Jane Ira Bloom, a soprano saxophonist and composer, will give the keynote address for the second Interdisciplinary Jazz Colloquium at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Kansas Union’s Alderson Auditorium.

The colloquium is open to the public and runs from 8:45 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. in Alderson Auditorium with the theme: “Improvising America.”

Jazz scholars and artists from across the country will explore changing definitions of America and jazz through an examination of the music in its various cultural, musical and social contexts. The colloquium is in conjunction with the 28th KU Jazz Festival Friday and Saturday, and with “Writing, Teaching, Performing America,” an interdisciplinary conference Thursday-Saturday.

Bloom, winner of the 2001 & 2003 Jazz Journalists Award for soprano sax of the year, will speak on “Improvisation: Like the Weather.”