Donald Byrd News

The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF) announced today the names of the 2019 Doris Duke Artists, each receiving an award of $275,000 intended as an investment in and celebration of these artists' ongoing contributions to the fields of contemporary dance, jazz and theater. A total of $250,000 of the prize is completely unrestricted, and $25,000 is dedicated to encouraging savings for retirement or later life needs.

Birdland will kick-off their great week of programming with the following acts:

Birdland Jazz Club announces July 2019 Schedule featuring Veronica Swift with the Emmet Cohen Trio, Freddy Cole Quartet, Steve Smith's Groove Blue Organ Trio, John Pizzarelli: Two-week engagement, Nancy Kelly, Konrad Paszkudzki and Pasquale Grasso, Lew Tabackin Trio, Michael Wolff Trio, Laura Osnes, Alyssa Allgood Quartet, Ladybugs, The Lineup with Susie Mosher, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more.

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Stonewall and World Pride coming to New York for the first time ever, Labyrinth Dance Theaterpresents Come Back Once More So I Can Say Goodbye,an evening-length theatrical dance concert featuring live original music and choreography, vintage recordings, historic footage, political soundbites and stunning visuals.Artistic Director Sasha Spielvogel's landmark piece tells the story of the gay community in New York City from 1965-1995:from the historic Sip-In at the Julius Bar and the early Gay Rights Movement to the uprising at Stonewall, and through the widespread apathy and abject hysteria of the AIDS crisis, these stunning performances allow us to experience the indomitable resolve of those who defiantly faced the siege against them with humor, bravery and compassion. Come Back Once Morereflects the historic resilience, compassion and heart of the LGBTQ community.Proceeds from the four upcoming performances, June 14th - 17th at The Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater (405 West 55th Street, New York City), will benefit the Ali Forney Center, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, GMHC and Live Out Loud.

Strut presents the first definitive retrospective of an icon of 1970s and '80s soul, jazz and disco, Patrice Rushen, covering her peerless 6-year career with Elektra / Asylum from 1978 to 1984.

Over the past 14 years the Seattle International Dance Festival (SIDF) has grown to three weeks of events and performances. This year's festival has attracted dance artists from Seattle, the United States and as far away as Benin/West Africa, Italy, Germany, Ireland and India. The festival kicks off on June 7th with an opening party and SHUFFLE; by Saturday June 8th the performances and activities hit full speed.

The 5th Avenue Theatre has announced the full cast for West Side Story, the sweeping musical version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet set in the turbulent streets of New York City, where a star-crossed love blossoms between rival gangs. William Branner (National Tour: Bat Out Of Hell, Off-Broadway: Kragtar: An American Monster Musical) joins the cast to star as Tony, replacing the previously announced CJ Eldred.

Coastal Jazz & Blues Society announced today additional performances for the 34th annual TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival, taking place June 21 to July 1. The Festival lineup now includes headliner Herbie Hancock at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on June 29 as well as genre-bending performances from diverse, cutting-edge artists at Performance Works on Granville Island, Pyatt Hall (843 Seymour Street), and Frankie's Jazz Club (765 Beatty Street).

Today, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (LBC) announced the first 11 new shows to be added to its 2019 2020 season, continuing its tradition of showcasing a diverse lineup of chart-topping musicians, compelling dance companies, and groundbreaking storytellers. Tickets for all shows go on-sale to LBC members today, Friday, April 5 at 12 p.m., and to the general public on Friday, April 26 at 12 p.m. Tickets are available online at lutherburbankcenter.org, by calling 707-546-3600, or at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts ticket office (50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa), open Tuesdays through Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.

The Seattle International Dance Festival (SIDF) is three weeks of dance-filled activities and lures dance artists from as far away as Benin/West Africa, Italy, Germany, Ireland and India. The free Art on the Fly outdoor event and the James Ray Residency Project offers local dance artists the opportunity to share their work in new environments to new audiences. The Spotlight series shines the light on Seattle's contemporary ballet and the city's newest dance works for 3 unique performances.

