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Flushing Town Hall Celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month with GRAMMY-Nominated Bill Charlap Trio, Top-Rated Bassist Mark Wade, and its Louis Armstrong Legacy Jazz Jam!
"Bill Charlap is one of the greatest musicians and greatest artists I've ever met."
—Tony Bennett
Bill Charlap Trio, Photo Credit: Philippe LEVY-STAB
(Flushing, N.Y.) – This April, Flushing Town Hall celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month with an incredible line-up of jazz events, both in person and available to stream for free online for those unable to make it to the historic venue, a Smithsonian affiliate in Queens.
Jazz music programs have been a cornerstone in Flushing Town Hall’s programming for over 40 years and the venue has hosted many jazz legends on its stage, including present and past NEA Jazz Masters Jimmy Heath, Jimmy Owens, Barry Harris, Sheila Jordan, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Ron Carter, Cándido Camero, Paquito D’Rivera, and a number of incredible female jazz artists, such as Akua Allrich, and many more. The cultural nonprofit also founded the Queens Jazz Orchestra in 2008, published a Queens Jazz Trail map in 1998, and has hosted 15 years of NEA Jazz Master concerts and a decade of monthly Louis Armstrong Legacy Jazz Jams for novice and experienced artists to come together. The borough of Queens has itself been home to some of the greatest jazz musicians of all times, including Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, Bix Beiderbecke, Tony Bennett, Count Basie, and Jimmy Heath among many others.
Bill Charlap Trio
On April 8, 2022 at 8:00 PM, one of the leading ensembles in jazz, the GRAMMY Award-nominated Bill Charlap Trio, will kick off Jazz Appreciation Month at Flushing Town Hall. Featuring GRAMMY-winning pianist Bill Charlap, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Kenny Washington, the Bill Charlap Trio was formed nearly 25 years ago in 1997 and earned GRAMMY nominations for Uptown Downtown (Impulse!/Verve), Somewhere: The Songs of Leonard Bernstein, and The Bill Charlap Trio: Live at the Village Vanguard (both on the Blue Note label).
In November 2021, the Bill Charlap Trio released its latest album Street of Dreams. Jazz Times says “Street of Dreams is simply a reminder of how terrific an album of straight-ahead piano-trio standards can be.” At their performance on April 8, the trio will play some of their new songs on Flushing Town Hall’s stage.
The Bill Charlap Trio tours all over the world, and its New York engagements include regular appearances at Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Village Vanguard.
In-person tickets are $25/$20 Members. Virtual viewing is free.
Louis Armstrong Legacy Monthly Jazz Jam
On Wednesday, April 13 at 7 PM, one of Flushing Town Hall’s most popular recurring jazz events, the Louis Armstrong Legacy Monthly Jazz Jam, invites jazz students, musicians, and music educators to Flushing Town Hall’s theatre to make and share music together. Monthly Jazz Jams are a fun way to hone your skills and jam with your peers. The house band led by saxophonist Carol Sudhalter opens each jam with the work of Louis Armstrong.
In-person tickets are Tickets: $10/FREE for Members, Students, & Jamming Musicians. Virtual viewing is free.
New Music Horizons
On Sunday, April 24 at 2 PM, New Music Horizons returns to Flushing Town Hall to present two dynamic composers: classical composer Alicia Lieu and jazz composer Mark Wade. Alicia Lieu presents new material from her opera in progress, “Unwrapping Fortune” which follows the adventures of protagonists Ivy and Kwan Fai through the themes of love and Chinese Food. The Mark Wade Trio will perform with their brand of group interplay and expressive improvisation that has brought them an international following.
Mark Wade has been voted one of the top bassists five of the last six years by the prestigious Downbeat Magazine Readers Poll. Wade has played with notable jazz artists such as James Spaulding, Jimmy Heath, Conrad Herwig, Harry Whitaker, Pete McGuinness, Peter Eldridge, Don Byron, and Stacey Kent.
Alicia Lieu is the founder of the Composers Collective, Pitches Brew, and New York Con-ducting Institute. Alicia has conducted master classes in New York, St. Petersburg, Russia, the Czech Republic, and Bulgaria. Her teachers include Maestros John Keenan and Paul Nadler of the New York Metropolitan Opera. Alicia Lieu has won first prize in the UCSB Wind Ensemble Composition Competition.
In-person tickets are $10/FREE for Seniors, Students, and Members. Virtual viewing is free.
Those unable to attend in person can join the livestream of any performance mentioned above and tune in virtually for free at https://www.youtube.com/flushingtownhall/live, but donations are greatly appreciated. For tickets and more information, visit www.FlushingTownHall.org or call (718) 463-7700 x222.
For Calendar Listings
Bill Charlap Trio
Friday, April 8, 8 PM
https://www.flushingtownhall.org/bill-charlap-trio
In-Person Tickets: $25/$20 Members
Virtual Tickets: Free. Donations are appreciated.
Flushing Town Hall presents the GRAMMY award-nominated Bill Charlap Trio, with GRAMMY award-winning pianist Bill Charlap, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington. Praised by The Guardian as“one of the best piano trios ever,”the Bill Charap Trio which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2022, is considered one of the leading jazz groups. The trio’s most recent recording features them with Tony Bennett & Diana Krall on the chart-topping, GRAMMY-nominated Love is Here to Stay. The Bill Charlap Trio tours all over the world, and their New York engagements include regular appearances at Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Village Vanguard.
Louis Armstrong Legacy Monthly Jazz Jam
Wednesday, April 13, 7 PM
https://www.flushingtownhall.org/jazz-jam-apr-2022
In-person tickets $10/FREE for Members, Students, Teens & Jamming Musicians.
Virtual Tickets: Free. Donations are appreciated.
Flushing Town Hall’s Louis Armstrong Legacy Monthly Jazz Jam is held in person with Jazz students, musicians, and music educators at Flushing Town Hall’s theatre. Monthly Jazz Jams are a fun way to hone your skills and jam with your peers. The house band led by saxophonist Carol Sudhalter opens each jam with the work of Louis Armstrong.
New Music Horizons - Collaborative Artists In Concert:
Alicia Lieu and The Mark Wade Trio
Sunday, April 24, 2 PM
https://www.flushingtownhall.org/new-music-horizons-4-24-2022
In-person tickets are $10/FREE for Seniors, Students, and Members.
Virtual Tickets: Free. Donations are appreciated.
New Music Horizons returns to Flushing Town Hall to present two dynamic composers: classical composer Alicia Lieu and jazz composer Mark Wade. Alicia Lieu presents new material from her opera in progress, “Unwrapping Fortune” which follows the adventures of protagonists Ivy and Kwan Fai through the themes of love and Chinese Food. The Mark Wade Trio will perform with their brand of group interplay and expressive improvisation that has brought them an international following.
For the venue’s full schedule of 2022 Spring events, visit: https://www.flushingtownhall.org/events
COVID Policy:
In adherence with New York City’s Covid policy for performance venues, Flushing Town Hall will require 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.
For more information:
www.flushingtownhall.org
(718) 463-7700 x222
137-35 Northern Blvd. Flushing, NY 11354