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The conversation around women in jazz has rarely felt timelier or more pressing than it does at this moment.Last Saturday, PBS NewsHour ran a report on…

WBGO’s Lee Mergner talks with multi-reed player Jeff Coffin about his new album ‘Look for Water,’ touring with Dave Mathews and his dedication to education.

Theater critic Michael Bourne goes off Broadway to review Paradise Blue, directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson.Click above to hear Michael's review of the new…

We can’t gather in person right now, but we can still be together.WBGO’s Fall 2020 Jazz-a-thon flows out of that conviction, with a nod to the past and an…

Performing contemporary gospel with a touch of jazz and blues, The World Famous Harlem Gospel Choir is synonymous with power vocals, glorious sound and infectious energy. For over two decades they have been America’s premier gospel choir and have toured the globe thrilling audiences with the inspirational power of black gospel music.

Deeply rooted in the history of the African-American slave trade, black gospel music can be traced back to the 1700s when African slaves brought their unique African musical heritage to America and combined it with their new faith – Christianity. Out of the hardship and the trials of slavery, this unique musical tradition came to be, and forever changed music as we know it. Blues, Soul, and Rock-and-Roll…they all have origins in black gospel music. Harlem Gospel Choir presents modern gospel classics as performed in the black churches of Harlem today.

Harlem Gospel Choir have performed alongside superstars such as Bono, Diana Ross, The Gorillaz, Andre Rieu, Damon Albarn, Pharrell Williams and most recently with JamieXX, Raury, KBS Korean Traditional Music Orchestra and Lang Lang, Lou Gramm of Foreigner, Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, Sia, Yolanda Adams, The 1975, Ibeyi, Nile Rodgers, Kathy Sledge and at the 2018 Grammy Award Show with Sam Smith. They have performed for three Presidents (President Obama, President Carter and President Nelson Mandela), two Popes (Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI), Ban Ki-Moon, and the UN General Assembly. They have recorded with Keith Richards, The Chieftains, and Trace Adkins among others.

Ava Mendoza - guitar / James Brandon Lewis - tenor saxophone / Devin Hoff - bass / xxx - drums To continue safely serving our community of artists and audience members, Arts for Art is filming and releasing new performances on Tuesdays and Thursdays in January, February, and March. A pay-what-you-can donation is required to view each video. All donations will go towards AFA’s Artists & Friends Campaign. About Ava Mendoza: Ava Mendoza is a Brooklyn-based guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer. Born in 1983, she started performing her own music, and as a sidewoman and collaborator in many different projects, as soon as she was legally allowed into venues. As a guitarist, Mendoza has received acclaim for her technique and viscerality. Her most ongoing work is as leader of art rock band Unnatural Ways, and as a solo performer of her own music and works by contemporary composers. In any context she is committed to bringing expressivity, energy and a wide sonic range to the music. Mendoza has toured throughout the U.S. and Europe and recorded/performed with musicians including Carla Bozulich, Malcolm Mooney (CAN), Steve Shelley, Mike Watt, Adele Bertei, Mick Barr, William Hooker, Nels Cline, Matana Roberts, John Zorn, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Fred Frith, William Parker, Hamid Drake, Object Collection (Travis Just), ROVA, Negativland, the Violent Femmes, and members of Caroliner. She has received composition commissions from film distributor Kino Lorber, new music duo The Living Earth Show, the Jazz Coalition, and John Zorn’s Stone Commissioning Series at National Sawdust. Recordings are available on labels Tzadik, Astral Spirits, SGG, Pyroclastic, Clean Feed, Resipiscent, and New Atlantis.

Zoom Tunes- April 24, 2022 virtual jam session Presented by the Vermont Jazz Center 7-8:30 pm Welcome to a new year of Zoom Tunes. It seems so strange that we are entering 2022 with so few occasions to play live music in safe environments. Zoom Tunes continues to provide an opportunity to learn new tunes and maintain relationships with musician-friends in a supportive atmosphere. The Zoom Tune for April 24, 2022 is ‘If I were a Bell’. https://vtjazz.org/bellzt/ ON-LINE; $15 per session HOSTS: We have three hosts – Malik McLaurine, Ben Barnett and Franz Robert. Eugene and Ginger will also be present. TO PREPARE: Beforehand - try playing the tune of the month along with the backing track mp3 found on the VJC’s website. You can use any other backing track you like, including iReal Pro or you can play the tune solo. WHEN & WHAT: On the last Sunday of each month from 7:00 – 8:30 pm EST Malik, Ben and Franz will be online to listen with other VJC community members to everyone’s version. Be sure to have your backing track cued up and ready to go. Each person will play the melody and then launch into their solo improvisation. After you have finished your improv, play the melody once more to complete your session. AND THEN... Malik, Franz, and Ben will guide us in a short conversation about your interpretation of the tune. Community participation in this process is encouraged. Focus topics could include positive comments about the performance as well as suggestions regarding style, improvisational options and helpful tips. Please join us by sharing your music with our online community!

