By Kathleen Coleman

Houston Jazz Collective is an organization that incorporates the genres of music and art featuring major talents to pay tribute to accomplished jazz musicians. Past events have included outstanding Houston-based jazz musicians such as Frank Lacy, Kirk Whalum, Billy Harper, Bob Dorough, and Chris Dave paying tribute to Arnet Cobb. In this year's events Shelly Carrol paying tribute to John Coltrane and supreme love. The Houston Jazz Collective combines performances with outreach programs “The Houston Center for After School Jazz Programs”. The program exposes youth to the arts through a jazz curriculum that educates giving them the understanding of jazz in the original form. Their vision is cultivating expanded minds as well as creating a lasting impression that will hopefully leave a beautiful culturally rich memory of jazz.

Shelly Carroll and Andre Haywood two of the musician representatives on the board of directors incorporate a wealth of talent and knowledge to the Houston Jazz Collective. Shelly Carrol studied with Texas Tenor greats, Arnett Cobb, and Don Wilkerson. He has been a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra, and Sheryl Crow, Maureen McGovern, Tony Bennet, Nancy Wilson, Joe Williams, Roger Waters. He currently tours with Kool and the Gang. Andre Haywood was not only a gentle human being but began playing the tuba at age 11. I met Andre 20 years ago before touring with Betty Carter. Since that time has toured with major jazz musicians and recently with the Duke Ellington orchestra. I was hosting an art show for artist Tina Allen and Andre Haywood was invited by Reginald Adams and began playing the trombone in the sunroom.

The premier attraction of the Houston Jazz Collective is the incorporation of music and art. W.E.B Dubois stated The Souls of Black Folk Africans brought to America “a gift of story and song -stirring melody in an ill harmonized and unmelodious land. The syncopated call and response have always been a part of jazz and blues music. The artist honored this year is Jack Whitten an artist inspired by jazz music and the syncopated rhythms and colors imagined in the notes of a song. In the mid-1960s Jack Whitten was influenced by John Coltrane and Miles Davis so it was fitting to honor Jack Whitten in 2021.