JAZZ EVENTS- NEW YORK CITY

We are pleased to announce our 2015 Spring Benefit Concert on June 10 at 7:30 PM   Dianne Reeves, 2015 Grammy Award winner will be the featured performer along with special guests! SAVE THE DATE! Wednesday, June 10, 2015, 7:30 PM The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College East 68th Street btw. Park & Lexington Tickets are now available online ($35 and $55). You can purchase online tickets HERE. Corporate and private sponsorships currently available. Please click here for more information.

Tuesday, May 5th Harlem Renaissance: Blues Culture, Jazz and the Written Word, Part Two Jazz for Curious Listeners 7:00-8:30pm Host: Greg Thomas Location: The National Jazz Museum in Harlem FREE TO THE PUBLIC Author/historian Greg Thomas continues his provocative look into the worlds of Alain Locke, Jean Toomer, Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston, four of the most innovative and original literary voices to emerge out of the Harlem of the 1920's. The focus will be on race, art and culture, and the blues idiom as presented in their poetry and prose during the 1920s and beyond, influencing countless writers and scholars here and abroad. Rare recordings and video footage will supplement the lectures. Join the Facebook event here.

Thursday, May 7th Dan Morgenstern Harlem Speaks 7:00-8:30pm Location:   The National Jazz Museum in Harlem FREE TO THE PUBLIC Internationally respected as a preeminent jazz scholar, Dan Morgenstern recently celebrated his 85th birthday. The former Director of The Institute of Jazz Studies came to America from Europe in 1947, and through his love of jazz, quickly became close friends with legendary trumpeter Oran "Hot Lips" Page. This led to a first-hand knowledge of Harlem's jazz clubs and nightlife in general in a way most outsiders would never have had access to. Join us as this distinguished historian (and intimate of Louis Armstrong and many other jazz giants) shares his memories and reflections. Join the Facebook event here.

Tuesday, May 12th Jazz on Film  Symphony in Riffs: Benny Carter 7:00-8:30pm    Location:   Maysles Cinema 343 Malcolm X Blvd. (between 127/128th Streets), New York, NY 10027 Suggested Donation: $10 Host: Ed Berger with Mrs. Hilma Carter Benny Carter had such a prolific career, from breaking the color line for Hollywood composers, to being one of the most imitated saxophonists in jazz's early years, to creating a new sound for jazz big bands in the 1930s, that his Harlem accomplishments are frequently overlooked. It was Carter's band that opened the new Apollo Theater in 1934, and in years to come, they were regularly featured at the Savoy Ballroom. We should also mention that Mr. Carter was an early booster of NJMH, a tradition Mrs. Hilma Carter has continued since his 2007 passing. This documentary film from 1988 caught Carter as he leapt undiminished into his 80s. Our host will be Carter's biographer and long-time record producer Ed Berger, with special guest Mrs. Hilma Carter.    Join the Facebook event here.

