More to the Story with Staley: Jews, Jazz and Blues

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Jewish faith has always had a tie-in with the world of blues, as well as jazz. Those three things all come together again this summer here in Chattanooga.

It will be a busy summer at Chattanooga’s Jewish Cultural Center. Art, music and film will all come together as the center explores and highlights the relationship between Jews, blues and jazz.

The showcase is the brainchild of Ann Treadwell, the center’s program director.

“Many of the jazz musicians, like Bennie Goodman, were Jewish. We have lots of conversations here about music being created by Jewish people,” Treadwell said. “And the history of Jews and blues is a well-known history.”

Much of the artwork now on display at the center is by Tom Farnum, who is well-known in the art world for his prints and paintings.

Activities kick off this Sunday, June 11 at the center. There will also by a CD release Sunday by Dr. Clark White, a.k.a. “deaconbluz.”

It’ll be the Chattanoogan’s second album. The songs are about contemporary issues. And it’s all about the blues.

“I wrote the album because it came from my heart,” said Dr. Clark. “Two or three songs actually happened in the studio. It really didn’t take long. It was a labor of love, but it didn’t take long at all. Some of it was ad-libbed. But it worked.”

Besides the doctor’s CD release and the art exhibit, there will be a July film screening at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, as well as weekly jazz concerts.

Ann Treadwell says it’s all meant to spark more conversations.

“We’ve had a lot of rough times in the past couple of years. And when you talk about celebrating, you almost always include music and the visual arts,” Treadwell added.

The exhibit itself at the cultural center will run into August.