Jazz for Peace Names Coordinator

Jazz for Peace names Timothy a Central Florida Event Coordinator. In addition to producing fine entertainment, the organization seeks to promote peace not only through words, but true and real action. Della Ratta, Jazz for Peace Founder, believes "Americans have failed to acknowledge jazz as our greatest contribution to the world, not just culturally, but universally." And he sees jazz as the perfect vehicle for delivering a new attitude for America. "If you're going to go through life taking the things that fill your soul and throw them to the side and take monetary, capitalistic things that victimize others and ultimately don't fill your soul, then you're going to lead to destructive behavior as a species. There's humanitarian issues involved here, and when we fill our souls up with creativity, artistry and intelligence, things of that nature, we have a better shot at avoiding the behavior that leads to destruction. By not acknowledging jazz as American's leading contribution to the world," Della Ratta says, "we are sending mixed messages to the world and to ourselves. It's been obvious to me that jazz is a music that brings enlightenment to our species. We need to raise our level of consciousness and then we can see past the need for violence and see that there's so much we can do together to make our existence greater. We have so much to offer each other ...when we fill our souls up with creativity, artistry and intelligence, things of that nature, we have a better chance at avoiding the behavior that leads to destruction."