“The Art of Jazz” will celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month at the Backus Museum

To celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month, the A.E. Backus Museum and the BlueBird Educational Foundation will present The Art of Jazz on April 26 from 6 to 8 pm at the Backus Museum, with galleries open early at 5 pm for viewing. The program will include the lecture, performance, and hors d’oeuvres, wine and soft drinks. Seats are $30 each and can be purchased at the Backus Museum or online at BackusMuseum.org. All proceeds benefit the A.E. Backus Museum and the BlueBird Educational Foundation.

Jazz Appreciation Month was created to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary heritage and history of jazz for the entire month of April. It is intended to stimulate and encourage people of all ages to participate in jazz – to study the music, attend concerts, listen to jazz on radio and recordings, read books about jazz, and more.

This special program between the Museum and BlueBird Educational Foundation is a perfect collaboration for keeping the legacy alive that A.E. “Bean” Backus left in the community. Backus (1906-1990) is well-remembered for his love of jazz music. The creative environment of his open studio was fashioned as a Bohemian-styled hangout, regularly featuring live jazz performances and attracting people from all walks of life for conversation, friendly debate, music, and of course, art.

The Art of Jazz will feature a special lecture by Jon Ward along with a musical performance by the Billy Cofrances Jazz Quartet.

Music and visual art are both very distinct forms of creative expressions. Each can evoke a full range of emotions. They tell stories and communicate ideas to those that view or experience them. Ward’s lecture will explore how visual arts and music are entwined and how each art form influences and inspires the other. The lecture presentation and live band performance together will explore the fascinating relationship between music and the visual arts. So whether you’re a fan of visual arts, music, or both, this event will introduce you to a fascinating experience that will expand your appreciation of the relationship between the different forms of arts.

Jon Ward has served as the development director for several Florida cities and as the Director of the St. Lucie County Cultural Affairs Council. He has also served as a board member for the Florida Humanities Council and for the Florida Council for Arts and Culture.

The Billy Cofrances Jazz Quartet was well-known in the New Haven, Connecticut jazz community before Cofrances moved to Stuart, Florida several years ago. Cofrances started his career as a member of the popular east coast favorite Jump Street. He has worked with legendary jazz pianist Sarah Cion, jazz vocalists Billy Weston, Giacomo Gates and Walt Andrus, lead singer of the Tommy Dorsey Big Band. Currently the group performs throughout Florida.

The Art of Jazz will be held at the Backus Museum, 500 North Indian River Drive, in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce on April 26, 2024 from 6 till 8 pm, with galleries open early at 5 pm to enjoy the special exhibition Art of the Fantastic: Imaginative Illustration from the Korshak Collection. The program will include the lecture, performance, and hors d’oeuvres, wine and soft drinks. Seats are $30 each and can be purchased at the Backus Museum or online at BackusMuseum.org. All proceeds benefit the A.E. Backus Museum and the BlueBird Educational Foundation.