On May 14, Symphony Space (Peter Jay Sharp Theatre, 2537 Broadway) will present Wall to Wall Quincy Jones from 3 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. That’s a lot of Quincy, but remember the trumpeter, record producer, songwriter, composer, arranger, film and television producer career spans more than seven decades. He crossed genres faster than a little girl jumping double dutch. He has a record 28 Grammy Awards and a Grammy Legend Award in 1992. He produced Leslie Gore’s pop hit “It’s My Party” in the late 1950s and was the arranger and bandleader of Frank Sinatra and Count Basie. On the soul pop scene, he produced three of Michael Jackson’s most successful albums: ‘Off the Wall’ (1979), ‘Thriller’ (1982) and ‘Bad’ (1987), all on Columbia Records. Jones brought together rappers and jazz musicians for his album “Q’s Jook Joint” (Qwest Records 1995).
He has scored more than 30 films and soundtracks as well as those for television, including the comedy series “Sanford and Son”, “Ironside” and “Mod Squad”. The global fundraising charity song “We Are the World” was directed and produced by Jones in 1985.
With this abbreviated summary, it’s obvious that more than 85 musicians, dancers and creators join this huge FREE extravaganza to pay tribute to the brilliant innovator Quincy Jones. This celebration features soul, jazz, R&B, hip-hop, original choreography, fascinating conversations, and culminates in a DJ set that jumps out of your seat covering all the hits.
No need to call, just show up. Come early, stay late, come late, stay late. It’s wall to wall Quincy Jones. No wonder her middle name is “Delight.” Live and virtual verification site symphonyspace.org.
Trumpeter, composer and vocalist Kenny Dorham was vastly underrated, as any jazz lover or musician will attest. When trumpeters are mentioned, his name should be in the same sentence as Miles Davis, Clifford Brown or Lee Morgan. The Texas native recorded over 20 albums as a frontman, and the many bands he played with were a who’s who list, from Abbey Lincoln, Randy Weston, Charlie Parker. Thelonious Monk, Max Roach, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers (an original member), Benny Golson, Sonny Rollins and Cecil Taylor. His 1953 self-titled quintet debut album featured pianist Walter Bishop, saxophonist Jimmy Heath, bassist Percy Heath and drummer Kenny Clarke on the Debut Records label founded by Charles Mingus and Max Roach.
On May 15, those unfamiliar with Dorham and his music can get an up-close live perspective when VTY Jazz Arts perform “Una Mas” a tribute to Kenny Dorham, at The Cutting Room (44 East 32nd Street), from 4 p.m. 6:45 p.m.
Accomplished musicians (all bandleaders in their own right) who will come together to perform Dorham’s music will include trumpeter Brain Lynch, saxophones Stacy Dillard, pianist Dave Kikoski, bassist Curtis Lundy and drummer Victor Lewis.
“Una Mas” (One More Time) was the title of Dorham’s 1963 album Blue Note Records which featured a quintet consisting of young tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Butch Warren and drummer Tony Williams. All compositions on the album were Dorham originals with the exception of “If Ever I Would Leave You”.
Since its inception, VTY Jazz Arts has played an important role in honoring the NEA Jazz Masters, as well as in educating a host of musicians like Dorham, who, despite their musical acumen, have never received this vigorous recognition from the jazz establishment.
For reservations, call 917-882-9539.
The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music (BKCM), halfway through a successful inaugural year, announces that applications are open through May 15 for the second year of the Jazz Leaders Fellowship program. This initiative aims to support emerging black women and non-binary black jazz musicians in the creation of original music, increase their representation as leaders in the field, expand BKCM’s presence in the jazz community and expose BKCM students to various emerging teachers.
The scholarship is made possible through the generous support of BKCM Board Member Daniel DiPietro and his wife Alexis and includes a $12,500 prize for each of the two recipients. Additionally, BKCM will empower and support grantees on their journey to musical leadership through teaching and performance opportunities, access to BKCM rehearsal spaces, participation on the BKCM Jazz Program Advisory Board and more. Again.
First recipients Jordyn Davis and Charenée Wade remained engaged with the BKCM community throughout the year-long fellowship, which began in August 2021. Singer, songwriter and arranger Wade led a workshop for BKCM students and presented a special concert at the BKCM concert hall on International Jazz Day (April 30). “The scholarship gives you the ability to do almost anything you want,” Wade said. “It gave me time to work on my next album and an opportunity to set up art lessons for an online platform.”
The program was designed by DiPietro and developed by the Jazz Leaders Fellowship Committee, led by renowned jazz and avant-garde musician and educator Fay Victor. “What a great first year!” said Fay Victor, chair of the JLF committee. “Working as committee chair has been an incredible journey of discovery, complete with incredible support from BKCM faculty and staff, the committee, and Daniel DiPietro. I am so proud of the work everyone involved has done to build, promote and grow the fellowship.
For more information about this program and to apply, please visit BKCM.org/JLF.
Singer, pianist, composer and activist Melvis Santa is a young guru, a storyteller who makes a point of integrating the black diaspora with her Cuban heritage, her Afro-Cuban traditions and her American/Latin jazz influence that she continues to to digest since his arrival in New York. City.
On May 19 and 20, Santa Claus will present IDILE: Sounds of Jazz and Orishas, at Aaron Davis Hall City College (135th Street at 129 Convent Avenue). IDILE, which translates to “lineage” in Yoruba, is a multidisciplinary musical concert that incorporates original composition, improvisation, art installation and dance. “This show was conceived as an offering; an invitation and an invocation to (re)connect as individuals and as a collective along the ancestral path/lineage common to Jazz and the Orishas. We come from a line of survivors, and this show celebrates that.
The multidimensional Santa Claus ensemble will include trumpeter Josh Evans, bassist Rashaan Carter (May 20), percussionist Rafael Monteagudo, drummer Enoch Jamal Strickland and band manager, pianist and Santa Claus carol. Art installation by Jean Carla Rodea and Jo Wood-Brown and dancer TaDeo Asojano.
Tickets are $20; call 212-650-6900 or visit the website: www.eventbrite.com/e/idile-sounds-of-jazz-and-orishas-tickets-329828514967. The concerts start both evenings at 7 p.m.
