Flushing Town Hall Celebrates the Queens Jazz Orchestra’s 15th Anniversary with “Land of the Giants” Concert on June 23

— The Queens Jazz Orchestra was the brainchild of late NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Heath and Flushing Town Hall’s Jazz Producer Clyde Bullard —

— This performance is part of the month-long Queens Rising celebration, showcasing the best of the borough’s cultural and creative diversity — 

On June 23, Flushing Town Hall celebrates the 15th anniversary of its resident Queens Jazz Orchestra with “Land of the Giants,” a concert featuring the music of several of the greatest saxophonists who lived in Queens. The orchestra will be led by Grammy-nominated jazz saxophonist and conductor Antonio Hart.

Queens, NY can claim a staggering lineup of iconic saxophonists who called this borough their home, including the virtuoso John Coltrane, Julian “Cannonball” Adderley, Ben Webster, Lester “PREZ” Young, Oliver Nelson, Illinois Jacquet, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Johnny Hodges, George Walker Nicholas aka “Big Nick Nicholas,” Frank Wess, Benny Waters, Paul Gonsalves, and NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Heath.

In 2008, the late Master Heath and Jazz Producer in Residence Clyde Bullard collaborated to co-found Flushing Town Hall’s Queens Jazz Orchestra, or the QJO, a 17-piece orchestra dedicated to preserving the heritage of jazz in Queens and nurturing the next generations of great jazz musicians. Heath was also QJO’s first music director, leading the orchestra until his passing in 2020.

The inauguration of the QJO at Flushing Town Hall gave the borough of Queens its second professional orchestra alongside the Queens Symphony Orchestra.

“Congratulations on 15 years of great Queens Jazz Orchestra concerts presented at Flushing Town Hall,” says Clyde Bullard, QJO Co-Founder and Jazz Producer. “For our anniversary, a strong QJO is coming together to celebrate our “land of the giants,” the greatest saxophonists of all times who called Queens their home.”

In 2020, Antonio Hart, jazz artist, saxophonist and Director of Jazz Studies at the Queens College Aaron Copland School of Music, was personally selected for the role of band leader by his late mentor.

“I am forever grateful to Master Heath for taking me under his wing and teaching me ‘Music is Life and Life is Music,’” says Antonio Hart, long-time member of the QJO and QJO conductor since 2020. “Coming back to Flushing Town Hall for the annual QJO concert, now for the second time as its conductor, is always a blessing and highlight of my year.”

“Jazz has historically played a vital role in Queens,” says Flushing Town Hall Executive and Artistic Director Ellen Kodadek. “Flushing Town Hall has been a pivotal part of nurturing this important jazz legacy, presenting both established and emerging jazz artists for over 40 years. We invite jazz lovers and the jazz curious to celebrate the 15th anniversary of our Queens Jazz Orchestra!”

For the concert on June 23, QJO conductor Antonio Hart will select music from a few of Queens’ most renowned saxophonists and add some good old down home swinging big band jazz classics for a delightful night. The QJO will perform at Flushing Town Hall on Friday, June 23 at 8 PM ET. In-Person Tickets are $45/$35 for Members/$20 for students.

For the venue’s full spring/summer 2023 schedule, visit: https://www.flushingtownhall.org/fth-presents

For those unable to attend events in person, Flushing Town Hall has launched Culture Stream. Subscriptions start at $5 per month.

COVID Policy: 

Flushing Town Hall no longer requires visitors or performers to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19; wearing a mask is optional but recommended. For more details, please visit 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 2022 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 Eric Adams; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Commissioner Laurie Cumbo; Queens Borough President Donovan Richards; The New York City Council, Speaker Adrienne E. Adams and New York City Council Members Sandra Ung, Tiffany Caban, Shekar Krishnan, Linda Lee, Vickie Paladino, Lynn Schulman, and Jessica Won; 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.