KTKA

April is Jazz Appreciation Month. And, at Washburn University, the Director of Jazz Studies Craig Treinen is not letting the month pass by.

"Jazz is the only true American art form," he said. "It's an opportunity to be creative. And even with the loss of a lot of the stuff down in New Orleans, it's even more important now to keep it alive."

He has worked for months to bring together high school students and jazz educators around the state and play and listen to music. The jazz teachers will critique the students' performances too.

He says the Coleman Hawkins High School Jazz Festival helps the musicians and the educators become better at what they do.

Seaman, Washburn Rural, Hayden and Topeka high schools and groups from surrounding area high schools will participate in the all-day event held Thursday.

Washburn University is hosting the Coleman Hawkins High School Jazz Festival, which Treinen organizes.

Each ensemble will perform approximately 3 to 4 compositions within a 30-minute time limit. These performances will start at 8:30 a.m. and continue throughout the day until around 5:30 p.m. There is no admission fee for the festival it is open to the public.

The evening performance, which starts at 7:30 p.m., will feature the Kansas City Boulevard Big Band. That costs $5 to $10.

Coleman Hawkins was a popular tenor sax player from the 1930s and '40s. He attended Topeka High School and Washburn University. Learn more about Coleman Hawkins here.