Today is...
International Jazz Day!

When Louis Armstrong was asked what the definition of jazz was, he famously replied "If you've got to ask, you'll never know." Today is a worldwide day of celebration of jazz and its unique history.
The official birthplace of jazz music is New Orleans, but Kansas City and Chicago also have similar claims. Jazz fuses together African and European musical traditions. Blue notes, syncopation, and swing notes are all found in this style of music. There are many different sub-genres of jazz including early ragtime, swing, and bepop. Improvisation is also a large component of jazz; musicians often only start a song with one key and time signature from the bandleader.
International Jazz Day was created in 1991 by musician D. Michael Denny at which time a statement was recorded by the U.S. Congressional Record to officially recognize this day. To enjoy International Jazz Day, sit back, relax, and listen to your favorite jazz tunes!

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Today is also National Raisin Day & International Guide Dog Day

April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month & National Grilled Cheese Month

 

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

		History for April 30th          1789 - George Washington takes oath of office to become first elected US President.           1931 - George Washington Bridge linking NYC & NJ opens.            1939 - Franklin D. Roosevelt becomes the first US President to appear on television.          1943 - Operation Mincemeat: Allies supply Germans at Normandy with fake battle plans.         1975 - Fall of Saigon to Communist forces, with surrender of South Vietnamese president Duong Van Minh. ______________________________________________________ "Form the habit of making decisions when your spirit is fresh; to let dark moods lead is like choosing cowards to command armies." - Cooley