Founded in 1904, the New Amsterdam Musical Association (NAMA) is the oldest African-American musical organization in the country. It was founded at a time when the musicians union didn’t admit minority musicians, and the law stated that one had to be in the union in order to perform in New York City!
Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club continues its season of in-person performances in January and February 2022, presenting a diverse lineup that pays tribute to jazz greats, showcases rising stars on the scene, and welcomes award-winning artists whose work runs the gamut of jazz styles and traditions.
The year begins with the return of Dizzy’s Club mainstays like pianistsEmmet Cohen and Cyrus Chestnut, as well as celebrations honoring the legacy of late jazz luminaries Ralph Peterson, Frank Wess, and Chick Corea. Powerhouse vocalists Vuyo Sotashe, Brianna Thomas, and Shenel Johns join forces for an evening of iconic early jazz and blues songs under the music direction of Riley Mulherkar, and Charles Turner invites audiences to put their dancing shoes on with his band Uptown Swing. In a feature double-billed program, genre-bending songwriter and keyboard player BIGYUKIperforms back-to-back with hard-swinging bassist Yasushi Nakamura. January at Dizzy’s also features a diverse range of artists performing works from recent albums that have won critical acclaim from The New York Times, DownBeat, Jazziz, NPR, and others, including a breakout debut album by young virtuoso Micah Thomas, a collection of favorite tunes by pianist and vocalist Diane Schuur, and the debut collaboration between up-and-coming vocalists Vanisha Gould and Lucy Yeghiazaryan.
Continue reading “Jazz at Lincoln Center announces Lineup for Dizzy’s Club 2022”
Jazz prodigy Matthew Whitaker will be celebrating the release of his new album, Connection, with a live concert at Harlem Stage on Saturday, September 25th at 7:30pm!
Whitaker’s new album not only communicates his growth as a player, composer, and bandleader but also the importance of community and the connections it fosters. Having been musically trained in Harlem, it’s fitting for Whitaker to debut his new album at the Harlem Stage Gatehouse, celebrating his ties to the city that has shaped him as one of the leading artists of his generation.
As we approach August, and the return of the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, Summerstage, and Jazzmobile’s Summerfest, ~ Uptown Grand Central and Jazzmobile announced the August 12th commemorative street co-naming of East 126th Street between Fifth and Madison Avenues. Art Kane Harlem 1958 Place will be named on the 63rd anniversary of the gathering of the 57 jazz luminaries in the iconic East Harlem photograph taken by Art Kane ~ A Great Day in Harlem.
Continue reading “Celebrate Art Kane Harlem 1958 Place ~ a Co-Street Naming on August 12th”
Sittin’ In tells the little-known story of America’s jazz clubs of the 1940s and 1950s. In exclusive interviews, iconic musicians Sonny Rollins and Quincy Jones and preeminent jazz historian Dan Morgenstern give first-person accounts of the clubs Rollins called “a paradisiacal place to be.”
In additional interviews, musician, MacArthur Fellow and Kennedy Center creative director Jason Moran, and Pulitzer Prize-winning fashion critic Robin Givhan explore the music, history, culture and abundant style of the era.
Separate sections survey the jazz histories and clubs of New York City, Atlantic City, Washington D.C., Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Kansas City, St. Louis, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Remembering pianist, composer and educator, Mulgrew Miller
If you love Jazz, you’ve been to Smalls Jazz Club in Greenwich Village. Below are a few photos taken at the Club over the years by Ben Lieberman, photographer and lover of jazz.
Harlem Late Night Jazz, Inc. presents St. Nick’s Pub Dedication Jazz Festival with 14 very special one-time performances, jam sessions, singers, tap dancers and more. Join the celebration….
Continue reading “St. Nick’s Pub Dedication Jazz Festival by Harlem Late Night Jazz”
Jazzmobile held its annual community fundraiser on Monday evening, April 30th at First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem, and it was smokin! Didn’t make it? We have you covered. Here are a few pictures from the event and a way that you can participate in the Jazzmobile fundraiser even if you weren’t there.
Continue reading “Keep the Music Playing ~ A Jazzmobile Community Fundraiser”
Get ready for the Alegria, Urban Latin Jazz Portrait Concert ~ new, original compositions by Samuel Torres from his forthcoming album, Alegria, presented by City College Center for the Arts on Friday, May 18th.
The 4th Annual GANYC Apple Awards (The Guides Association of New York City) will take place on March 12th, with an exciting list of nominees.
…….And the Winners are ~
Continue reading “Who will be the Winners of the 2018 GANYC Apple Awards!”
Herman Leonard: The Rhythm of Old New York on view at Robert Mann Gallery in Chelsea to October 14
Continue reading “Herman Leonard: The Rhythm of Old New York at Robert Mann Gallery”
Continue reading “Charlie Parker Jazz Festival ~ August 23 – 27!”
This Friday’s Photos From the Archives – Remembering St. Nick’s Jazz Pub. Images taken by Ben Lieberman
Jazz Legent, Sonny Rollins. Image courtesy of The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, with photo credit via Chuck Stewart
This Friday’s Photo From the Archives is of the Spike Wilner Trio . Kicking off the Holiday weekend at Small’s Jazz Club on West 10th Street, Image via Ben Lieberman.