John Coltrane's breakout year, when his mature saxophone sound first grabbed ears and his own recordings began to sell consistently, was 1958. The upcoming box set Coltrane '58: The Prestige Recordings (out March 29 (5-CD & digital formats) and April 26 (8-LP format) on Craft Recordings), chronicles that exciting year session by session, featuring all 37 tracks Coltrane recorded as a leader or co-leader for the independent Prestige label in those 12 months. The collection captures Coltrane in creative high gear—developing the signature improvisational style that journalist Ira Gitler famously dubbed “sheets of sound.” In addition, Coltrane '58: The Prestige Recordings comes on the heel of the 60th anniversary of that breakthrough year, and serves as the cornerstone release marking the 70th anniversary of Prestige Records.

New York Live Arts (Live Arts) to present the New York premiere of Netta Yerushalmy's Paramodernities, March 14-17, 2019, having commissioned the work as part of the Live Feed Residency Program. The complete six-part encyclopedic series is a multidisciplinary work that weaves theory and performance into a four-hour-long hybrid event. Yerushalmy and a cast of 20 dancers and scholars, ranging in age from 20 to 68, perform deconstructed installments of Nijinsky's “Sacre” (1913), Graham's “Night Journey” (1947), Ailey's “Revelations” (1960), a mix of Cunningham works “Rainforest,” “Sounddance”, “Points in Space”, “Beach Birds”,  and “Ocean” (1968-1990), dance numbers from the 1969 Fosse's film “Sweet Charity”, and a response to Balanchine's “Agon” (1957) that includes none of the original choreography.

New York Wine Events is pleased to announce the New York City Winter Wine Festival presented by Citi featuring hundreds of wines from around the globe will return to Times Square at the PlayStation Theater on Saturday, March 9, 2019. General admission sessions for the 10th annual event will be held at 3:00-6:00pm and 8:00-11:00pm. Special Premium Early Access and VIP ticket levels offer guests the option of walking the extensive food and wine event one hour earlier, commencing at 2:00pm for the afternoon session and 7:00pm for the evening. During each tasting session, guests will enjoy live contemporary jazz performances by internationally acclaimed jazz pianist Alex Bugnon and take home their custom wine tasting glass post-event.

Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre has been offering its unique dance educations program through its arts education arm Notes in Motion Outreach Dance Theatre since 2000. We became a vendor of NYC Department of Education in 2005 and since that time, have been offering a wide array of residency, professional development, interactive performance, and after-school programs that teach ballet, modern, jazz, African, tap, hip hop, yoga, Latin dance, and more.

Though it's been 52 years since his tragic passing, John Coltrane's importance and influence have never been greater. Though active for a relatively short period—from 1957 to '67—he was an intrepid spirit who developed at a feverish pace. Coltrane's breakout year, when his mature sound first grabbed ears and his own recordings began to sell consistently, was 1958. Coltrane '58: The Prestige Recordings, out March 29th on Craft Recordings, is a box set (8-LP, 5-CD & digital formats) that chronicles the exciting story session by session, featuring all 37 tracks Coltrane recorded as a leader or co-leader for the independent Prestige label in those twelve months. This collection captures him in creative high gear—developing the signature improvisational style that journalist Ira Gitler famously dubbed “sheets of sound.”

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.

Renowned for celebrating the American modern dance heritage and preserving the uniqueness of the African American cultural experience, dance company Ailey II will perform at Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre in Malibu on Tuesday, February 26 at 8 p.m. 

Skylight Music Theatre announced the cast and creative team for Five Guys Named Moe, a joyful, jazzy tribute to Louis Jordan, the 1940s rhythm and blues singer, songwriter and bandleader.

Out-of-the-box creativity, fantastic agility, flexibility and control describes the Jacob Jonas Dance Company. From the first few movements in their first piece of the evening, it was clear this was going to be a visual treat. There were five different dance pieces presented; all World Premieres. Three choreographed by Jacob Jonas, with two other diverse choreographers contributing to the concert; Donald Byrd and Omar Roman De Jesus. Each piece had a different theme and flavor.

Monterey Jazz Festival is proud to announce that drummer and composer Allison Miller and bassist, composer and producer Derrick Hodge have been selected as the 2019 Monterey Jazz Festival Artists-in-Residence and will work year-round with young musicians in performances and clinics at the 2019 Next Generation Jazz Festival, Summer Jazz Camp Intensive, with the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra and at the 62nd Monterey Jazz Festival, September 20-22, 2019.