From the Desk of President + Founder Melissa Walker
This week marks the end of spring semester classes at the JAZZ HOUSE, and our school programs are starting to wind down. We celebrated the occasion at this past Saturday’s JAZZ HOUSE Spring Showcase held at the beautiful Trinity Commons in New York City. For many of our students, this was their first “city gig.” We showcased 13 ensembles for seven hours, everything from small group combos and organ to vocal and big bands. This year we welcomed to the stage two of our Newark programs, Science High School Big Band and the Arts High School Combo. It is always a swinging occasion to see the growth of our students in their ensemble performances, and Saturday did not disappoint!
LINK! Watch the livestream archive of the Spring Concert in its entirety
LINK! See more photo highlights from the Spring Concert on Facebook
JAZZ HOUSE Music Scholars End-of-Year Concerts
The celebrations continue today starting with the Senator Frank Lautenberg School 6 in Paterson. JAZZ HOUSE KiDS established the school’s new JAZZ HOUSE Music Scholars Program, the first music formal music program in more than a decade. The new Jazz Band will make its debut performance at today’s Spring Showcase + Award Ceremony, which will also include a performance from the JAZZ HOUSE All-Stars featuring our incredible teaching faculty with very special guests, Christian McBride and Nat Adderley, Jr. and alumni, drummer Donovan Marshall, who attended Paterson schools.
I’d like to recognize the great work of Galo Inga, our manager of in-school programs alongside lead instructor Abel Mireles to get this program off the ground successfully. We are grateful for the invaluable support we’ve received from our Paterson School District champions, Superintendent Eileen Shafer and Assistant Superintendent Cheryl Coy, as well as School 6 administrators and music faculty. Thank you!
CONGRATULATIONS JAZZ HOUSE BIG BAND!
Three Cheers for the Big Band!
The JAZZ HOUSE Big Band under the direction of the masterful Nathan Eklund played their socks off at the Essentially Ellington High School Competition and Festival at Jazz at Lincoln Center, as one of 15 finalists in the most prestigious big band competition in the nation. Students who are part of ensembles that get to this point find it transforming — an experience that they will never forget (and always goes on their resumes). The great Wynton Marsalis, friend and admirer of the JAZZ HOUSE, delivered inspiring opening remarks and really recognized the efforts of all the music directors to keep music vibrant in young people even when programs went online or were shut down. Congratulations to all 2022 participants!
2022 Ellington Competition Recognition
- JAZZ HOUSE Big Band
- Best sax section
- Best trumpet section
- Soloist Honors:
- Honorable mention piano – James Pakhomou
- Outstanding violin – Jacquie Lee
- Outstanding bass – Sam Konin
- Outstanding clarinet – Mark Ricco
- Outstanding alto saxophone – Ginger Meyer
- Honorable mention trumpet – Violet Mujica
- Outstanding trumpet – Alvaro Caravaca
- Outstanding piano & outstanding bass – Ben Collins-Siegel
- Outstanding drums – Ben Schwartz
Congratulations to all our students and band director Nathan Eklund! Thank you to all our families and hard-working crew. Woohoo!
REGISTER FOR SUMMER TODAY!
SPEND YOUR SUMMER WITH US!
Summer Sessions | June + July
Book your Tuesdays to learn the classics of funk, soul and R&B from one of the best in the business, the great pianist and producer Nat Adderley, Jr.! This multigenerational class will focus on the essential tunes, stylistic nuances, and grooves that became the soundtrack for American culture. From James Brown, Prince, Sly and the Family Stone, Earth, Wind and Fire, Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross and more, this ensemble will get you in the pocket with R+B ballads, mid-tempo grooves, and high energy hits. “Get on the good foot!”
Summer Session Ensembles
Take a deep dive into compositions of jazz’s iconic composers and how they created their unique sound:
- the great pianist Horace Silver
- alto sax legend Jackie McClean
- jazz vocalist Carmen McRae
- queens of the jazz organ, Shirley Scott, Rhoda Scott, Trudy Pitts, and Gloria Coleman
Summer Sessions Electives
Learn to develop YOUR musical voice with our in-person and online electives such as music video production, rhythm section workout and music video production.
JAZZ HOUSE Summer Workshop | August 1 – 13
Work hard and play hard at the award-winning workshop held on the campus of Montclair State University. The intensive two-week session immerses students in the art of jazz performance and helps them become well-rounded musicians through ensemble performances and jam sessions with professional musicians.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Christian Turns 50! To celebrate 8-time GRAMMY-winning bassist and our Artistic Director Christian McBride, the JAZZ HOUSE has teamed up with the New Jersey Performing Arts Center to give him a proper roast, something he’s always wanted. A super comedy fan, we are thrilled to oblige Christian by putting him on the hot seat for this one night only.
Dinner will be right on stage at NJPAC’s Prudential Hall, followed by an evening full of belly laughs, musical accompaniment and an all-star cast of pros and pals like comic geniuses George Wallace and Jeff Ross on hand to skewer one of the nicest people we know. Hurry! Tickets are going fast!
All proceeds benefit the educational programs of two organizations close to Christian’s heart: NJPAC and JAZZ HOUSE KiDS
Saturday, June 11
Come support the inaugural Montclair Pride Festival downtown and catch the the JAZZ HOUSE Ambassadors Ensemble on the School of Rock stage!
Get involved in the MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL! presented by BDP Holdings, LLC
- Become a Vendor
- Volunteer
- Become a Festival
- Sponsor or Friend of the Festival
- Advertise in our Digital Program Book