The exhibit will immerse visitors in Savannah jazz, engaging them with the various styles of jazz music and its history in our beloved city.

About this event

6:00 p.m. Gathering

6:30 p.m. Ribbon Cutting

6:45 - 8:30 p.m. Viewing and Reception

Music by Savannah Jazz Hall of Fame Members

Tickets in advance $30 to support the Exhibit

Space is limited

Housed in the Savannah History Museum downtown, this exhibit will utilize a combination of artifacts, displays, and interactive media, to tell Savannah's jazz history from its inception to today in five distinct areas: Savannah: Jazz Birthplace, West Broad Street, Tybee, The Modern Era and The Hall of Fame.

The evolution of jazz in Savannah, from its earliest incarnations to the present, will be the main focus of the exhibit. Visuals of old West Broad Street (now MLK Blvd.) venues will include theaters and clubs that were meccas in the African-American musical tradition. Images and stories of Tybrisa Pavilion, the legendary dance hall on Tybee Island that hosted the top big bands of the day, black and white, will also be featured. Artifacts on display will include Ben Tucker’s historic bass violin, Jabbo Smith’s trumpet mouthpiece, Johnny Mercer’s straw hat, and other memorabilia, artifacts from the estate of James Moody, a Benedetto jazz guitar handcrafted at its Savannah headquarters, mouthpieces for Savannah’s Jody Jazz company, photos and posters from CJA’s acclaimed concerts and festivals, and news articles, recordings, and videos of the legends who performed in Savannah.

The Savannah Jazz Hall of Fame, totaling over 40 inductees, represents a “Who’s Who” in the jazz world. Their biographies, combined with images and music, will solidify Savannah’s place as a major jazz center. From Joe “King” Oliver, Louis Armstrong’s mentor, to Johnny Mercer, to acclaimed bassist and composer Ben Tucker, who led the jazz revival from the 70s, the Savannah Jazz Hall of Fame will draw visitors into the main exhibit, deepening their understanding Savannah’s jazz legends.

Please Note

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