aly Ryerson Quartet at the Center. The next free student concert is set for Thursday, Nov. 12, featuring Grammy‑nominated vocalist Grace Kelly and pianist Matt Savage as part of the Taos Jazz Festival.
Local artists and ongoing involvement
Throughout its first decade, School House Jazz showcased notable musicians such as saxophonist Doug Lawrence, guitarist Aly Ryerson, saxophonist Greg Abate and vocalist Grace Kelly. Kelly, a regular headliner of the Taos Jazz Festival, continues to support the program by performing at least once each year, with this year’s presentation scheduled for Taos High School.
In addition to performances, the Society offers workshops for school music programs. Members of Los Cienne Gatos will lead a percussion workshop for Taos High School on Oct. 29, giving students practical experience with jazz instrumentation.
Looking ahead
The press release states that the Taos Jazz Bebop Society plans to extend its educational outreach to more schools in the coming year, further embedding jazz education into the fabric of Taos’ youth culture. For more information, contact the Society at [email protected] or call Eric at 575‑758‑3147. Additional details are available on the Society’s website, taosjazz.org.
Original reporting: Taos News — read the source article.
