—All-Stars were chosen based on their high-caliber musicianship, their spirit of cooperation, and regular participation in the Louis Armstrong Legacy Monthly Jazz Jams—

On Saturday, July 16th at 7:30 PM, Flushing Town Hall will host its 2nd Annual Jazz Jam All-Stars Concert. This celebratory event honors the musicians and audiences who regularly attended Flushing Town Hall’s in-person and virtual Jazz Jams, as well as its dedicated house band led by Carol Sudhalter, featuring Joe Vincent Tranchina, Scott Neumann, and Eric Lemon.

The wildly popular Louis Armstrong Legacy Monthly Jazz Jam, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in October 2021, began its journey as an educational program in collaboration with the Aaron Copeland School of Music at Queens College in order to provide a platform for young jazz musicians to play music together. The monthly jam later transformed, opening up to amateur and professional musicians and public audiences under the lead of Queens Jazz OverGround, a collective of Queens-based jazz musicians. 

In 2016, long-time big band leader Carol Sudhalter, who is well-versed in the Armstrong repertoire, took over the monthly jam as leader of Flushing Town Hall’s house band. Under Sudhalter’s creative guidance, the monthly program has been paying homage to the great Louis Armstrong every month since—including the 17 months when Flushing Town Hall held virtual jams during the pandemic, attracting more than 7,000 viewers and 200 musicians Zooming in from over a dozen countries worldwide, including New Zealand, Italy, and South Africa.

In 2019, Flushing Town Hall hosted its first-ever Jazz Jam All-Stars concert, and now, after a three-year hiatus, the Jazz Jam All-Stars concert will return to celebrate its community of musicians and music lovers. Flushing Town Hall’s committee has selected a stellar lineup of ten musicians to perform at the July 16th concert—including one as young as 15 years old—who were chosen for their high-caliber musicianship, cooperative spirit, and dedicated participation in the Louis Armstrong Legacy Monthly Jazz Jams.

“When we held our first Jazz Jam All-Stars concert in 2019, we were excited to make this an annual celebration of our wonderful and faithful jammers who show up month after month and really keep this alive!” says Flushing Town Hall’s jazz band leader Carol Sudhalter. “We are so thrilled to finally be able to host our second annual All-Stars concert, especially after such a long break due to Covid. The musicians joining us on July 16th are all incredibly talented, dedicated, and part of our wonderful community. I am honored to share the stage with them to celebrate Louis Armstrong’s legacy.”

“I am delighted to see so many young musicians join us for our monthly Jazz Jams. Our youngest All-Star began participating in our jam when he was just 12 years old; and his musical talents have grown over the last years with the support of the community of musicians and aficionados that make up our monthly Jazz Jams,” says Director of Education & Public Programs, Gabrielle M. Hamilton. “All of this would not be possible without the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation; and we are thankful for their unwavering support of the jam and for allowing us to pay tribute to the great jazz virtuoso who once called Queens his home.”

The concert will begin at 7:30 PM, opening with a Louis Armstrong tune played by the jazz house band led by Carol Sudhalter. After that, each All-Star will perform two tunes with the band. The evening will close with a finale with everyone on stage to perform another Armstrong tune. 

“I am honored to be included in this incredible lineup of stellar jazz musicians led by Carol and her house band. I started coming to the jazz jam when I was about 12 years old and still pretty new to jazz. Flushing Town Hall made jazz accessible and fun in a noncompetitive environment. I couldn’t wait to come back the next month with a new song and do it again,” says 15-year-old All-Star drummer Ezra Kessler. ”Now, four years later I am still learning from this incredible house band. I even got to showcase a collaboration I did with the saxophonist Jeff Coffin (DMB, Bela Fleck) at a virtual jazz jam last year.“

In contrast to the regular Louis Armstrong Legacy Monthly Jazz Jam, participation in the Jazz Jam All-Stars concert is by invitation only. Audiences are invited to listen to the honorary jammers in-person or virtually on Saturday, July 16th at 7:30 PM ET. Cost for general in-person audience is $25, $20 for members and $15 for students. Those unable to attend the All-Stars concert in person can still join the livestream and tune in for free on YouTube or Facebook.

