Lee Morgan News

Madagascar - The Musical has confirmed that X Factor Winner Matt Terry will continue in the role of Alex the Lion on the critically acclaimed UK tour for 2019.

During the inaugural Jazz Philadelphia Summit on Nov. 2 and 3, 2018, regional and national jazz luminaries will gather in Center City Philadelphia to honor the city's deep jazz roots and discuss its future. Musicians, jazz enthusiasts, advocates, funders, and the arts and culture community are gathering at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the University of the Arts for both high-level discussions and hands-on workshops about the art and business of jazz. Sessions will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. each day. RSVP is required, but registration is free and open to all, available through the Jazz Philadelphia website at www.jazzphiladelphia.org.

Madagascar - The Musical has confirmed that X Factor Winner Matt Terry will continue in the role of Alex the Lion on the critically acclaimed UK tour for 2019.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts presents the Kenny Barron Quintet for two performances on November 3, 2018 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, the Los Angeles Times calls Barron "one of the top jazz pianists in the world" and Jazz Weekly calls him "The most lyrical piano player of our time." For his return to the Center's Jazz Series, Barron brings his quintet, which includes Mike Rodriguez, trumpet; Dayna Stephens, tenor saxophone; Kiyoshi Kitagawa, bass; and Jonathan Blake, drums.

This smash hit musical features all of your favourite crack-a-lackin' friends as they escape from their home in New York's Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien's Madagascar.

Based on the hugely popular Dreamworks animation, Madagascar The Musical brings the much-loved film to life in an energetic whirl of funky dance routines and quirky characters. After becoming disillusioned with his life in a Manhattan zoo, Marty the zebra escapes to see the outside world. Fearful for his safety, his friends Alex the lion, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo follow him, but are captured and sent to a Kenyan nature reserve. After the boat they are travelling on capsizes, they become stranded on strange and madcap island of Madagascar where they meet King Julien XIII and his tribe of lemurs.

It's a marriage committed to musical excellence. Jazz trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos says of his wife Lorraine, 'She's a classically trained guitarist, and her practice can be intimidating at times.' That helps motivate him to practice more, usually four or five hours a day. But she has said, his practicing inspires her to practice more because she feels guilty if she doesn't. Fortunately for the couple, and perhaps the neighbors, they both have successful careers that prevent them from escalating into a friendly, but potentially fatal, competition.

Always highly polished, the Verve Jazz Ensemble's timeless straight-ahead jazz reaches for exuberance as well on LightGroove Media's July 20 release 'Connect the Dots.' The fifth album by the VJE, a modular New York-based ensemble led by drummer Josh Feldstein, features upbeat performances of band originals, standards, and lesser-known works by classic jazz composers-each characterized by the musicians' palpable delight in playing together.

Go wild as Matt Terry - Winner of 2016's X-Factor is announced to play Alex The Lion in the brand-new stage adaptation of Madagascar - The Musical opening at New Wimbledon Theatre on 16 July prior to a UK Tour.

This June, FilmRise answers all your summer entertainment questions with an eclectic mix of new releases from around the world. Leading the way are four exceptional documentaries starting with I Called Him Morgan which The New York Times calls 'One of the best movies of the year' and The Los Angeles Times describes as 'Artistic, Obsessive and Intoxicating.'  On a snowy night in February 1972, the 33 year old jazz trumpet star Lee Morgan was shot dead by his common-law wife, Helen, during a gig at a club in New York City.   Swedish filmmaker Kasper Collin takes an unconventional look at this shocking murder that sent shock waves through the jazz community. 

New York City organist/pianist, Brian Charette, has established himself as a leading voice in modern Jazz. Charette is a Grammy-nominated, Hammond-endorsed artist who was the winner of the 2014 Downbeat Critics' Poll Rising Star: Organ award and has climbed to 4th place in The Critic's Poll main organ category. In 2015 Brian also won The Hot House Magazine's Fan's Decision Jazz Award for Best Organist in New York. His last Positone Records recording, Once and Future, reached #17 on the Jazz Week chart and was also on the iTunes new music Top 20. This Summer, Brian just released his new Circuit Bent Organ trio recording, Kurrent, and featuring Ben Monder.  Groovin' With Big G on Steeplechase Records release date is March 15. The CD features legendary saxophonist George Coleman, guitarist Vic Juris and drummer George Coleman Jr.

