Thursday, January 11, 2024
9:30-10:45am
Leading Your Own Organization: How to Bring Jazz to Your Community Through Education and Performance (The Appel Room) Hear from five entrepreneurs on the joys and challenges of launching and creating your own non-profit organization to support and present jazz music and education programming in distinct markets across the United States. Moderated by Gene Dobbs Bradford, who helped create what Jazz St. Louis is today, this morning session will provide guidance for those trying to increase the reach for jazz within their own communities.
Moderator: Gene Dobbs Bradford (Savannah Music Festival)
Panelists: Lonnie Davis (JazzArts Charlotte), Vincent Gardner (Jazz Houston), Arturo O’Farrill (Afro Latin Jazz Alliance), Kenny Rampton (Jazz Outreach Initiative), Melissa Walker (Jazz House Kids)
9:30am-10:45am
Jukebox Jury (Varis Leichtman Recording Studio) The longstanding and popular session returns with jazz music hosts and radio programmers weighing in, needle drop style, on the probability of airplay for upcoming releases.
Moderator: Brad Stone (Send submissions to bradstone.jazzradio@gmail.com)
Panelists: Susan Brink (Jazz Sanctuary/WOOC), Mary Foster Conklin (A Broad Spectrum), Willard Jenkins (WPFW), Derrick Lucas (WGMC), Steve Williams (WBGO)
11:00am-12:15pm
Eddie Palmieri: His Life and Legacy (The Appel Room) NEA Jazz Master and Grammy-winner Eddie Palmieri has been a groundbreaking pianist, composer, and bandleader for more than 60 years, creating his own style of jazz and salsa music. This lively roundtable conversation with Mr. Palmieri, fellow musicians, along with print and radio personalities is sure to be informative and entertaining.
Moderator: Philip Klint
Panelists: Eddie Palmieri, Conrad Herwig, Ed Morales, Marysol Cerdeira-Rodriguez, Bobby Sanabria
11:00am-12:15pm
The Future of Jazz: Using Technology to Enhance the Live Performance Experience (Varis Leichtman Recording Studio) Live performances have become more immersive and visually stunning, with the integration of lighting, visuals, and stage effects. Technology has also made it easier for artists to collaborate remotely, breaking down geographical barriers and enabling musicians from different parts of the world to create music together. Led by Stefon Harris, these panelists explore how their own work incorporates technology to create a powerful and impactful music experience.
Moderator: Stefon Harris
Panelists: James Francies, Kevin Jiang, Adam Neely, Ben Wendel
11:00am-12:15pm
Vital Role of Apprenticeship and Mentorship for a More Inclusive Jazz Future (Noble Studio)
Apprenticeship, along with mentorship, is a longstanding and ever-evolving tradition in jazz. For women and non-binary artists who’ve lacked access to resources, learning on the road or being supported by a mentor, can transform their journey towards a successful and sustainable career. Hear from artists about their experiences of learning from each other and their vision for a more inclusive jazz future. Moderator: Vanessa Reed (New Music USA)
Panelists: Brandee Younger, Tatiana “LadyMay” Mayfield, Sara Serpa, Aja Burrell Wood (Berklee)
11:00am-12:15pm
Wellness for the Music Community (Armstrong Classroom) Experience a mindful and wellness moment prioritizing mental health to help lessen stress and anxiety, creating a mindset of calm. This interactive session brings the industry’s leading musician, professionals, and execs together to soften the relationship to overwhelmingly afflictive mind states and energies of stress and anxiety that come with being in the business. Presenter: Ian Davis (Creative Strategist & Certified Mindfulness Meditation)
1:00-2:15pm
(Re)considering Innovation, Transformation and Genius, through the lens of Jazz, Gender and Justice (The Appel Room) This panel of multi-dimensional artists and educators will address the current shift in narrative regarding jazz and gender and will discuss ideas on how to further transform the culture, challenging rigid concepts of genius, leadership, and innovation. Thoughts will be presented on how the community and the music will benefit from more diversity among its creators, along with how Black feminist consciousness can help bring about a new and more inclusive jazz legacy.
Moderator: Farah Jasmine Griffith
Panelists: Terri Lyne Carrington, Patricia Zarate Perez, Guthrie Ramsey
1:00-2:15pm
The Secrets of International Touring (Varis Leichtman Recording Studio) Veterans of the international touring scene discuss how things have changed (and remained the same) with jazz artists performing in Europe, Asia and other regions around the world.