Presented by the Vermont Jazz Center 7-8:30 pm Welcome to a new year of Zoom Tunes. It seems so strange that we are entering 2022 with so few occasions to play live music in safe environments. Zoom Tunes continues to provide an opportunity to learn new tunes and maintain relationships with musician-friends in a supportive atmosphere. The Zoom Tune for March 27 2022 is ‘Lullaby of Birdland’ by George Shearing https://vtjazz.org/birdlandzt/ ON-LINE; $15 per session HOSTS: We have three hosts – Malik McLaurine, Ben Barnett and Franz Robert. Eugene and Ginger will also be present. TO PREPARE: Beforehand - try playing the tune of the month along with the backing track mp3 found on the VJC’s website. You can use any other backing track you like, including iReal Pro or you can play the tune solo. WHEN & WHAT: On the last Sunday of each month from 7:00 – 8:30 pm EST Malik, Ben and Franz will be online to listen with other VJC community members to everyone’s version. Be sure to have your backing track cued up and ready to go. Each person will play the melody and then launch into their solo improvisation. After you have finished your improv, play the melody once more to complete your session. AND THEN... Malik, Franz, and Ben will guide us in a short conversation about your interpretation of the tune. Community participation in this process is encouraged. Focus topics could include positive comments about the performance as well as suggestions regarding style, improvisational options and helpful tips. Please join us by sharing your music with our online community!

“ONE OF THE MOST RIVETING YOUNG IMPROVISORS IN NEW YORK” - --NY TIMES Brent Birckhead sax, flute Mark Meadows, piano Kris Funn, bass Carroll Dashiell III, drums Saxophonist Brent Birckhead is an award-winning artist, whose aesthetic is an intersectional amalgam of traditional and popular styles. Unbound by genre, Birckhead’s approach to woodwind artistry is driven by his compulsion for creative risk and deep respect for legacy. His place in the continuum of a storied lineage begins with his surname, Birckhead, and extends to his extensive musical education and work ethic as a visionary approach to life as a rising leader. Educated at Howard University (BME, MM), Birckhead was named best blues/pop/rock soloist and outstanding instrumental jazz soloist by Downbeat Magazine as part of the annual Student Music Awards. In 2011 Brent was named "Best Alto Saxophonist" by the Washington City Paper. The Baltimore native's talent earned him the honor of performing and touring with legendary artists including Lauryn Hill, Nas, Wale, Eric Benet, Larry Graham, George Duke and many more. Birckhead is the professor of saxophone at Morgan State University. On February 22nd Birckhead released his self-titled debut album on Revive Music. He currently resides in New York City. Showtime is 7 pm ET/6 pm CT/5 pm MT/4 pm PT/11 pm GMT A limited number of in-person seats are available for $20 each. In-person student ticket is $10 with valid student ID. Please email henry@andiemusik.com for stipulations. Streaming cost is $10 Donations are welcomed! The link will be available 15 minutes before the show and will remain active through June 30

International Touring Artist Loren Smith makes his NYC solo debut “The Love Show” after sold out West Coast Performances! You have seen Loren on tour with Bublè, appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and singing on the "Get Out" Soundtrack. Now he presents his musical story featuring his original smashes like “Can’t Wait,” “Break Free,” to his viral hit covers like “Hit The Road Jack.” This evening promises a little bit of R&B, Gospel. Pop, Broadway, Jazz, and a whole lotta “LOVE!”

Smith’s music has surpassed over a million and a half Youtube views including his first single featured on NBC’s Today Show, “Break Free”. In addition to being a featured soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Smith’s solo vocals have been featured in the motion picture “Get Out”, Hulu’s “Love, Victor” and Smith has lent his voice to the recording projects of BTS, Nick Carter and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, shared the stage as supporting vocalist for Arcade Fire, Deborah Cox, Heather Headley and Andy Grammer, and is currently a featured vocalist in the “Silver Lining Singers” on Jimmy Kimmel LIVE and vocal director of Michael Buble’s Background Vocalists and Live Choir.