May Newsletter

When I first moved to Loudoun County, I searched for live jazz. One of the first places I discovered was the King's Court Tavern where The Arcadians held court playing New Orleans-style jazz. I remember sitting in with Joe Shepherd, Jimmy Hamilton (who told me a story of the time when he was locked in a closet with Louis Armstrong), and bandleader Al Webber. When Al passed away, some devoted friends established the Al C. Webber Jazz Fund in his memory. I am pleased to announce that Loudoun Jazz Society has received a generous grant from the Al C. Webber Jazz Fund and the Community Foundation to send a Loudoun County student to the Mason Jazz Camp for free this summer. In addition to our $1,000 Senior Scholarship, this new Jazz Camp Scholarship helps us achieve our mission of inspiring the next generation of jazz students.

The Arcadian Street Strutters still perform first Tuesdays at King's Court Tavern. I encourage you to check them out. Along with Chris Martin's King Street Syncopators, they are keeping Trad Jazz alive in Loudoun County. (Did you know that there used to be a jazz camp and Goose Creek Jass and Ragtime Society in Middleburg? That will be a story for another time).

Lastly, as we continue to search for a new home for our concert series, we have made progress on the next Battle of the Big Bands. Read the newsletter next month for an exciting announcement about the next event.

Regards,
John Kocur
President, Loudoun Jazz Society