Moderator: Karen Kennedy (24/Seven Artist Development)
Panelists: Katherine McVicker (Music Works International), Paul Pace (Ronnie Scott’s), Piotr Turkiewicz (Jazztopad Festival)
1:00-2:15pm
Ask Us Anything! (Noble Studio) A panel of jazz industry professionals share their knowledge and experience in a free-wheeling Q&A session.
Moderator: Sunny Sumter (DC Jazz Festival)
Panelists: Monifa Brown (Shanachie Records/WBGO), Ken Druker (Verve), Madelyn Gardner (Jazz at Lincoln Center), Chris Mees (B Natural, Inc.), Al Pryor (Producer, Record Executive and Broadcaster)
1:00-2:15pm Artificial Intelligence and New Directions in Digital Jazz Studies (Armstrong Classroom) New Directions in Digital Jazz Studies uses the state-of-the-art music information retrieval and artificial intelligence algorithms for the analysis of jazz recordings and linked data to enable novel approaches to co-creative use of materials in the archival collections of the Institute of Jazz Studies and Scottish Jazz Archive. The session will feature a presentation of the AI tool in action, as well as a broad discussion with the research team and the audience discuss new directions in jazz scholarship and performance.
Moderator: Adriana Cuervo (Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers University, USA)
Panelists: Tillman Weyde (Principal Investigator UK, Department of Computer Science, City University of London, UK), Gabriel Solis (Principal Investigator US, Dean, College of Arts & Sciences, University of Washington, USA), Haftor Medboe (Scottish Jazz Archives, Edinburgh Napier University, UK), Pedro Cravinho (Keeper of the Archives, Faculty of Arts, Design and Media, Birmingham City University, UK)
2:30-3:45pm
Winter Jazzfest 20th Anniversary Panel: Universality of Jazz (The Appel Room) After over 100 years, the music we call jazz is still thriving, expanding, and influencing music and culture globally. In a dynamic conversation with three artists from around the world and across the diaspora of Black American Music, we will explore the universality of this music, examining past perspectives and imagining broader paths forward.
Moderator: Mike Bindraban (Good Music Company)
Panelists: Shabaka (Winter Jazzfest 2024 Artist in Residence), Nduduzo Makhathini, esperanza spalding
2:30-3:45pm
Sassy Stories: The Sarah Vaughan Centennial (Varis Leichtman Recording Studio) Join this esteemed panel as we share stories and insights about "The Divine One"—Newark's own Sarah Vaughan, whose centennial we celebrate in 2024. Ella Fitzgerald called her the world's "greatest singing talent," and our all-star gathering will share how Sassy influenced them.
Moderator: Rene Marie
Panelists: Dee Dee Bridgewater, Larry Clothier, Jazzmeia Horn, Harold Jones, Camille Thurman
2:30-3:45pm
My Year in Jazz: Celebrating our Community (Noble Studio) These brief one-on-one conversations, moderated by Keanna Faircloth, provide an opportunity for us to celebrate wonderful milestones in the jazz community in 2023. You’ll hear from individuals who have opened new jazz clubs, expanded their venues, launched new careers and are preparing for their Broadway debuts. Let’s raise up and celebrate our own!
Moderator: Keanna Faircloth (Podcaster, NPR contributor)
Panelists: Regina Bain (Louis Armstrong House Museum), Rodney Green (Brush Culture), Ian Hendrickson-Smith (Uncle Cheef), Mark G. Meadows (Music Director and Independent Artist), Matt Pierson (Artist Manager)
4:15pm
The 2024 Bruce Lundvall Visionary Award (The Appel Room) will be given to NEA Jazz Master, Grammy and Tony Award-winning vocalist, educator, and social activist Dee Dee Bridgewater. Ms. Bridgewater has made indelible contributions to the music through her artistry and through her work with The Woodshed Network, which she launched as a non-profit partnership with 651 Arts to mentor, connect, support, and educate women in jazz. The award will be presented to Ms. Bridgewater by her daughter China Moses and Lakecia Benjamin.
4:45-6:15pm
Jazz Congress Keynote - Wayne Shorter: Life of a Legend (The Appel Room) Join us as we celebrate the life, wit and wisdom of Wayne Shorter through shared stories and conversation with an all-star cast of friends, fellow musicians and collaborators.
Moderator: Terri Lyne Carrington
Panelists: Jon Fine, Marcus Miller, John Patitucci, esperanza spalding, Buster Williams
6:30-8:30pm:
Cocktail Party and Celebration in honor of 20th Anniversary of Winter Jazzfest (Ertegun Atrium) This evening celebration, DJ’ed by Angelika Beener, provides an opportunity for attendees to network, partake in an open bar and celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Winter Jazzfest and its founder Brice Rosenbloom.