Become a member of JazzBoston and join the fun on Tuesday, January 31, from 6 to 8 pm as we say thank you to all our members and friends for their support throughout the year and celebrate our sixth anniversary as an organization. We'll also raise a glass to our Guest of Honor, Mae Arnette, known for decades as "Boston's First Lady of Song," and since she retired in 2007, simply as "The Legend."

Once again this year the party will be hosted by Ryles, the popular Cambridge club owned and operated by the Mitchell/Wheeler family that has long been a destination for music and food lovers of all generations.

There will be tributes by Elynor Walcott of Wally's Jazz Cafe and Fred Taylor, Sculler's Entertainment Director; music by Frank Wilkins' We Jazz Up ensemble; appetizers from Ryles top-notch culinary team; complimentary beer and wine tickets; birthday cake; and a variety of door prizes. Among the prizes:

• A dinner-and-show package with tickets for two to "In Love with Parris" at The Regent Theatre, Arlington, on Feb. 11 at 8 p.m., featuring jazz vocalist Rebecca Parris, preceded by dinner at Flora Restaurant, just down the street.
  
• Two tickets to "Playing for Change Live" on Mar. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at Berklee Performance Center.
• A gift certificate for two for dinner and a show at Scullers.
• Sunday brunch for two at Darryl's Corner Bar & Kitchen
• Two tickets to Jason Moran's multimedia project "In My Mind 1959" on Feb. 2 at 8 p.m. at New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall.
  

In recognition of UNESCO'S proclamation last fall of April 30th of each year as International Jazz Day, JazzBoston has adopted an international theme for its 6th annual presentation of Jazz Week throughout the Greater Boston area this spring. For 10 days from April 27 to May 6, Jazz Week '12 International will showcase the cultural diversity that gives the Greater Boston jazz scene its unique flavor with performances of jazz in all styles by hundreds of talented musicians, both home grown and from around the globe.

Last year Jazz Week featured more than 250 events, many of them free or low cost, at 90+ venues throughout the Greater Boston area. We expect those numbers to grow in 2012, and urge musicians, presenters, and venue owners to start planning now to participate.

You can find more information here about participating in Jazz Week '12. Click here if you'd like to become a Jazz Week '12 volunteer.

The Arts and Business Council of Greater Boston is launching its first professional development series geared specifically to the needs of Boston's musicians. Workshops, webinars, e-books, and individual coaching sessions will cover topics ranging from marketing and business strategy to digital rights, band agreements, sponsorship opportunities, concert planning, and artist management. Musicians will leave the Musician's Professional Toolbox program with a business/marketing plan, improved materials, insights into financial management and fundraising, tips and tools of the trade, the support of fellow musicians, and new industry contacts.

Starting Feb. 13 and culminating in the Rethink Music Conference on Apr. 23 - 24, the cost of the program, including full access to the conference, is $225, payable in installments. JazzBoston members pay only $180 after their 20% discount. This may be too good an offer to refuse.

Click here to become a JazzBoston member now. Then click here for details and register to save your place.

New England Conservatory is offering JazzBoston members a $5 discount off the full ticket price of $20 or $30 for Jason Moran's multimedia project, "In My Mind 1959" (photo right) on Feb. 2 at 8 p.m. Members can redeem the discount in person at the Jordan Hall box office or by calling 617.585.1260 and showing their membership card or mentioning JazzBoston. If you prefer to purchase online, go to tix.com, select your seat, and enter JBMORAN in the "enter promotional code" field.

The Regent Theatre, Arlington, is offering JazzBoston members a $5 discount per ticket for Rebecca Parris's "In Love with Parris," Feb. 11 at 8 p.m., if they mention JazzBoston when purchasing tickets by phone or in person at The Regent box office, or enter the "JB" discount code when purchasing online.

Wynton Marsalis continues his two-year lecture series at Harvard with an exploration of root styles of American music in Harvard's Sanders Theatre on Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. The event includes musical illustrations by Doug Wamble, Herlin Riley, Houston Person , Lucky Peterson, Reginald Veal and Brianna Thomas. Click here for ticket information.

Bill Lowe and John Kordalewski present "Listening to Jazz" workshops and seminars on Feb. 4 and Feb. 18 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Dudley Branch Library, 65 Warren Street, Roxbury.

Computer music pioneer George Lewis presents "Improvisation as a Way of Life" on Feb. 9 at 4:30 p.m. at Wellesley College's Newhouse Center for the Humanities, 106 Central Street, Wellesley, and "Spontaneous Sounds," a concert with pianist Vijay Iyer on Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. at Wellesley's Houghton Chapel.

We know you receive a lot of newsletters, and we want ours to be one of your favorites. Please send your comments and suggestions to newsletter@jazzboston.org. To find out more about JazzBoston, including membership benefits and volunteer opportunities, check out our website at www.jazzboston.org. And please pass this newsletter along to all the jazz fans and music lovers you know!