Tuesday, May 19th Something To Live For: The Strayhorn Centennial, Part Three The Young Lions: Juilliard Jazz in Harlem Chamber Jazz Series  7:00-8:30pm Location: The National Jazz Museum in Harlem FREE TO THE PUBLIC Julliard Jazz Trio featuring pianist Mathis Picard In its continuing series of chamber jazz events celebrating the music of Billy Strayhorn,  NJMH is proud to present the Juilliard Jazz Trio, led by virtuoso pianist Mathis Picard. Mathis Picard, a young and upcoming jazz pianist currently living in New York City. Born in France, he began playing the piano at the age of 4. His musical education switched from classical to jazz early on in his life, starting at the 'Centre Musical de Didier Lockwood´, age 8. After moving to the United Kingdom in 2005, he was a student of Gerri Rossi & Tommy Smith. He was also a student of Dennis Montgomerry III in Berklee's summer program in Italy, where he also received two consecutive outstanding musicianship awards in 2007 & 2008. At ages 10 & 12 Picard was the youngest ever finalist at the Montreux Jazz Piano competition and was awarded a special prize on Bitch occasions. Convinced at age 11 he wanted to be a musician, Picard joined 'Chetham's School of Music' in Manchester, UK. It was there that music became a lifetime passion. During his time in the UK Picard published his first composition in the Real Book North West, and was featured as a guest artist on the Christmas edition of 'Jazzwise Magazine UK's CD release' In 2008. Later that year Picard became sponsored by the 'Little Dreams Foundation', founded by Phil Collins. Picard performed as a finalist in the Nottingham International Jazz Piano Competition as well as in the Yamaha Jazz Experience in 2010. In 2011, Picard was commissioned to write a piece and perform with the Northern Chamber Orchestra (NCO) and his jazz trio in 2012. Picard has been attending The Juilliard School since 2012, and has performed alongside Jason Moran, Sonny Emory, Patty Austin & Lee Ritenour. He has been featured on the ARTE TV (FRA/GER) series of his lifestyle in NYC which has been been broadcasted worldwide, and has received a Jazz Piano Young Arts award. He was also a semi-finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician awards in 2013. Most recently, Picard was awarded 2nd place for the Parmigiani Montreux Jazz Piano Solo Competition in 2014 and was named one of the 12 upcoming artists for the Montreux Jazz Academy. During his time in NYC, Picard was featured in a solo piano album which also included Dan Tepfer & Kevin Hays which is due for release in September 2015. As a side project Picard has released an EP on Origami Sound (Romania) under the alias 'JAONA' which was released in September 2014 with critical acclaim. Currently in his third year at Juilliard School education, Picard is a recipient of the Nina Carasso Foundation Scholarship Join the Facebook event here.

Tuesday, May 26th Harlem Speaks Reggie Workman 7:00-8:30pm Location: The National Jazz Museum in Harlem FREE TO THE PUBLIC    A true giant of jazz and a paragon of education, bassist/composer/bandleader Reggie Workman gave NJMH one it's most memorable interviews in 2006; now it's time to catch up his great accomplishments over the past 9 years. We are proud to be presenting Professor Workman with the NJMH Legends of Jazz Award at our June 10th Gala this year.  A legendary bassist, Reggie Workman is highly regarded as a bass player's bass player. Workman's playing styles cover the range of modern music from Bop to Post-Bop, to Futuristic, incorporating a contemporary approach to jazz improvisation and composition. His uncanny ability to equally understand and share musical ideas with such diverse musicians as Art Blakey on one side and Cecil Taylor on the other is stunning. As a result, Workman has invented his own language of sound and expression as a performer and composer. An ardent advocate of arts education, Workman is a Professor and Coordinator of Curriculum at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Studies, an institution recognized around the world as one of the greatest schools for jazz education: "With a faculty of accomplished professionals, it is safe to say that no program is a better example of students (new to the Jazz experience) being able to learn from the source." Reggie Workman has always been active in music outreach and education to the community. He co-founded the historic Collective Black Artists (CBA), and was Music Director of the famous New Muse Community Center (Brooklyn, NY). He is presently Co-Director of The Montclair Academy of Dance & Laboratory of Music Studio and Founder/Producer of the Sculptured Sounds Music Festival, an artist-driven festival of futuristic music and concepts. Workman has performed and recorded with giants of jazz including John Coltrane, Art Blakely, Eric Dolphy, Max Roach, Abbey Lincoln, Cecil Taylor, Mal Waldron, Archie Shepp, Sam Rivers, Trio 3 and Great Friends as well as emerging jazz legends such Jason Moran. He established himself as a bandleader and composer in the 70's when he first presented his stellar group, Top Shelf. Since then, Workman has continued developing new music arts curriculums and workshops and presenting various Reggie Workman ensembles under the umbrella of his production company, Sculptured Sounds, in the United States and internationally. Join the Facebook event here.