Flushing Town Hall to Present its 17th Annual NEA Jazz Masters Concert on December 15

From left to right: Wycliffe Gordon, Jimmy Owens (top), Ron Carter (bottom), Joanna Brackeen, Louis Hayes (top), Gary Bartz (bottom).

Tickets are now on sale at www.flushingtownhall.org

On Friday, December 15 at 8:00 PM, Flushing Town Hall will proudly host its 17th annual NEA Jazz Masters concert, presenting “The Music of the NEA Jazz Masters and Original Compositions.” This beloved event is an annual highlight for New York City’s many jazz aficionados who know the Queens venue to be among the city’s best for great jazz.

Renowned trumpet player and NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Owens will lead a group of six esteemed musicians, each boasting extensive experience touring and performing with the genre’s finest: the newest 2024 NEA Jazz Master Gary Bartz (saxophone), NEA Jazz Masters Ron Carter (bass), pianist Joanne Brackeen (piano), Louis Hayes (drums), and acclaimed jazz virtuoso Wycliffe Gordon (trombone).

“I feel truly privileged to welcome two of the newest NEA Jazz Masters, Gary Bartz, and Louis Hayes, alongside the return of some seasoned Masters and outstanding jazz talents to our stage,” says Ellen Kodadek, Executive and Artistic Director at Flushing Town Hall. “Queens is the borough so many jazz legends have called home, and our annual NEA Jazz Masters concert upholds the borough’s history as a go-to destination for jazz icons and audiences alike.”

Attendees can join the distinguished NEA Jazz Masters in a pre-concert workshop, “NEA Jazz Masters in Conversation,” to hear a discussion of the icons with whom the Masters have played alongside and from whom they’ve drawn inspiration, including Max Roach, Oscar Peterson, Charles Mingus, Art Blakey, and Billy Taylor.

“This year, our NEA Jazz Masters concert will bring the arrangements of several NEA Jazz Masters and their own compositions to the stage,” says Clyde Bullard, Flushing Town Hall’s Jazz Producer in Residence, “The repertoire will include music composed by Miles Davis, Horace Silver, Benny Golson and Dizzy Gillespie with some other swinging surprises.”

Flushing Town Hall began a significant tradition when it hosted the first-ever NEA Jazz Masters concert on November 17, 2006. This remarkable occasion showcased three iconic NEA Jazz Masters: Jimmy Heath (saxophone); Clark Terry (trumpet); and Dr. Billy Taylor (piano). Since then, the Smithsonian affiliate has continued to dazzle jazz enthusiasts by welcoming a roster of luminaries most often found frequenting Manhattan’s renowned clubs. The Queens stage has witnessed performances by Earl May, Benny Powell, Albert “Tootie” Heath, Cándido Camero, Paquito D’Rivera, Reggie Workman, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Joey DeFrancesco, Dr. Barry Harris, Sheila Jordan, Antonio Hart, Bill Charlap, Gustavo Casenave, and many other jazz greats.

The concert on Friday, December 15, begins at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $40/$32 members/$20 students w/ID. Table packages for two w/ refreshments are available for $130/$110 members. 

From 5:00- 6:30 PM, patrons with paid tickets for the concert are invited to join a free pre-concert workshop, “NEA Jazz Masters in Conversation,” discussing the icons that the Masters have performed with, including Max Roach, Oscar Peterson, Charles Mingus, Art Blakey, and Billy Taylor.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.flushingtownhall.org/event-detail.php?id=461 

With new ways to experience jazz history in Queens, Flushing Town Hall has gone above and beyond to bring back its beloved jazz trail map. Thanks to funding from Iloveny.com and It’s in Queens, a new print edition of the popular Queens Jazz Trail Map is available for sale at Flushing Town Hall’s Gift Shop. An online version of this iconic and much-beloved map is in currently development.

About the performers:

Jimmy Owens 
(2012 NEA Jazz Master)  

The renowned jazz artist has over forty-five years of experience as a jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger, lecturer, and music education consultant. His experience covers a wide range of international musical achievements, which include extensive work as a studio musician, soloist, bandleader, and composer of orchestral compositions, movie scores, and ballets. Owens is one of the few trumpeters of his generation who performed with many extraordinary jazz leaders, including sitting in with Miles Davis at age 15 and playing with Kenny Barron, Count Basie, Kenny Burrell, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Golson, Lionel Hampton, Charles Mingus, Max Roach, Archie Shepp, Billy Taylor, and Gerald Wilson. 

