JAZZ HOUSE KiDS Spring Gala Celebrates "The 60th Anniversary of the Most Influential Year in Jazz" and Six Seminal Recordings with Special Concert at City Winery, April 17, 2019

MONTCLAIR, N.J., April 9, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- JAZZ HOUSE KiDS, one of the nation's preeminent jazz education organizations, is dedicated to transforming young lives through music. As announced today, their 2019 Spring Gala will celebrate "The 60th Anniversary of the Most Influential Year in Jazz" and six seminal recordings that will forever keep the world swinging. The special dinner and concert, created by six-time GRAMMY award-winner and jazz bassist Christian McBride, will take place at 6pm on Wednesday, April 17, 2019, at Michael Dorf's acclaimed City Winery, located at 155 Varick Street in New York City.

Lester Holt, anchor of "NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt" and "Dateline NBC"—and himself an avid musician and bass player—will serve as host. The seminal recordings chosen for the concert by JAZZ HOUSE KiDS Artistic Chair and Musical Director Christian McBride include:

• "The Genius of Ray Charles" and "Ella Sings the Gershwin Songbook," performed by 12-time GRAMMY-nominated artist Ledisi
• Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue," performed by award-winning trumpeter Ingrid Jensen
• John Coltrane's "Giant Steps," performed by his son, Ravi Coltrane
• The Dave Brubeck Quartet's "Time Out," performed by the GRAMMY award-winning Bill Charlap Trio
• Ornette Coleman's "The Shape of Jazz to Come," performed by Christian McBride's trailblazing New Jawn.

In keeping with JAZZ HOUSE KiDS tradition, selections will include a collaboration of acclaimed artists, JAZZ HOUSE KiDS' alumni who are now attending top musical institutions, and the JAZZ HOUSE BiG BAND. Together, they will recreate some of the most important songs in the history of jazz for this exciting occasion.

This group of musical greats will come together for a dynamic showing of musicianship in support of the JAZZ HOUSE KiDS' mission of providing a high-quality arts education to primary and secondary students. To date, the organization has served more than 50,000 young people and presented student performances for over half a million music fans. The organization and its students have received more than 100 national honors and awards, including the 2019 Jersey Arts People's Choice Award for the MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL, produced by JAZZ HOUSE KiDS® which was voted Favorite Music Festival. The JAZZ HOUSE SUMMER WORKSHOP took top honors for Favorite Performing Arts Camp.

"We believe that learning to understand, create, and play jazz—this great American art form—yields lifelong benefits far beyond the notes on a page," said Melissa Walker, president and founder of JAZZ HOUSE KiDS. "We are excited to celebrate the most influential year that changed the course of this music."

The 60th Anniversary of the Most Influential Year in Jazz concert is a one-night-only experience that brings the essence of a remarkable era to life. JAZZ HOUSE KiDS Artistic Chair Christian McBride explained, "From Miles Davis' desire to break free from the status quo and Coltrane's declaration of artistic independence, to Ella Fitzgerald's landmark songbook series, and ultimately, Ray Charles, who proved that the lines between jazz and R&B can be blurred, we will explore the beats and rhythms that changed the genre of jazz as a whole."

To further mark the occasion, JAZZ HOUSE KiDS will present drummer and NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Cobb with its Jazz Luminary Award. As a player on Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue," Cobb helped define the post-bop style of the 1950s and '60s. Through this award, JAZZ HOUSE KiDS recognizes Mr. Cobb as a national treasure and one of the most inspirational figures in jazz, America's original art form. John Schreiber, president and CEO of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, will be presented with the Community Champion Award for his work as a visionary advocate for the arts and driver of economic development in Newark, New Jersey.

Additionally, details of a new partnership with venue host City Winery and its founder, Michael Dorf, to launch the JAZZ HOUSE Music Club will be unveiled. The inaugural program will support a thriving music program at the Grand Street Campus public high schools in Brooklyn, NY, providing private lessons, mentoring, and top-notch instruction to help students develop key skills while enhancing their knowledge of the fundamentals of music and the art of performance. The campus includes the High School of Enterprise, Business, and Technology; East Williamsburg Scholars Academy; and Progress High School for Professional Careers—all of which serve a population of at-risk, high-need students.

Proceeds from the gala will benefit JAZZ HOUSE KiDS' year-round music education and performance programs. Gala concert tickets begin at $300 and tables begin at $5,000. For gala sponsorship benefits, please visit jazzhousekids.org/events/gala.

Photos: https://bit.ly/2KkYXew

SOURCE JAZZ HOUSE KiDS

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https://jazzhousekids.org/