Even if you are a musician or jazz lover, you may not know that April is Jazz Appreciation Month, a global event created by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History to celebrate the “extraordinary heritage and history of jazz.” From jazz club jams to an array of performances hosted by the music department, there are so many ways Grossmont students can engage with the art of jazz this month.
Join a Jam
Austin Galbreath, a jazz pianist and president of the jazz club at Grossmont, said his club has grown into a large community of students from Grossmont and beyond who come to appreciate jazz.
Club meetings are held every Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in building 26-220, offering musicians the chance to improve their skills and listeners a live jazz experience.
On some weeks, the club hosts dedicated jam sessions at 7:30 p.m. Jams typically feature a set from a house band, followed by open sessions where club members come and play rehearsed material with a full band.
Galbreath said he wants first-timers to know, whether they are listeners or musicians themselves, that there aren’t any expectations.
“If you’re coming as a musician and you want to get into it, no one’s going to force you to do anything,” he said. “If you’re coming to listen, we’re having fun, like, with you in the moment.”
Info for upcoming jazz jams can be found on the club’s Instagram account @jazzatgrossmont.
Another way for students to appreciate jazz this month is through the events hosted by the Grossmont Music Department.
Listen Live
Galbreath said the best way to experience jazz is through live performances.
“Listen to the music live because jazz music is a living, breathing music,” Galbreath said.
Cadence Vocal Jazz hosted its first concert at the end of March, featuring performances from Upper West Side/Lower East Side Jazz Combo Ensembles.
One of the highlights came during “Love Me or Leave Me,” when Charlie Velis stepped forward for a vocal solo. The performance also featured improvised solos from Ella Cooper, Bronson Serrato and Miska Dolansky, each bringing their own style and creativity to the stage.
Another standout moment was “Doralice,” led by vocalist Kenna Gilbert. The song featured strong support from the band, including a piano solo by Galbreath and an instrumental solo by Brendan Hilgeman. Together, the group showed impeccable timing and communication.
Special guest tenor saxophonist Nick Caldwell added even more excitement to the show. His confident playing and smooth tone earned loud applause from the audience.
Caldwell said his love for jazz started early. “Jazz was always on the radio when my parents put me to sleep,” he said.
He first learned classical piano because his mom wanted him to play an instrument, but he eventually switched to saxophone after his teacher’s husband introduced him to it.
During performances, Caldwell said he focuses on listening to the musicians around him.
“It’s a conversation,” he said. “What did they just say, and how do I respond to it or add to it?”
Caldwell described the night’s concert as “music that gets you thinking without having to be complex,” saying jazz is “music for everybody.”
Director Justin Grinnell, a San Diego-based jazz bassist and longtime music educator, said the concert is designed to help students grow both individually and as a group. He said much of what the audience heard was improvised but built on a foundation that the students practice together.
“Most of it’s all improvised,” Grinnell said. “There’s a certain format that we practice. It’s not totally open-ended. There’s a foundation they all get used to, and then they improvise over that foundation.”
Grinnell said part of the fun is watching students figure things out in real time.
“I’ve been directing them a little bit but also leaving them on their own to figure out what they’re doing,” he said. “They’re getting a chance to be creative and come up with their own ideas.”
For those who missed the March and April shows, the next Jazz Combos performance will be Thursday, May 14, at 7:30 p.m. at Performing & Visual Arts Center stage in Building 22. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for seniors and military, and $5 for students.
Take a Class
A great way for students to learn about the start of jazz in America and its evolution is through the History of Jazz course here on campus. The course is three units and is a hybrid class, allowing students to choose between in-person participation and joining virtually via Zoom.
The class is taught by Professor Derek Canon, who has been with Grossmont’s Music Department since 1993. A seasoned trumpet player, Canon has been featured on several jazz records and has performed at prominent jazz festivals, including the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and the Montreal Jazz Festival in Canada.
While Fall 2026 sections have not been posted, but previous classes have been held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:30 to 1:50 p.m. Registration can be done through Self-Service when sections become available.
