FROM THE [home desk] OF OUR PRESiDENT & FOUNDER
Dear friends and families,
Welcome to On the Sunny Side of the Street!
This is our weekly newsletter where we take a look at what we’ve been doing to help our community stay connected, creative and uplifted.
Today, I had the thrill of hosting our 2nd CHiCA Power Roundtable with our Jazz in July students. Last week, we welcomed composer and pianist HELEN SUNG and saxophonist LAUREN SEVIAN to an enjoyable noontime discussion. This week the incredible Australian bassist LINDA MAY HAN OH and singer & saxophonist CAMILLE THURMAN joined us. These trailblazing women shared stories about their own experiences of how, as young players, they overcame their lack of confidence when they were the only female on the stage. They talked about the importance of having female mentors and gave advice on how to seek them out. Our students were fully engaged in the discussion, asking thoughtful questions. They talked about their own experiences and struggles with confidence on and off the bandstand. Today we were joined by several of our CHiCA Power supporters. Special thanks to our 2020 CHiCA sponsors: The ASCAP Foundation Louis Armstrong Fund; The LSS Group at J.P. Morgan Securities; Patrina Foundation; The PSEG Foundation, RHG Architecture + Design; Scholarships in honor of Dr. Byerte W. Johnson; and Susan and Chris Gifford.
An old axiom says that when one door closes a window opens. Sometimes it’s hard to see any silver lining with all that’s happening in our world lately, but these past few months confirms what we already knew — the universal language of jazz brings people together.
I am so impressed by the strides made by online learning and our team’s ability to continue to create special opportunities to build our community … this time literally around the world. Through our Friday Night Hang @ Home Listening Party, Wednesday Masterclasses, LunchTime concerts on Tuesdays and Thursdays and summer programming, we have made so many wonderful connections to new jazz friends across the world. A special shout out to all of our summer international students — like Patrick from from Malawi featured in this week’s Student Spotlight — we hear you practicing and thank you for the great questions. A big thank you to our faculty for all of the deep knowledge they are sharing. We never stop swinging!
JOIN US TONIGHT!
The Jazz Organ Hang @ Home Listening Party with Christian McBride + Melissa Walker
Friday, July 31 | 8:00 pm ET (Zoom or Facebook)
Tonight Christian and I welcome the great JOEY DeFRANCESCO, JAZZ HOUSE alum and rising star MATTHEW WHITAKER (who was just profiled on 60 Minutes last Sunday!) and our faculty member and master organist RADAM SCHWARTZ to jump into the world of the jazz organ. All three talented artists are expanding the cannon of the jazz organ. Christian and Joey have been friends since middle school, so expect some great stories tonight!
I want to THANK three of my favorite jazz composers for a wonderful Listening Party last week — BILLY CHILDS, HELEN SUNG and OSCAR PEREZ.
Stay safe, welcome to August and keep your mask up!
Straight ahead….
PS — Next week stay tuned for some exciting announcements about fall programming. Our team has been working hard to create some great experiences for our students!
TONIGHT! HANG @ HOME LISTENING PARTY
YOU CAN HELP JAZZ HOUSE KiDS PLAY THROUGH THE CHANGES
JOiN US for our HANG @ HOME LISTENING PARTY hosted by CHRISTIAN McBRIDE + MELISSA WALKER
THE JAZZ ORGAN
Hang @ Home Listening Party swings into the jazz organ as our special guests share and discuss their favorite recordings that inspire this distinctive niche within the music. Hammond B3 fans won’t want to miss this one!
TWO WAYS TO JOiN THE PARTY!
VIA ZOOM:
The first 100 folks to sign up on ZOOM will participate directly with the hosts and panelists. Register in advance! ZOOM LINK. Please add your name + city when you register, so Christian can call you out during the Q&A. You’ll get a confirmation by email and we’ll see you at the party! ZOOM Doors open Friday, May 8 at 7:45 pm; Showtime 8:00 pm ET
VIA FACEBOOK:
Hop onto Facebook Live
Share your comments with our listening audience
DONATE TODAY!
Throughout the evening you’ll have an opportunity to add to our virtual “Tip Jar.” Any donation, no matter how big or small can make a difference to support and the continuation of this very special organization that is having an impact on the global stage and in the lives of young people each and every day of the week.
100% of the proceeds to benefit the JAZZ HOUSE KiDS Relief Fund. Help us provide direct support for our families hardest hit by the pandemic and to provide online gigs and teaching opportunities for our awesome faculty. If you’re in a position to help, we could really use your support right now to help keep the JAZZ HOUSE swingin’! Check us out here.
JAZZ HOUSE SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Meet Patrick, one of our many international students who took part in the JAZZ HOUSE Summer Experience. A keyboardist from Malawi, Africa and very involved in the music program of his church, Patrick participated in JAZZ in JUNE’s piano class with “Mr. Markus,” which helped expand his technique, ensemble and solo playing. Take a listen!
Special thanks to Janet Shapiro and Phillip Byrd who made possible Patrick’s participation this summer.
WEDNESDAYS WITH THE MASTERS! JAZZ HOUSE KiDS MASTERCLASS SERIES
COMING UP NEXT WEEK:
6-time GRAMMY Award-winning Bassist
CHRISTIAN McBRIDE
Bassist, bandleader and JAZZ HOUSE KiDS Artistic Chair CHRISTIAN McBRIDE welcomes all improvising musicians to his masterclass. Students will have the opportunity to perform for Christian as well as get real-life tips and insights. A truly unique learning experience!
August 4 @ 8:00 pm ET
REGISTER HERE
Many thanks to NEA Jazz Master MARIA SCHNEIDER, for giving us a window into her world of composition and sharing her new release, “Data Lords” with all of us at last Wednesday’s masterclass. Music is truly a universal language as students from Italy, Serbia, Spain, Peru, Costa Rica, Taiwan and the U.S. tuned in!
