Betty Carter News

Combine the time-honored skill of storytelling with the ageless art of music making, and the thrilling result is MASHUP-Stories Into Song, a show that explores great ideas with deeply-moving emotion in a way that's fresh, funny, heartwarming--and of course--hugely entertaining!

Each year, savvy jazz fans look forward to the annual Highlights In Jazz series. For almost a half century, the Jack Kleinsinger-produced events have brought together a multitude of beloved jazz musicians spanning an eclectic mix of generations and styles. The 2019 season is no exception, with four stellar concerts featuring some of the brightest luminaries in jazz today.

Songwriting team Jude Treder-Wolff and Wells Hanley return to The Duplex with their new collection of songs inspired by stories in MASHUP-Stories Into Song, Sunday, March 10 at 4:00 pm. MASHUP-Stories Into Song is an entirely unique show that brings an incredible line-up of storytellers and singers to the stage. Great stories have words, ideas, and an emotional energy which inspire music. Treder-Wolff and Hanley write songs inspired by stories told by some of New York's finest storytellers. With incredible arrangements by Wells Hanley, the story and song are performed as a pair, with the song performed by a singer matched to the style of the song. Stories in this performance will be told by:

The 47th season of Highlights In Jazz kicks off with an all-star concert featuring pianist/vocalist Daryl Sherman, saxophonist Houston Person, trumpeter Warren Vaché, clarinetist/saxophonist Ken Peplowski, pianist Norman Simmons, bassist Boots Maleson, and guitarist James Chirillo, plus a special surprise guest.

Composer, arranger, and conductor, David Berger, is recognized internationally as a leading authority on the music of Duke Ellington and the Swing Era. Conductor and arranger for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra from its inception in 1988 through 1994, Berger has transcribed more than 750 full scores of classic recordings, including more than 500 works by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Several of these transcriptions in addition to a number of original arrangements are featured in last season's Broadway hit, After Midnight.

Each year, savvy jazz fans look forward to the annual Highlights In Jazz series. For almost a half century, the Jack Kleinsinger-produced events have brought together a multitude of beloved jazz musicians spanning an eclectic mix of generations and styles. The 2019 season is no exception, with four stellar concerts featuring some of the brightest luminaries in jazz today.

The Nash is set to premiere a workshop specifically for novice musicians (ages 10-17) who want to learn how to solo in jazz combos or bands.

In four stellar concerts featuring some of the brightest luminaries in jazz today, 2019's Highlights In Jazz series brings together a multitude of beloved jazz musicians spanning an eclectic mix of generations and styles. You'll hear unforgettable performances from jazz veterans including Warren Vaché, Houston Person, and Norman Simmons; up-and-comers like Veronica Swift, Christian Sands, and Peter and Will Anderson; and straight-ahead stalwarts such as Steve Turre, George Cables, Buster Williams, along with many more. These gifted players and others will pay tribute to a pantheon of jazz legends, including this year's featured honoree, trumpeter Randy Brecker; plus, the music of Randy Weston, Erroll Garner, Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong will also be featured.

Storyteller/producer Jude Treder-Wolff and composer Wells Hanley present MASHUP-Stories Into Song, Sunday, December 2 at 4:00 pm at The Duplex. MASHUP-Stories Into Song features some of New York City's hottest storytellers and original songs written by Treder-Wolff and Hanley.

Birdland will kick-off their exciting month of programming with the following acts:

In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Ravinia's Steans Music Institute (RSMI) last summer, Ravinia launched a competition for composers who could fuse the worlds of jazz and classical music. Due to its success, Ravinia, with the support of DownBeat magazine, is now calling for submissions to the second annual "Bridges" international jazz and classical fusion composition competition, overseen by legendary pianist Billy Childs and double-bassist Rufus Reid, who co-direct the RSMI Jazz Program. Up to three winners will receive the David Baker Prize, named in recognition of the first RSMI Jazz director. The prize includes $2,500 in cash plus the world-premiere performance of the winning piece during Ravinia's 2019 season.

Birdland will kick-off their great week of programming with week one of the "Second Annual Celebration of Ron Carter" with Ron Carter's Great Big Band, Billy Stritch 'Autumn in the City,' Pasquale Grasso Trio, and more!

This year's competition jury will be headed by Gabrielle Tana, Dick Fontaine and Barbara Albert as Jury Presidents. ZFF screens first, second and third directorial works in the three competition categories International Feature Film, International Documentary Film and Focus: Switzerland, Germany, Austria. A separate independent jury of experts will judge the films in each of the three categories and award their Golden Eye during the Award Night at Zurich Opera House on Saturday, October 6.

Birdland will kick-off their exciting month of programming with Dee Dee Bridgewater with the Theo Croker Quintet, Kevin Eubanks Quartet, Anita Gillette, Ron Carter's Great Big Band, Quartet and Golden Striker Trio, Alan Broadbent Trio, Capathia Jenkins & Louis Rosen, Jay Leonhart, Pasquale Grasso Trio, Ken Peplowski with Special Guest Sinne Eeg, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more!

The Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum presents The Antoinette Montague Experience in concert on Thursday, July 26, as part of the popular Summer JazzFest, which combines food trucks and music for a fun summer evening. Antoinette Montague is an award-winning jazz and blues singer who performs all over the world, but has never forgotten her New Jersey roots. Joining Ms. Montague will be Ken Peplowski on sax and clarinet, “King” Solomon Hicks on guitar, Brandon McCune on piano, Melissa Slocum on bass, Bobby Sanabria on drums, and tap dancer AC Lincoln. The food truck picnic begins at 5:30 p.m. and the concert at 7:30 p.m.

Jazz is one of the major forms of musical expression. In the 1970s, jazz was moving away from strict acoustic instruments and was adding electric instruments— turning its style toward rock music. Warren Benbow, who has been playing drums since he was young, details the changes jazz music underwent in his artistic memoir, 'A Drummers Story' @ https://store.bookbaby.com/book/A-Drummers-Story1

Jack Kleinsinger's Highlights In Jazz closes its 46thseason with a tribute to lauded jazz guitarist Russell Malone. A mainstay on the Manhattan music scene since the 1980s, as well as a regular at international festivals and concert halls, Russell has attracted critical and fan recognition for his work as an accomplished leader and in-demand sideman. 

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announces the biennial festival New Visions/New Voices from April 27-29, 2018, marking the 15th showcase of this industry workshop.

Brooklyn Music School (BMS) presents an afternoon of Burnin' Jazz and Hot Barbecue, Struttin' With Some Barbecue, a fundraiser for the BMS Jazz Department, on Sunday, May 6, 2018 at 3pm at the Brooklyn Music School Playhouse, 126 Saint Felix Street, Brooklyn, NY. Tickets are $30 ($75 for family tickets) and can be purchased at https://struttin-with-some-bbq-bms-jazz-fundraiser.eventbrite.com.

Brooklyn Music School (BMS) presents an afternoon of Burnin' Jazz and Hot Barbecue, Struttin' With Some Barbecue, a fundraiser for the BMS Jazz Department, on Sunday, May 6, 2018 at 3pm at the Brooklyn Music School Playhouse, 126 Saint Felix Street, Brooklyn, NY. Tickets are $30 ($75 for family tickets) and can be purchased at https://struttin-with-some-bbq-bms-jazz-fundraiser.eventbrite.com.