From March 29 through April 14, 2018, venues throughout Savannah's Historic District will be filled with the extensive concerts, recitals, dance parties, film, theatrical and multi-disciplinary productions that make up the 29th edition of the Savannah Music Festival (SMF).

 From March 29 through April 14, 2018, venues throughout Savannah's Historic District will be filled with the extensive concerts, recitals, dance parties, film, theatrical and multi-disciplinary productions that make up the 29th edition of the Savannah Music Festival (SMF). Operating in multiple venues for the first 16 days of the 2018 festival, the organization presents its most ambitious classical music programming to date, extensive world music offerings and a hard-hitting week of jazz and acclaimed Americana and folk music artists, in addition to theatrical productions and films. On April 14, the final day of SMF 2018, an all-day multi-stage event is scheduled for the newly-renovated event spaces at Trustees' Garden. Tickets to the 2018 festival are available online at savannahmusicfestival.org, by phone at 912.525.5050 and in person at 216 E. Broughton Street.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College continues its 2017-18 Kumble Theater season with jazz maestro Kenny Barron. An 11-time GRAMMY® nominee, NEA Jazz Master, and American Jazz Hall of Fame inductee, this virtuosic pianist comes to Brooklyn's Kumble Theater for an intimate solo performance. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased in advance at BrooklynCenter.org or by calling the Brooklyn Center box office at 718-951-4500. Day-of-show tickets should be purchased at the Kumble Theater on the downtown Brooklyn campus of LIU, located at 1 University Plaza, or by calling the Kumble Theater box office at 718-488-1624.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College continues its 2017-18 Kumble Theater season with jazz maestro Kenny Barron. An 11-time GRAMMY nominee, NEA Jazz Master, and American Jazz Hall of Fame inductee, this virtuosic pianist comes to Brooklyn's Kumble Theater for an intimate solo performance. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased in advance at BrooklynCenter.org or by calling the Brooklyn Center box office at 718-951-4500. Day-of-show tickets should be purchased at the Kumble Theater on the downtown Brooklyn campus of LIU, located at 1 University Plaza, or by calling the Kumble Theater box office at 718-488-1624. Honored by The National Endowment for the Arts as a Jazz Master, Kenny Barron has an unmatched ability to mesmerize audiences with his elegant playing, sensitive melodies, and infectious rhythms. The Los Angeles Times named him 'one of the top jazz pianists in the world' and Jazz Weekly calls him 'the most lyrical piano player of our time.'

On January 23rd and 24th, Elliot Mason is celebrating the release of his solo debut album Before, Now & After with his band Cre8tion at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College continues its 2017-18 Kumble Theater season with jazz maestro Kenny Barron. An 11-time GRAMMY nominee, NEA Jazz Master, and American Jazz Hall of Fame inductee, this virtuosic pianist comes to Brooklyn's Kumble Theater for an intimate solo performance. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased in advance at BrooklynCenter.org or by calling the Brooklyn Center box office at 718-951-4500. Day-of-show tickets should be purchased at the Kumble Theater on the downtown Brooklyn campus of LIU, located at 1 University Plaza, or by calling the Kumble Theater box office at 718-488-1624. Honored by The National Endowment for the Arts as a Jazz Master, Kenny Barron has an unmatched ability to mesmerize audiences with his elegant playing, sensitive melodies, and infectious rhythms. The Los Angeles Times named him 'one of the top jazz pianists in the world' and Jazz Weekly calls him 'the most lyrical piano player of our time.'

The dynamic 26th annual season continues at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts with nonstop concerts, shows and holiday presentations for every audience and all entertainment preferences throughout December and January:

New Student Workshops For Elementary and Middle School Students to Engage with World-Class Jazz Artists and Educators A New EVIDENCE Community Dance Class by Master Artist/Choreographer Ronald K. Brown