“The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure” Photos and Video from Epcot Exhibit

Hi everyone!

“The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure” opened at Epcot on February 1st, 2021. While the new exhibit coincides with Black History Month, it will continue beyond February (with no end date given). “The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure” is in the American Adventure Rotunda. 

Disney says of this exhibit, “The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure” debuts today at The American Adventure, inviting guests on a musical tour of the United States to learn more about this colorful, inspiring and constantly evolving genre of music. This new exhibit features Joe Gardner, the musician, mentor and teacher from “Soul,” as he shares the rich and surprising history of jazz from several influential cities: New Orleans, Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The banners outside include characters from “Soul”.

The exhibit takes up part of the rotunda.

Here is our video of the exhibit.

Joe Gardner presents the exhibit in this artwork.

The various cities are mentioned here.

There are artifacts displayed in cases. 

Louis Armstrong’s trumpet.

The trumpet is from around 1964 and the sign says “It is believed Armstrong played this particular trumpet while recording the album ‘Disney Songs the Satchmo Way in 1968”.

Photos of Louis Armstrong are in the case.

Maxwell Davis sheet music is in the case on the opposite side.

A photo is on one side of the sheet music.

Maxwell Davis “wrote this jazzy rendition of ‘Whistle While You Work’ for the multi-talented musician Louis Armstrong”.

Gene Krupa drumsticks are in this case. 

The sign says he “revolutionized the notion of the ‘drum solo'”.

The various signs offer guests a journey through jazz, including a stop in Los Angeles.

Musicians on this sign include Kamasi Washington, Beyoncé and Thundercat.

Another stop on the journey is New Orleans.

Louis Armstrong is featured here.

Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton.

New York City includes Joe Gardner in the center.

“Music is all I think about. From the moment I wake up in the morning to the moment I fall asleep at night”.

The New York signage includes The Cotton Club, Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie.

Billie Holiday is featured.  

There is more to the exhibit and you can see that in the video. “The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure” is a nice addition to the American Adventure pavilion!