Crossover Jazz – Roots & Grooves

SPRING TRIMESTER
Crossover Jazz – Roots & Grooves – “Where jazz speaks the language of groove”

Core Concept
Jazz has always been a conversation — and some of its most exciting conversations happen with
its close cousins: blues, hip hop, and funk.

• Blues brings the soul and storytelling.
• Hip hop brings the beat and flow.
• Funk brings the grit and groove.
  This series/brand celebrates jazz in dialogue with these forms — not as background, but as equal
  partners in a shared musical language.
  
  Tone & Message
• Energetic, streetwise, and soulful.
• Honors the historical links between these genres.
• Showcases both heritage and innovation.
  
  Visual Language
  
• Colors: Deep indigo (jazz roots), burnt orange (blues warmth), charcoal black (hip hop
  edge), and vibrant lime or purple (funk pop).
  
• Textures: Gritty street textures, vinyl record grooves, vintage amp cloth.
  
• Imagery: Overlaid silhouettes of horns, turntables, and funk bass guitars; graffiti-style
  type paired with classic jazz typography.
  
  Program Applications
  
• Concert Series:
  o Jazz & Blues Concert (feature a jazz artist with a blues guitarist or singer)
  o Jazz & Hip Hop Concert (live jazz ensemble with MCs and DJs)
  o Jazz & Funk Concert (horn section with a deep pocket funk rhythm section)
  
• Workshops: Sampling jazz in hip hop, blues improvisation in a jazz context, and funk
  rhythm in jazz arrangements.
  
• Collaborations: Pair a Clef Club jazz ensemble with local blues bands, hip hop
  collectives, and funk groups.