'Talkin' Jazz' in Red Bank
In recognition of National Jazz Month, the Jazz Arts Project is presenting "Talkin' Jazz" every Sunday at 2 p.m. throughout April at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank.

The free jazz-lovers lecture series is being hosted and moderated by Joe Muccioli, artistic director of the Red Bankbased Jazz Arts Project. The series will feature discussions involving historic recordings, legendary jazz artists, the jazz timeline and the evolution of styles that continues to influence popular music throughout the world. Attendees will hear some of the most important jazz recordings of all time and come away with a new appreciation of this unique art form.

The series will feature a special guest and a new topic for discussion each week. Informative articles, listening lists, books and CDs will be available.

The schedule is:

Sunday, April 6, "Close Enough For Jazz."

Improvisation vs. composition: two of the basic elements in jazz. But which comes first? Join an exploration of the tightrope of jazz improvisation with a master improviser, Red Bank Jazz Orchestra's alto saxophonist Bruce Williams, along with Muccioli and Ralph Douglas, jazz trumpeter/band leader and Jazz Arts Project board member.

Sunday, April 13, "Jazz & the American Experience."

Jazz is a uniquely American art form. It is an amalgam of several disparate cultures blending into one swinging melting pot. Hear and learn about this national treasure, its correlation with democracy and how it influenced humanity throughout the world. Special guest TBA.

Sunday, April 20, "Listen!" How and what to listen for in jazz. Analyze form, harmonic and rhythmic structure. Discuss the American songbook and jazz standards; 32-bar song form, the 12-bar blues, historic recordings, legendary jazz artists, the jazz timeline and the evolution of styles that influenced popular music throughout the world. Special guest: Ed Berger, associate director of The Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University.

Sunday, April 27, "Stories, Jokes &Anecdotes."

When jazz musicians get together, they often regale one another with stories about the players and singers they've worked with. They pass around jokes, one-liners, quick-witted retorts. Take a look behind the scenes at the inside humor of jazz musicians.

Join special guests, master bassist and author Bill Crow, along with Red Bank Jazz Orchestra's lead saxophonist Andy Farber as you find out about the hip silliness of the Jazz world.

Tickets for the series are free with advance reservations, and can be reserved by calling (732) 746-2244 or e-mail to info@jazzartsproject.org.

Seating is very limited; only 40 tickets will be available per event, so reserve early. Maximum two tickets per request.

Contact information including phone number, address and e-mail is required for reservations. Attendees will receive confirmation by phone or e-mail.

The mission of the Jazz Arts Project is to preserve and promote the American musical art form through jazz performances, educational programs about jazz and its history, and to serve as an advocate for jazz. For more information, visit www.jazzartsproject.org.