Mayor Muriel Bowser has extended an open invitation, this January, to experience the rhythms of jazz at Union Station. As detailed on the Mayor's official website, every Tuesday and Wednesday, between 4 and 6 pm, local jazz musicians will grace The Stage in the Main Hall for their January Jazz Jam event. In her pursuit of infusing Washington, DC with cultural flair, Mayor Bowser expressed, "Union Station is one of the busiest and most important gateways in our region, and we want people who come through the station or arrive here in DC to have a welcoming experience – and a uniquely DC experience.
This venture is a collaboration between the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC) and Sing for Hope, with backing from the DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH). According to LaToya Foster, director of OCTFME, "OCTFME is proud to sponsor January Jazz Jam as part of our continued investment in local creatives." Her statement resonated with the capital's ambition to not only support its artists but to integrate their work into the everyday lives of its citizens, according to the press release.
The event’s lineup boasts an impressive array of talent, including the Herb Scott Trio, MilesDevon Music, the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Jazz Combo, and the Wesley Biles Trio. Aaron Myers, Executive Director of the CAH, lauded the lineup. "Jazz is the heartbeat of Washington, DC, and there is no better way to celebrate our city’s rich musical heritage than by bringing live performances into the daily lives of residents," he said. Echoing this sentiment, the series promises to lend travelers a much-welcomed respite, from their daily rush, as per the Mayor's Office.
Amidst the bustling backdrop of transit and foot traffic, patrons can enjoy the jazz sessions while indulging in the culinary offerings of Union Station's dining establishments. The promising integration of art and convenience is palpable as travelers step into a space hosting the sounds and tastes that are characteristic of DC. With Union Station's ongoing transformation, vested in Jennifer Seo, the Program Manager at USRC claims, "This series enhances the daily journey for our riders and reinforces Union Station as a welcoming gateway to the nation’s capital." Union Station is not only a travel hub but blossoms as a beacon of the city's cultural exuberance, as noted by the Mayor's Office.
Mayor Bowser's administration has a tradition of supporting the arts, with reports indicating that DC's creative economy generated over $15 billion and sustained more than 50,000 jobs in 2023. January Jazz Jam feeds into this larger narrative. It's an embodiment of a movement that recognizes the arts as an infrastructure equally pivotal as the city's transit or roads—a sentiment echoed by Sing for Hope Co-Founders Monica Yunus and Camille Zamora who stated, "Live music can turn routine travel into a joyful experience of creative welcome and community," as stated in the release.