The evening, featuring music by Louis Armstrong, is made possible through the generous support of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Inc.

For Calendar Listings

SATURDAY, July 16th, 7:30 PM (ET)
2nd Annual Jazz Jam All-Stars Concert 

In-person tickets: $25/$20 members/$15 students

Flushing Town Hall’s 2nd Annual Jazz Jam All-Stars Concert honors outstanding participants of previous jams. A selection of ten talented musicians will come together for a celebration of their contribution to Flushing Town Hall’s Louis Armstrong Legacy Monthly Jazz Jam over the past years. The jam is held in person with jazz students, musicians, and music educators at Flushing Town Hall’s theatre. If you wish to join remotely, Flushing Town Hall is also streaming the event live, for free join via YouTube or Facebook.

Louis Armstrong Legacy Jazz Jam is supported in part by a grant from The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Inc. 

For Flushing Town Hall’s full schedule of 2022 Summer events, visit: https://www.flushingtownhall.org/events

COVID Policy: 

Although as of March 7, 2022, New York City has relaxed its COVID policies for indoor arts and entertainment events, Flushing Town Hall will maintain its prior policy for the safety of its audiences, artists, and staff. This policy will remain in effect until further notice: Flushing Town Hall requires all visitors, performers, and staff to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 with matching identification. Additionally, masks will be required at all times. For more details on Flushing Town Hall’s Covid-safety measures and vaccine requirements, please visit: https://www.flushingtownhall.org/covid-safety.

Support Global Arts with a Gift Today!

All gifts of $50 or more give you exclusive Flushing Town Hall Circle of Friends membership benefits including a Smithsonian membership, ticket discounts, and more! Donations in any amount are appreciated to support the artists and the nonprofit cultural organization as they continue to provide programming and entertainment across New York and the world.

https://www.flushingtownhall.org/circle-of-friends

Flushing Town Hall is a not for profit organization and receives major support in its 2021-2022 Fiscal Year from the National Endowment for the Arts; New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature; New York State Assembly Member Ron Kim; The City of New York, Mayor Bill de Blasio (2021) and Mayor Eric Adams (2022); New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Commissioner Gonzalo Casals; Queens Borough President Donovan Richards; The New York City Council, Speaker Corey Johnson; Council Members Costa Constantinides, Daniel Dromm, Barry Grodenchik, Peter Koo, Karen Koslowitz, Paul A. Vallone, Jimmy Van Bramer; Howard Gilman Foundation, Booth Ferris Foundation, Guru Krupa Foundation, Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation.

To view current donor lists, please visit www.flushingtownhall.org/donor-listings

About Flushing Town Hall

Flushing Town Hall (FTH), a Smithsonian affiliate, presents multi-disciplinary global arts that engage and educate the global communities of Queens and New York City in order to foster mutual appreciation. As advocates of arts equity since 1979, we support local, immigrant, national, and international artists, developing partnerships and collaborations that enhance our efforts. As a member of New York City’s Cultural Institutions Group (CIG), we serve to restore, manage and program the historic 1862 landmark on behalf of the City of New York. FTH celebrates the history of Queens as the home of Jazz, by presenting the finest in Jazz performance. We are committed to arts education and hands-on learning, for the arts-curious, arts enthusiasts, and professional artists. We serve one of the most diverse communities in the world and strive to uphold the legacy of inclusiveness that has defined our community since the Flushing Remonstrance of 1657.

Flushing Town Hall is a proud member of the Cultural Institutions Group (CIG), a collective of 34 nonprofit museums, performing arts centers, historical societies, zoos, and botanical gardens across all five boroughs with a distinct private-public partnership with the City of New York and a commitment to serving all New Yorkers.

Land Acknowledgement:

Flushing Town Hall acknowledges that we are on the traditional land of the Matinecock People, one of the original tribes of New York, and the first people of Flushing, Queens. The Matinecock continue to live and work on this land to this day. Flushing Town Hall honors their elders who have stewarded this land throughout generations.