Gary Bartz 
(2024 NEA Jazz Master)

Born in 1940 in Baltimore, Maryland, to nightclub-owning parents, Gary Bartz was exposed to many great jazz artists early on. Renowned for his “informal composition” (as opposed to improvisation) on alto saxophone since the 1960s, he collaborated with jazz luminaries like Max Roach, Charles Mingus, Art Blakey, and Miles Davis. With over 45 solo albums and 200 guest appearances, Bartz also mentors emerging jazz talents today. Music serves a higher purpose for him, passionately advocating for Black Americans and their musical heritage. Through his saxophone (alto and soprano) and vocals, Bartz communicates profound convictions about the role of Black Americans today. Bartz was recently selected to become an NEA Jazz Master in 2024.

Louis Hayes

(2023 NEA Jazz Master)

Born in 1937 in Detroit, Michigan, Louis Sedell Hayes’ musical journey began with piano, before his father gave him a set of drums at age 10. Guided by a cousin who recognized his talent and was inspired by Detroit’s vibrant music scene in the 1950s, he honed his skills alongside luminaries like Yusef Lateef, Kenny Burrell, and Doug Watkins. At age 18, Hayes joined the Horace Silver Quintet in New York, making his mark with the iconic “Six Pieces Of Silver.” Over the next decade, he led and co-led dynamic, electrifying ensembles which included talents like Freddie Hubbard, Kenny Barron, and Dexter Gordon. Notable recent engagements include The Kennedy Center for the Arts and the Chivas Jazz Festival in Brazil. His latest endeavor, “Serenade for Horace,” pays tribute to his mentor Horace Silver, and marks his debut as a leader on Blue Note Records.

Joanne Brackeen 

(2018 NEA Jazz Master)

A child prodigy,  Joanne Brackeen learned piano at 11 in six months by transcribing eight Frankie Carle solos and began professional performances at 12. Early influences include Art Farmer, Dexter Gordon, and others. She was offered a full scholarship from the Los Angeles Conservatory and attended classes less than one week before deciding the bandstand was more significant. Her distinct style demands attention in various musical settings, from solo to quintet. Her captivating improvisations and intricate, rhythmically daring compositions span a wide range of styles. As a full-time professor at Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA) and a guest professor at the New School (New York City), Brackeen imparts her expertise. Brackeen, an award-winning artist, tours globally, having played in 46 countries.

Ron Carter 
(1998 NEA Jazz Master)
Ron Carter is among the most original, prolific, and influential bassists in jazz. He has recorded over 2200 albums and has a Guinness world record to prove it! From 1963 to 1968, he was a member of the acclaimed Miles Davis Quintet. Over his 60-year career, he has recorded with many of the jazz greats: Lena Horne, Bill Evans, B.B. King, Dexter Gordon, Wes Montgomery, Bobby Timmons, Eric Dolphy, Cannonball Adderley, and Jaki Byard, to name a few. He can be heard on many iconic jazz records of the 60s and 70s, such as Speak No Evil, Maiden Voyage, Red Clay, Speak Like a Child, Nefertiti, and Miles Smiles, to name a few. In 2015 Carter earned a Guinness World Record as the most recorded jazz bassist with 2,221 recordings and has recorded hundreds more since then.

Wycliffe Gordon 

Trombonist Wycliffe Gordon boasts an impressive career touring the world, performing to great acclaim from audiences and critics alike. He received the “Trombonist of the Year” accolade from the Jazz Journalists Association a record-breaking 13 times and claimed “Best Trombone” in the Downbeat Critics Poll an unprecedented six times (2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2013 & 2012).  With a mantle adorned by the “Louie Award,” the International Trombone Award, and the Satchmo Award, among others, Wycliffe stands out as a prolific recording artist. He is celebrated for his distinctive signature sound, plunger technique, and unique vocals. His music graces numerous recordings, soundtracks, live DVDs, and documentaries, resonating with musicians and ensembles worldwide, and his arrangement of NPR’s “All Things Considered” theme song is heard daily across the globe.

For the venue’s full schedule of 2023/24 Winter events, visit: https://www.flushingtownhall.org/fth-presents

NEW EVENT STREAMING PLATFORM

For those unable to attend events in person, Flushing Town Hall has launched Culture Stream. Subscriptions start at $5 per month.  CultureStream.tv (powered by Flushing Town Hall) is a virtual gateway to the captivating world of global cultural performances at Flushing Town Hall, in the heart of Queens, NY. Culture Stream Subscribers are immersed in an array of diverse artistic expressions from around the city and across the globe, from the comfort of their homes. With over 30 live events per year, our platform brings the stage to screens everywhere, fostering a deep appreciation for cultural heritage and artistic excellence.

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.