Open to all ages and levels from across the globe!
Check out the entire Summer Masterclass series here!
JAZZ IN JULY
As we complete our third week of JAZZ in JULY, our students and faculty are really getting into the groove! While all sharpening their skills on their instruments and connecting with their peers, students are developing skills that apply on and off the bandstand — creativity, tech savvy, focus, collaboration, composition and improvisation.
Every day at noon, all students and faculty come together for a special masterclass and Q&A. This week, CHRISTIAN McBRIDE welcomed legendary drummer and educator BILLY HART. Jazz historian ASHLEY KHAN leads an informative masterclass each week, this time focusing on the music and legacy of Miles Davis.
Fridays are reserved for special programs such as CHiCA Power, JAZZ HOUSE KiDS’ year-round initiative focused exclusively on the empowerment of young girls, ages 9 to 18. We had two amazing roundtable discussions with our special guests, composer and pianist HELEN SUNG, saxophonist LAUREN SAVIAN, bassist LINDA MAY HAN OH and singer & saxophonist CAMILLE THURMAN.
Mark your calendar for a few big dates to wrap up our JAZZ HOUSE Summer Experience:
- Thursday, August 6 @ 12 noon ET — Presented by the MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL, the JAZZ HOUSE Collective, our talented teaching artists in concert for our students and streamed on FACEBOOK for our families and friends
- Friday, August 7 @ 7:30 pm ET — Final JAZZ in JULY concert with all ensembles, streamed live on FACEBOOK
- Thursday, August 13 @ 7:30 pm ET — JAZZ HOUSE Big Band performance streamed live on world-renowned Dizzy’s Club on Jazz at Lincoln Center FACEBOOK page
Our grateful thanks to our Summer Experience Supporters:
- The ASCAP Foundation Louis Armstrong Fund
- Gia Maione Prima Foundation
- ShopRite of Newark and Bloomfield
- Verizon Foundation
- And our many individual supporters!
We thank our National and International Summer Partners:
- The Clef Club | Philadelphia, PA
- Colegio Trener | Peru
- The Dream Project | Dominican Republic
- Escola de Musica de Estado de São Paulo |Brazil
- The Jazz Exchange / SMART | Mexico
- Saulkrasti Jazz Festival | Latvia
- Tomorrow’s Warriors | London, United Kingdom
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
FRIDAY NIGHTS!
Friday, July 31 @ 8:00 pm ET
Hang @ Home Listening Party with CHRISTIAN McBRIDE + MELISSA WALKER
THE JAZZ ORGAN
with special guests JOEY DeFRANCESCO * MATTHEW WHITAKER * RADAM SCHWARTZ
Friday, August 7 @ 7:30 pm ET
Watch Party!
JAZZ in JULY CULMINATING EVENT
Streamed on Facebook
Friday, August 14 + 28, 8:00 pm ET
Hang @ Home Listening Party with CHRISTIAN McBRIDE + MELISSA WALKER
Friday, Saturday and Sunday August 21 – 23, 8:00 pm ET
BEST of the MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL
hosted by CHRISTIAN McBRIDE + MELISSA WALKER
Streamed on FACEBOOK and Montclair Jazz Festival website
MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL Lunchtime Live!
Tuesdays, Noon ET
Connect with us every Tuesday for our LunchTime LIVE! Each week we will feature one of our talented teaching artists or friends in performance live. Grab a sandwich and join us. A big thank you to drummer Vince Ector and friends, for a great LunchTime Live this past Tuesday!
Streamed on Facebook
Tuesday, August 4 @ noon ET
LunchTime Live on FACEBOOK
Lisette Santiago: vocals and percussion
Elio Villafranca: piano
Jennifer Vincent: bass
Richard Padrón: guitar
Thursday, August 6, NOON ET
MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL presents
JAZZ HOUSE COLLECTIVE LUNCHTIME JAM SESSION
Live on FACEBOOK and the Montclair Jazz Fest website!
Thursday, August 13 @ 7:30 pm ET
JAZZ HOUSE Big Band performance
Streamed live on FACEBOOK from the world-renowned Dizzy’s Club on Jazz at Lincoln Center
MASTERCLASS SERIES: WEDNESDAYS WITH THE MASTERS
A VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS SIGNATURE SUPPORTERS!
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- Appaloosa Management Charitable Foundation Inc
- ASCAP Foundation Louis Armstrong Fund
- Coastal Community Foundation of
South Carolina - Cool Wind Ventilation Corp
- Devils Care Foundation
- E.J. Grassmann Trust
- The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
- Holly English and Fred Smagorinsky
- Gia Maione Prima Foundation
- The Hearst Foundation
- The Herb Alpert Foundation
- Hudson Media, Inc.
- Hyde and Watson Foundation
- J.T. Magen & Company
- Susan and Chris Gifford
- Kenneth Goldman Donor Fund
- Manhattan Mechanical Contractors
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- New Jersey State Council on
the Arts - National Endowment for the Arts
- PSEG Foundation
- Ralph Pucci International
- The Peter Kiernan and Eaddo Kiernan Foundation
- Nerissa Radell and Russell Gioiella
- Rita and Terry Woodard
- Mikhail and Sofia Segal
- Janet Shapiro and Phillip Byrd
- Silver Family Foundation
- Sandra Smith
- TD Charitable Foundation
- Turrell Fund
- Verizon Foundation
- The Victoria Foundation
- York Capital Managemen
- and many other generous donors…
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“My boys told me they would rather play than practice.”
~ Jimmy Smith; “King of Jazz Organ”
